23/06/10 - River Derwent

Another trip to a new section for me, this time on the Derwent near Draycott. Spent an hour having a wander and getting my legs pricked and stung peering over the high banks. Saw plenty of chub amongst the streamer weed, but again barbel were the target. Settled for a swim at the bottom end of a steady section that shallowed up into faster water.

Nice!

The bailiff came along just after I'd got sorted and my choice of swim was vindicated when he said that a group of barbel usually hung around in the shallows, then moved into the deeper water to feed when it got dark. So it proved, with just a few chubby rattles before sunset. Bailiff had just returned from his rounds at around 1030 pm when the left hand rod shot round resulting in a pristine 8lb 10oz barbel.

First barbel of the season

This one was shortly followed by two more barbel of 8lb 1oz and 7lb 6oz before it all went quiet again, presumably when the rest of the group moved on. All the fish came to Sonubaits 16mm Hali-hookers and were nailed fair and square in the bottom lip or scissors by the size 8 Korda widegape, proving that I'd just been unlucky at Swarkestone. Packed up a happy man at about 1230 am.