Well it was a bit cold when I arrived to an empty car park, car display said -2 so case of wrapping up warm.
Frost on the ground and recent reports stating the river was running low & clear, coupled with clear skies the sun already on it's Winter course across the sky didn't bode well for a Barbel.
In all honesty I thought I was unlikely to catch a Barbel although started with two barbel rods out in the hope that it would warm up enough for whisker, hope springs eternal I guess. My thinking was that with the clear water the fish if anywhere would be further out in the deeper water, with the most flow. Began on pellet that had been soaked in Krill glug. As the morning moved into midday it was clear that the Barbel (if there) were not interested. Change of hooklink from a hair rigged band to a straight 14 hook with a bunch of dead reads on the downstream rod. Deciding that the Barbel were not going to come out to play I switch to a SLWG hook on a lighter line still at 6Ft though. Time for a bait change feeder filled with chopped worm and a dendrobena on the hook tipped with a dead red maggot.
Downstream rod tip started to nod and then went round.not the typical savage barbel bite but round it went and stayed round. Definitely not fighting like a Barbel, more like a bream until it got close in and went solid. Thought I had been taken into a snag so dropped the rod waiting to see if the fish moved off, it didn't definitely a snag I thought. Quick walk downstream and a tug managed to free the 'fish' that turned to be an industrial sized plastic sheet that I'd hooked.
By 1 PM the grey clouds started to roll in which was most welcome. Close to 2 PM I had the first 'proper' bite lifted into the fish and the battle was on adjusting the clutch to give ling grudingly I felt a sense of relief that at least a blank was avoided. Short lived fight unfortuantely as the lighter hookling didn't stand up to the rigours.

There were three anglers on the next stretch, with Barbel rods out (so at least I wasn't the only daft begger on the bank today

) one wandered over and we had a chat over the fence,. no bites between the three of them.so they were packing up. I had decided on self imposed 3:30 PM all out. As there had been some small slow movemements and dropbacks on the upstream rod, so I left that one in and packed away the downstream rod.
3:20 PM the was a sharp rap on the rod tip and then nothing, decided to sit on the stone steps right next to the rod and wait it out.
3:25 PM small trembles, but nothing worth lifting into, by now I am looking at my watch and praying for a proper bite......
3.28 PM Tip goes over and contact made, not a Barbel by the fight, but a fish nonetheless. Feeder surfaced covered in weed followed by a chub.

I don't think I have been so relieved to land a fish before, apart from my first Barbel.
Not huge at 3 Lb 3 Oz, but my first river chub and a blank saver, I'll take that....