Fishing

June 16th

Arrangements were made with FlyFisherman, Richard to meet on the Trent at 10 am on the first day of the new season.
I had been reading reports on the internet of the river rising, and the usual flotsam rushing through, but the river level tables indicated the river was only about two foot up on normal conditions. 
I was tempted to contact Richard to postpone our meeting, but thought a trip down anyway would assist the decision making on the spot, so to speak.
Having made myself a full breakfast, I made my way down to the west of Newark on the A46, and arrived at the fishery gates at just after 10 am.
Nearly chopped my finger off in the gate mechanism, and drove bloodily down the bank side track along  the long straight and up to the big bend.
The river was certainly shifting through and bales of hay and bits of tree were speeding along in the current as I arrived.

As I rounded the bend I noticed 3 vehicles, none of which was Richard's, so I parked up and wandered over to the first angler for a chat. 
The first question I asked was is the river still rising, he wasn't certain but his pal in the next swim said it was, but slowly.
At that time one barbel of about 6lb and a small bream, were all that had been caught by the six anglers present.
Still no sign of Richard, so I decided to set myself up on the very first swim off the bend and immediately dumped a good few large bait dropper's full of hemp and maggots in the margins.
By 11 o'clock I was tackled up, some difficulty experienced though in knot tying, I couldn't get a proper grip with the slice out of my left hand finger (next to the thumb) giving me problems.
Blood seeping  everywhere again, so I decided to superglue the skin flap down, it stung a bit but sealed the skin in place. Only needing the occasional further dab of glue to stop the wound catching on everything.
So, I sat back with a quarter tin of garlic spam affixed to a Partridge size six weighted Czech Nymph, no other weight. 
I was going to fish with maggot but changed my mind.
My decision to use only one rod probably was the safest option as the current, just over two rod tips out, was hurtling through. 
The last thing I wanted was tangled tackle!
A few tentative tugs kept me concentrating, as did the occasional recast, being not certain if the meat had come off.
Anyway after almost three hours and thinking the England v Wales football match was probably on the radio, I was tempted to sit in the car and listen to the commentary, and perhaps fish on into the late evening.

Meadow crane's-bill

As it turned out, another few twitches of the rod top developed into a solid take, and I was soon into a tough fight with a fish as yet unseen.
I couldn't understand why my reel drag on the 5010 wasn't working, and was having quite a bit of trouble gaining line on the fish. I eventually got control with a pumping action, and caught sight of the barbel as it reached the surface, it looked at least a double.
I was very relieved as the fish slipped across the rim of the landing net safe and sound.
Anyway whilst trying to unhook the fish, and not being able to loosen the tension I then found the problem. 
I hadn't threaded the line through the first eye properly, and as the fish gave tension the line just tightened across the rod between the reel and the eye!
I really must take more care a lost fish because of pure carelessness would have bugged me for the rest of the day.
Duly rested after the rigmarole of trying to unhook the fish, I zero'd my scales  and weighed the barbel at 9lb 8ozs.

Not a bad start. 

As it tuned out apart from a few twitches, that was it for another three hours, so I packed up my gear and headed off home. The river level was going down.
Fortunately for me,and in particular my continued well being, there was a fella cutting the grass at front of the entrance, and he kindly opened and closed the gate for me.
No sign of Richard!
Is my mojo back? 
We shall see, but it did feel good!