Well, I honestly can't say I have had a less satisfying start to a season than this one, barring my successes with that massive Rudd brace on the 17th of June it has been terrible. Now I know that would for many anglers make their season and it was a great accomplishment for me given my attempts to catch a 3lb Fenland Rudd.
But, over the past three seasons of the 40 Rivers Challenge I have made good use of the warmer conditions and successfully chalked off a few rivers before the cooler weather inevitably makes things slightly more tricky. Now I may have covered this in previous posts this season but the unseasonably and longer cold spring had certainly put the kybosh on a fast start and subsequent visits to the Nene, Wye, Bourne and most recently a return to the Wharfe and a debut visit to the Aire also ended up with big fat 0 in the Barbel caught column ( doubles that is ).
On rivers I have little knowledge of, I get it that the slow starts will likely happen as I gather information and fish areas to locate Barbel, nevertheless I have fished rivers and areas I am quite familiar with - with equally poor results. I can only hope as the nights draw in a little and the Barbel finally drag themselves out of their comas that results improve. I have a few plans afoot and hope one or two of them come good as my target to reach 30 rivers completed by March 14th 2025. If I don't reach 27/28 rivers completed by New Years I think my target will be in tatters, that said I am in no rush to finish this challenge and it happens when it happens...that said I am an impatient git at times :)
Below are a couple of images from my venture across the Pennines as I holiday'd up in the Lake District with the family, a full day away North Yorkshire was a nice little treat with the rods.
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| A flooded R.Wharfe. |
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| The Aire in Leeds. |
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| Ditto, upstream from the weir. |
Am sure you will do it, keep going matey.
ReplyDeleteBeen a very slow start and one I didn't envisage given a couple of the rivers I've frequented, but that's fishing for you!
DeleteAutumn should be kind to all of us.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to an upturn in sport, so far it's been pants! I'll be on the Wye next week for a couple of days.
DeleteNot just you finding it tough James, I was up North recently and went for a nose at a couple of spots on the river Swale, any plans there ? looked a lovely river must admit
ReplyDeleteJust seems to be sporadic catches for those who are catching. As for the Swale, I haven't walked it but I have a couple of areas in mind and will give it a bash, possibly this season depending on how my fortunes on the Wharfe and Aire turn out, don't really want to start anymore new rivers now, got a few that I know I am in the right areas, now just about 50% application, 50% location, if those two align I will be cooking on gas!
DeleteTime to tick another river off your barbel challenge… best time is nearly upon us…
ReplyDeleteI think that moment was about 6 weeks ago but I've been made to wait. A couple of little birdies have told me the KS isn't done with throwing up big Barbel, maybe...just maybe there something extra special in the offing, if I can just get to the bank!!!
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