We took the overnight ferry from Harwich and arrived bright and early next morning in a very warm and pleasant Holland, a couple of hours later we were taking a cold refreshing drink with great friends Cees and Heike, after an early night we started on the 6 hour drive to Regensberg.
Our hosts for the trip the Danube Pirate Franz Dirmeyer and match fishing legend Berti Bovens were awaiting our arrival, and after some warm introductions and a cold beer they were keen to show us the river and swims they had been preparing for our arrival.
Also on the trip were fellow members of Team Barbel International Frank Pulles and Tim Jannasan and their partners Riny and Pattie. with the temperatures well into the 30s daytime fishing was always going to be very hard so it was no surprise it was into darkness before my first fish of note came to the net.
I was more than happy Berti and Franz were on hand to witness my first Danube barbel and for me thats another milestone achieved, barbel from the 5th country so far this year and a new river.