Did two and a half hours this afternoon on the mid-upper. Level down almost a foot since Monday and fairly clear. Had one barbel, one chub and one bream. I
agree, things are slow. Mind you, dusk might be different but I rarely fish then for (anti)social reasons.
River Teme
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 andrewthomas38 |
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Posts: 1051 (25/07/08 22:20) |
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Freeliner |
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Posts: 117 (25/07/08 23:20) |
Lee.. I agree with a couple of points Smeth has made, namely.. touch leger, so you can be into 'the fight' instantly, and so stand a better chance.
Secondly, if there is a near bank snag then pulling a barbel towards it sometimes sends them in the opposite (far bank) direction.. but dont pull too strongly!
I totally agree with Leo's sentiments though, and would add... always use barbless when being broken is a possibility (i.e. all the time on the Teme!!)
N.b.. the only way to gain confidence in barbless is to use them, and soon you'll be a convert.
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Lee P |
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Posts: 70 (25/07/08 23:37) |
Have used barbless for near on 15 years and wouldn't use anything else. Just to point out I'm not really a novice as fishing goes but just not used to
the Teme as most of my Barbel come from the Severn or Avon, which generally offer more open water to play fish in.
Last night I offered hemp and the fish were feeding all over the swim. It resembled an aquarium at one stage. I cast midriver to give myself the best chance of landing a fish. As pointed out I held the rod at all times with the line across my first finger. The first fish I hooked powered off downstream but then dived into the near side snag as I retrieved. It was just over 4lb so I did managed to get it clear and land the fish. The second take shot across river and my line snapped before it got to the far bank. I have a feeling rocks may have been the issue here as I got caught up a couple of times midriver later on when retrieving my rig. The third fish was about 10pm and in the dark I really didn't have much chance of keeping it out the nearside snags. As I said I got the fish feeding away from the snags and they were willing to take my baits, just the problem with landing them. Would a tight clutch aid my chances or am i asking for breakages? I will have to try kidding the fish into thinking I'm somewhere else. |
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Freeliner |
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Posts: 118 (26/07/08 00:28) |
I wouldn't tighten your clutch right down Lee.. the only other pieces of advice I could offer is, go up to 12lb bs (or 15lb for that swim), or fish from
below the nearside snag (if possible), or only fish that swim in coloured water (they just 'chug about' then, and don't shoot off towards snags
that much) PS.. great to hear you're on barbless, mate!
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4spoke |
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Posts: 184 (26/07/08 09:51) |
Lee, I only use a pin on small rivers so line is given very grudgingly. 12lb main line and 15lb braided hooklink, rod is 1.75 tc and always hold the rod.
I cannot recall loosing a barbel in a snag in over twenty years on the Teme, not bragging but put it all down to the use of the pin,confidence in the tackle and hanging on tightly!! 
Tight Lines Alan |
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Leo |
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Posts: 362 (26/07/08 10:27) |
Lee,
i can tell you are not a novice but the Teme is something else mate as you now know, you have managed more action then me in the last couple of sessions than I did all last season, anyway it's all about opinions and a personal preference on how to fish that sort of river. but one thing is clear about the Teme the barbs there will run like hell to the tree roots, and that is the heat stopping action that I find like a drug and takes my fishing to a level that demands every ounce of fishing craft. I fished a swim at Cotheridge two seasons ago that was a barbel hotspot, the one Sunday I managed four in an hour, and then nothing, I had essentially killed the swim as I had invaded their 'safe' area, far better to have enticed them away with some angling craft.The same happened the following week, same swim four hook ups but four lost fish to the far bank roots!! As much as I love to catch barbel I also like to land them and ensure a good return back to the water. 4 spoke has not had a barb snag him in 15 years on the Teme, that is fantastic record, maybe I too should dust down the 'pin. |
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JWF49 |
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Posts: 78 (26/07/08 10:33) |
Hi Lee
What size lead are you using ? and how are you using it ? It could be that your lead is getting snagged and not the fish. I fish the lightest lead i can get away with and some times i will put a 3lb link between my main line (10lb ) and my lead knowing if it snag's the link will brake easily giving me a better chance of netting the fish I also agree with Smeth about holding the rod i have had a lot more fish that way radder than putting it on a rod rest and wait for a 3ft bite. Anyway i hope you sort it out and good luck. ATB Jim.  .
PS Hi John down on 31/07/08 for 3 days will call and see you then cheers bud.
