Snow clearing

The boss hired this so I could clear some snow
We must keep the wheels of England turning

Snow

This shows just how much snow has fallen in Norfolk, the most for many
years

The Good The Bad & The Dam Right Ugly

The river wensum close to my Norwich home has seen some highs and lows over the years and continues to have both good times and bad.

Firstly the bad times hit again last week when a Barbel that my old mate Ginger Wells caught in the summer at well over 15lb and a fish I had caught in the past at well over 16lb was found dead on the banks of the river after an Otter was chased from its carcass, it had just pulled it from the river and had eaten its eyes and by the look of it its gills and guts were next.

Ginger with the barbel in the summer

Moments after its sad death last week

What hacks me off more than anything else about the Otter plague that has destroyed many of our barbel in the last few years is the amount of idiots out there that still dont see otters as a problem on our rivers.

Either these people have not witnessed the decline of barbel stocks in their river or just dont care but either way they will live to regret their actions or rather lack of them. Some of these anglers are well know and very experienced anglers and should know much better, but I feel its more down to their pecieved status and not wanting to be seen making statements that might do their "status" some harm.

On a much brighter note

Yesterday I was asked to attend a stocking of barbel into the river Wensum.

Well over 800 2nd year barbel were stocked into the River spread over 4 different points

Typical size of the stocked Barbel

 A crowd gathers to witness the stocking

Great news to end with and a big well done to all those who have worked so hard to make this stocking possible.

Night fishing

See the green light in the middle of the picture well if it whacks
over we've got a bite
Keep watching
Had 3 so far best over 7 lb
But the wind is blowing and it's raining
I ain't known a night like it

Lovely view

Back on a flooded Severn river has dropped around 2 foot since Sunday but still coloured and full of rubbish
Managed a couple of barbel yesterday and Graham had 4.

 I just had a small one 1st cast so here's to a few more

Severn on the rise

A few weeks ago we were asking for rain, but now it could do with
stopping
The Severn is rising and the flood barriers are In place in Bewdley

Barbel on

It's blowing a gale pouring with rain but nobody told the barbel just put number 3 back

In the fields

After a quiet couple of weeks it's back to the Severn for a few days

The river is high and it's in the fields, perfect conditions for a few barbel

Come and get yer monkey

Well done George

Well done to young George Shipley for becoming the British junior pike fishing champion at the weekend

Here's George pictured with pike legend and TV star Mick Brown

Well Done George, showing the old man how it should be done

Some rain at last

At last the Severn has some coloured water but the bad news is it's
turned cold so the barbel aren't feeding.

Had 4 on Thursday but not had a bite since

Most important thou Norwich had a good win today 7-0 come on you yellows

Wear your poppy with pride

Just like Donna's duck wear your poppy with pride

Back to work

It was back to work last night then hopefully on the Severn on thursday need the weather goods to be kind as I am doing a feature with Total coarse Fishing, would like it to be mild and the river well up.

Below is one of a serious of pictures Dr Paul took for me last week on the Trent,,,,, Cheers Paul

I see the Green Eyed Monsters are having another go

Remember those that try hard to blacken my name

He who laughs last, laughs the longest

Happy birthday mother

Back home after my Trent trip finished with 5 and a chub

Forgot to mention it's my mums birthday today

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER

Bacon sizzlling in the pan

Had 1 more barbel this morning, Mr G has had a couple but now it's
bacon Sarnie time

Spooky picture

Just put my third barbel back and then took this spooky picture, well
it is Halloween tomorrow.

On the Trent

Up early this morning and having a look at a new bit of the Trent
thanks to a kind invite from Cemex Angling, looks good with plenty of
flow and gravel let's hope the barbel are hungry

The day didn't start well as I knocked a bottle of red wine off the
shelf and all over the supermarket floor, the guy who had just spent
an hour cleaning it didn't look amused

Not just barbel

Sometimes I like to mix it up a bit ruba dub dub I have had a chub

Team barbel on tour

It's back to the Severn today and the barbel are coming thick and fast Fisky here with a fighting fit beauty

Ratman catches perch

Not only is graham good at catching rats he is pretty good at catching fish

First blood to ade

Lovely looking barbel on the maggot

The Warks Avon

Today myself, Tom, Fisky and Graham the Ratman are on the Warks Avon but it's not looking good so far and it's raining

The A team

Many thanks to Paul Garner for taking a great picture

It's my turn again

Nice day so far on the Severn I have managed 2, Tommy has had 2 but the Yorkshire feeder magnet has had 3

Mr FFF fisky

Fisky has got one now

Ade's turn

Tom & FFFisky

On the Severn with Tom and FFFisky Tom has just had the first of the day

Monkey rules ok

A change of mind

In the past I have often been critical of commercial fisheries stereotyped as carp puddles with little more than a hole in the ground filled with water.

