mattnewark
Regular member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
- Messages
- 247
A story from yesterday......
Having been an angler for over 35 years now, I thought I knew what I was doing. Trent Barbelling is something I do when conditions are reasonable, and I am under no illusions as to the power of these Trent fish, but yesterday was something else, and somewhat frightening and upsetting in equal measures.
Yesterday, I took this for granted, in my excitement to "get set up" I failed to put the time in to ensure my tripod was properly secure. Now for those who fish the Trent around Newark will know that many pegs have very large flat stone slabs making securing your tripod somewhat more difficult, this is not something new for me as previously there have been no issues.
This time was different. I failed to put a sturdy enough angle into the two front legs either, resulting in a flimsy set up at best.
I was fishing with 2 Barbel rods and was stood at the side of my rods (I always sit/stand right on my rods as I do not fish with bait runners.......I can't get rid of that "match style" of feeder fishing just yet. So, with both clutches set loosely as usual, to give me that couple of seconds insurance on any take, I wait with excitement as the river had a lovely bit of colour to it.
One hour into the session, I was stood at the side of my rods...inches away in fact, when out of nowhere, the whole lot toppled forward and into the Trent within 2 seconds....the type of take when you think you have been wiped out by a speedboat or something. No boats were in sight and in the Trent went 2 rods and a tripod. I could not quite compute what the hell had happened so in I went up to my knees.....I could not go any further as it was pushing through and it drops off very quickly and very dangerously. I managed to retrieve in seconds the tripod and one rod which was at full stretch. Th other rod was already 5 meters out and travelling UPSTREAM!
I tried to cast over the line/rod several times after I had wound in the other rod, but the rod that was going upstream soon sank into the depths never to be seen again. I sat there, wet through, trying to work out what had happened. It was the upstream rod that went over, but the interesting part was that the whole lot fell over downstream from left to right. It took me a while to register the situation as I had thought in my shock that the downstream rod had gone over and pulled the lot in but this was not the case.
Could a Barbel possibly pick a bait up from upstream and charge so fast downstream and pull the lot in, even before the rod tip has bounced back to register a drop back pick up for example? And then possibly turn again and pull the rod upstream??????
I have had a bit of a sleepless night worrying about a fish potentially being in difficulty, and I can only console myself with the fact that I do fish lighter hook lengths and that I use a running lead set up, but still.....
This has never happened before to me using this set up as the bites, although vicious at times, have always seen me in control of the rods due to the tripod being secure and the reels set nice and loose, like Bream fishing on the Trent for example.
So, the point of the story is to never under estimate the power of Trent Barbel, and ensure your set up, whatever that may be, is secure. Never leave those rods unattended, even if you use bait runners.
I have a renewed respect for these incredible fish. I know I'm not the first, and certainly won't be the last to lose a rod to the Trent's monsters, but be careful out there folks, and remember, most of all, respect the Trent.....do not put yourself at risk to save a bit of kit by going into the river, especially as the winter floods are just around the corner.
Stay safe folks, and keep your eyes open for a Korum Barbel rod!
Having been an angler for over 35 years now, I thought I knew what I was doing. Trent Barbelling is something I do when conditions are reasonable, and I am under no illusions as to the power of these Trent fish, but yesterday was something else, and somewhat frightening and upsetting in equal measures.
Yesterday, I took this for granted, in my excitement to "get set up" I failed to put the time in to ensure my tripod was properly secure. Now for those who fish the Trent around Newark will know that many pegs have very large flat stone slabs making securing your tripod somewhat more difficult, this is not something new for me as previously there have been no issues.
This time was different. I failed to put a sturdy enough angle into the two front legs either, resulting in a flimsy set up at best.
I was fishing with 2 Barbel rods and was stood at the side of my rods (I always sit/stand right on my rods as I do not fish with bait runners.......I can't get rid of that "match style" of feeder fishing just yet. So, with both clutches set loosely as usual, to give me that couple of seconds insurance on any take, I wait with excitement as the river had a lovely bit of colour to it.
One hour into the session, I was stood at the side of my rods...inches away in fact, when out of nowhere, the whole lot toppled forward and into the Trent within 2 seconds....the type of take when you think you have been wiped out by a speedboat or something. No boats were in sight and in the Trent went 2 rods and a tripod. I could not quite compute what the hell had happened so in I went up to my knees.....I could not go any further as it was pushing through and it drops off very quickly and very dangerously. I managed to retrieve in seconds the tripod and one rod which was at full stretch. Th other rod was already 5 meters out and travelling UPSTREAM!
I tried to cast over the line/rod several times after I had wound in the other rod, but the rod that was going upstream soon sank into the depths never to be seen again. I sat there, wet through, trying to work out what had happened. It was the upstream rod that went over, but the interesting part was that the whole lot fell over downstream from left to right. It took me a while to register the situation as I had thought in my shock that the downstream rod had gone over and pulled the lot in but this was not the case.
Could a Barbel possibly pick a bait up from upstream and charge so fast downstream and pull the lot in, even before the rod tip has bounced back to register a drop back pick up for example? And then possibly turn again and pull the rod upstream??????
I have had a bit of a sleepless night worrying about a fish potentially being in difficulty, and I can only console myself with the fact that I do fish lighter hook lengths and that I use a running lead set up, but still.....
This has never happened before to me using this set up as the bites, although vicious at times, have always seen me in control of the rods due to the tripod being secure and the reels set nice and loose, like Bream fishing on the Trent for example.
So, the point of the story is to never under estimate the power of Trent Barbel, and ensure your set up, whatever that may be, is secure. Never leave those rods unattended, even if you use bait runners.
I have a renewed respect for these incredible fish. I know I'm not the first, and certainly won't be the last to lose a rod to the Trent's monsters, but be careful out there folks, and remember, most of all, respect the Trent.....do not put yourself at risk to save a bit of kit by going into the river, especially as the winter floods are just around the corner.
Stay safe folks, and keep your eyes open for a Korum Barbel rod!
