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Few more Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

So, last few days I've been in the Wye valley. Staying at Symmonds Yat, I had taken a good friend away for his 40th. A surprise, all he new a week ago was he needed Barbel gear. Suffice to say, he was certain we were heading to the Seven. Until we turned left after crossing it near Gloucester. We had a B&B on the river, it was ok, nothing special but was a pub, so could be worse! First day was arriving and sussing out the surroundings, going to the local tackle shop and booking some beats for the next 2 days. We had a fish from 21:00 till 22:00 on the first night (Thursday) but not much more than my rod being pulled from the rest and the fish evading me! With the low water we were advised the fishing was hard, but this only dulled our excitement a little, after all, we had an adventure on our hands! After a relaxed start friday we headed to the mile of river we shared with another couple of guys for the day. Packing up to go for a pub lunch (we knew evening would be best) my rod doubled over with my PB 8:15 barbel, beauty! After lunch we moved swim, (not knowing the river / how it fished / where was best) we struggled through the hot afternoon. I had a couple more barble and lost a chub. Nothing for nick who was still staying positive. I persuaded him we should move swims for the last hour, so we went back to where will had my earlier fish. I nearly instantly had a perfect Chub or 4:12 and then another within minutes. Poor old Nick. The it was his turn, he had a super take and a barbel was shortly followed by another. Great, he had deserved a flourish at the end. Day 2 (Sat), we had chosen another stretch of river. Stunning setting again, this time the gorge of Symmonds Yat. But what does Saturday mean, more yakkers, swimmers, boaters, lilo ers, SUP-ers and the odd person floating past on an inflatable slice of pizza! All this traffic was entertaining and the only way we could get info on the football score!! Roles were reversed today. Having found a good looking spot, to be honest, it all looked good. We chose a run where it was a pain to get to, I had a rope and we lowered ourselves down holding it. Prominent seats setup in the river meant the various floaters could see ups early and avoid our lines. Worked a treat! Nick fluffs his first cast, how we laughed, it went only a couple of meters, bang, fish on! And it started like that, he caught 5 barble and I couldn't buy a bite. He had a few eels in there too (haha!). So, I went off and got dinner (steaks, disposal BBQ and some ice-cream beers, coffee, and other essentials), apparently I missed nothing, result. My time had come, I got back once the sun was off the water with 4 barble in quick succession! The it was his turn to struggle, yes I was loving it! We ended the 2 days with 9 barbel each, he did get the biggest at 9:8 but I was the chub king. Average stamp was 6/7lb seriously great fishing, can't imagine what it would be like in 'good' conditions! Might not be boating, so apologies! Tight lines Rob Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

You were fit then Mal, long walk if I remember ! You could go to the Kennet in the late eighties and get a good bag of barbel then, sometimes the matches were getting huge barbel catches ! Lobworm was my favourite bait there, used to out on the lawn catching the buggers, boy were they hard to get out of the ground without breaking them in two! Used to get some cracking barbel on the stour , but again the otters and " others" decided they were good to eat and that ruined it. As you say..........they fight like a bass......but on steroids!!! Another good barbel river we used to fish was the windrush at Kingstone Bagpuize .

My best effort 3lb 4 0z Black bream

Yes it was calpac, the over hanging tree by the pill box was near the Aquarium swim, made famous by a mate of mine who knocked out many 30 to 40 chub a session with the odd barbel mixed in. I used to opt for the long walk to the end of the venue, praying I was the only one down their. Many large bags of good roach to casters. Great times, now full of Amercian cray fish eating the fish eggs and the otters causing lots of trouble. The Kennet is now in a bad way. See what you gone and done Rob making us oldies remember the good old days.

Awesome my favourite fishing, Barbel being as good as Bass. My best 9.8lb on 3lb line size 18 hook trotting on the Kennet many years ago, but still gives me a thrill. 😊