Tale Of Two Rivers

I was late home from work, an all to often

occurrence lately! The sky was already dark,

the end of summer and rain in the air. This

quite miserable portrait of an average day in

the life of me! Well not so bad after all, a text off

Pete and promise of good fish five minutes up the

road on a new bit of river. The little fast flowing

river that appeared before me was a little haven

of life. Set between busy modes of modern commutes.

"If this was half as good as it looked I was onto a winner."

"A chalk steam full of fish on my doorstep!!"

I set the rod up baiting the swim in-between each step

of the process. First run first fish, Brown trout...oh joy!!

The next fish was a cracking Dace, my mind quickly

drifted to the TV programme "catching the impossible"

It was basically as the name suggests, fishing for what

could be described as very special fish of each species.

It was this Dace. The programme had gone to a little

river just like the one before me to catch a decent Dace.

They are still common enough but not as before, often

getting picked off by predators before they reach full

potential, I have fished some good rivers, healthy full

of food and yet here second cast was a decent fish, not a

record but just maybe a very good fish may lie in wait.

It's seems a problem, we travelled to the Severn.....Dace

yes but all small and yet here in this little neglected

river they abound? Just like the programme what

next, well more Trout more Dace, Chub and as the night

fell a warm feeling to end a miserable day.
Weekend came, before it more rain and well rain!!

Now you wait all week for an hour or two on running

water, rain high water and a big fat no to the stick float

float on my favoured water, like I said a few posts back

I would fish the feeder, stick a night light on and I can

extend a short session into a long one "magic"
So me and Phil settled down, we had tried this a

week or so back, again high water, we fished pellet,

cage feeder result one bite and a lost fish to a hook

pull. This time round I managed to land a couple

phil had my problem hooked one and lost it!!

Not many anglers have caught Barbel to double

figures on rivers without the use of a feeder rod,

pellets or meet but as of yet phils took his fish

without any of the above.

The fish are in top condition and it's been

a joy sitting into the quiet of the night with

good company and the odd fish. A few new

things, the rods up in the air so I have

developed a sore neck looking up in the

sky at my night-lighted tip. On a plus

I can now spot the stars and also confirm

the UFO'S must have stealth.
Nipped back t the other river, how different

one was like a flooded Nile, the other a gentle

clear stream.
I have learned a little already and results

are going to be good.
Phil with a quality small river Chub.
The rivers list of fish goes up one with

the Roach again spot on.
I would imagine that Barbel would do great in

this little river. I think it may be better for

all if this never happens, its nice to have two

very different rivers so close to home.