A few weeks ago barford lakes close to my Norfolk home came as a pleasent suprise and the last couple of days it's been Docklow pools in Herefordshire. These mature fisheries are a haven for wildlife and full of fish with a good mixture to catch.

Today whilst watching buzzards overhead and a pair of kingfishers darting noisely around the lakes I have caught carp to doubles as well as chub to 3lb a few roach a tommy ruffe and well chuffed with a couple of barbel the high light one of the best looking barbel I have seen about 3lb, full of colour and fighting fit.

As part of a press day for my sponsers Preston innovations it's been good to be in the company of some cracking anglers. Tommy Pickering the welsh wizard lee Edwards and Duncan Charman. to name just a few, Even The Pons turned up last night for a bit of grub.

Oops I'm in trouble now

The barbel police are on thier way ade has had a still water barbel. I can't see what all the fuss is about fought like a mad thing and looks as fit as a fiddle

Bring on the next one

Docklow fisheries

At Docklow fisheries near Hereford for a couple of days with Preston innovations for a new product launch

6 more hours

Only 6 more hours looking at 2 computer and a CCTV screen then that's it for four days.

Off to the Severn valley for a bit of fishing and relaxation

Back Home and time to reflect

Back home and time to look back over a couple of most enjoyable weeks away, the first 2 days were spent in the company of 24 anglers from essex who join me every year for a couple of days on the river Severn. I look forward all year to their visit, because for me it is very rewarding and a lot of fun.


This year with the severn not in the best of form it was always going to be hard work, but I managed to put a few of them on Barbel and plenty were landed over the 2 days.

The Essex Gang at the Sunday evening social

Alan Ward complete with Barbel and floppy hat

Trip organiser Terry Reynolds with the best of the trip at 9lb 2oz

The Burslem Casanova

Jobie didn't comb his hair

Sent from my iPhone

Grapvine news

The bankside drums are beating a tune, Jobie, Burslems answer to
Casanova has just done his barbel P.B with an 8lb er

I hope he combed his hair for the pictures

Jims got one

Jim Garside with his second of the day well done Jim

Rainbow now where is that pot of gold

On the Severn with the Stoke Mafia

A few barbel on the feed, and a rainbow must mean it's raining and boy do we need some rain, Severn at it's lowest October level for around 20 years.

Back home tomorrow

2 days 2 rivers 2 doubles

A good weekend topped of with another double from another river

A 10.04 from the Warks Avon on the monkey

Well done to my good lady Sonia for taking the pictures for me on the last couple of evenings you dont know how much I appreciate it

Back on the Warks Avon

Having an afternoon and evening session on the Warks Avon today

Here's hoping for a few barbel, river is low and clear and it's a
sunny afternoon

Happy Happy Happy days

Following on from earlier things just got even better with a middle Severn barbel of 11lb 4oz

What a corker

Look out for the green eyed monsters

Happy Days

Norwich win

Ipswish lose

Barbel on the feed

Happy days indeed

Autumn in the air

There is a real feel of autumn in the air today, the river is carrying lots of fallen leaves.

The barbel are still feeding thou with a lively 5lber first cast

Above the woods on the far bank a pair of Buzzards screech as they circle making the most of the last of the light.

My left rod just twitched and dropped back best I pay attention for a few minutes

Moonlight on the Avon

Lovely moon tonight not great for fishing but I have still managed a couple of barbel

Warks Avon

On the warks Avon this afternoon at Twyford Farm, home to some big barbel, fingers crossed.

Fishing this afternoon

After 3 busy days guiding it's a few days off to relax and catch a few myself.

Korum winners day

Jared Huish with a lovely barbel from the Severn

Alan Ward from Essex with a nice barbel

Alan and around twenty of his mates from Essex have joined me on the Severn for their annual visit

Like buses

Having not had a barbel all day, just like buses Andy gets 2 at once

Pictured below with 1 of a brace

well done Andy