June 16th Finally arrives!!!

Up at stupid o'clock but where to go so much choice,not. Everywhere was absolutely rammed even at 5am so thats one less decision to make.

So i settle on the only peg i can find empty on the B.A.A Blackstone stretch. It's much slower and deeper than i would like but i was still optimistic of a few barbel. A few hours later and biteless i change my bait from pellet to corn and yatzee my tip swings round and i strike into my first fish of the year only this fish hasn't read the script as a nice bream rolls over the net. still it's better than blanking. Another hour or so later and still on the corn my tip swings round again and this time it's definately not a bream as a good fish runs me into a giant snag damn and to make matters worse my son lands his first barbel ever of about 3lb which naturally im of proud of but would of been a lot happier had i banked mine lol .

My Son Reece and his 1st Barbel at 3lb

After another good fish takes me into the snag im beginning to think it's not my day and perhaps i should take lessons off my son!!. So after breaking a branch off the small tree that separates Reece's swim and mine i recast and within seconds im away again only this time as the barbel runs for the snag i walk into my son's swim and steer him away and into my net. Result

1st Barbel of season at 10lb

I quickly weigh it and at 10lb on the dot im chuffed so i excitedly recast only for disaster yes you've guessed it line wrapped round tip and crack off much to my son's amusement. Oh well you live and learn except i never do as during the course of a season i do it a good half a dozen times. Anyhow all retackled line not round tip and this time my cast hits the spot. about 20mins later i change bait as it's all gone quiet this time i put on a SBS baits frankfurter hooker from their "serious Barbel baits range" deveoped by SBS owner Des Taylor.It's a bait i had a lot of success on last year they smell great. Almost good enough for me to try.Promise im not sponsored by them i just think there fab especially when the waters coloured. 

And it doesn't take long for the fish to be tempted when just as im pouring a cuppa my rod is savagely pulled off the rest. why does that always happen?. so with scalding coffee burning my leg i wrestle another nice fish to the net this time weighing in at 8lb 12oz.

After that its quiet till home time but im buzzing and couldn't care less and with everyone around us struggling for bites i think we've done well.

Just can't wait for my my next trip