"BIG FISH ARE HARD TO COME BY- BUT COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT"
J.W.F.2006 |
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4spoke |
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Posts: 186 (26/07/08 10:48) |
Leo,
I caught my Teme pb when the water was only around 6" within the top of the bank, in a vee formed behind a willow with branches etc trailing behind it. The gap was no more than 2ft and there were branches above (3-4ft) so a very difficult swim. I used the same gear as described earlier, hung on tight and hustled the fish into the net after a few hairy minutes  Result -
13.7 N.B I had fished that stretch for over ten years and only
managed fish up to 9+. The whole of the stretch is strewn with snags so low or high the fishing is always hook and hold.
Tight lines Alan |
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jackfoxy |
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Posts: 279 (26/07/08 16:37) |
Fished the Teme this morning... boy it is low. Saw loads of chub and a shoal of small Barbs. Fished some usually productive swims and didn't get a fish.
Had a family decide to set a fire and picnic table right next to me. They didn't even speak to me as their children began to paddle...
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adrian |
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Posts: 474 (26/07/08 17:03) |
Some people don't give a monkeys mate, last Wednesday I had one call me an 'fing old fossil and then threaten to come round and batter me, All because I asked him to give me half an hour before he cast in on top of my bait. It would not have been so bad if he had had a ticket but he had already told me he was 'guesting'. I did have the last laugh though because I moved 50 yds downstream and had two fish before he had finished his first can of Carling. |
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jackfoxy |
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Posts: 281 (26/07/08 17:33) |
Adrian, I wouldn't have minded as much if they had asked if it was OK for them to do it... they had been camping in the carpark (against rules as per HUGE
sign on tree!!).
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tenchman1 |
Barbel fishing on the Teme | ||
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Posts: 1 (26/07/08 17:35) |
Hi guys
Just come back from a weeks fishing on the Teme which i have sucessfully fished for the last 10 years. The fishing was very hard going around Knightwick area with us struggling to catch most day/nights, lucky to get a bite in fact. Checked with other anglers and they were fidning the same. I am concerned the river has lost a lot of fish due to the major floods last year, has any one felt the same? Allans tackle shop confirmed the fishing has been very patchy has anyone got any thoughts or knowledge of Barbel being killed during the floods last year? Also found one stretch where there were Barbel visible but not one of the twenty fish was remorely intrested in any hookbait, but quite happy to hoover up the loose feed. |
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Freeliner |
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Posts: 119 (26/07/08 18:22) |
Hi Tenchman.. I was very much 'doom and gloom' at the back end of last season as the average size of barbel caught (by me) had dropped alarmingly, but
have been pleasantly surprised this season. My average weight since 16/6 is well over 6lb, and have caught plenty. But, as from last Tues, I decided to give
the barbelling a rest and go for the chub.. after 3 blanks in 5 sessions. I've not seen any dead fish since the July 07 flood.. my feeling is that the
river needs some rain and/or, the barbs are about to spawn again. N.b. I've seen chub 'balling' (10-20 fish in a tight ball, rolling and tumbling
over each other) on 4 occasions over the last week. Spawning ritual??
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smeth |
Hard going | ||
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Posts: 53 (27/07/08 10:43) |
I agree with you tenchman it has been hard this season. I'm not sure what the reason is. Possibly a combination of reaction to the floods the fact that we
havn't really had a settled spell of warm weather this summer. the water has felt a little cold on my trips down there this year. Whilst I havn't seen
evidence of fish kills is it possible that numbers have declined due to fish migrating into the Severn? One thing that I have noticed is the absence of small
fish ie minnows/fry and wondered it the floods were responsible for this. Time was you could throw a pellet in the margins and it would be engulfed by the
blighters in minutes, that hasn't happened this year. Small fish do form part of the barbels diet. I think Freeliner is right the river needs rain but I
also think that it has to be warmish rain and not the cold stuff that we keep having. Perhaps a good old thunderstorm with warmer water pouring in off the
surrounding land which should have warmed up following recent higher temperatures would flick the switch. The chub seem to be doing alright though. In past
years they would only have formed around 5-10% of my catches on the Teme. This year it is around 50% and they seem to be getting bigger!!!! Can't figure
out why the chub should thrive and the barbel not. In my honest opinion the Teme has always been a bit of a moody river but in the past it has always switched
on and off. At the moment it seems to be in a sulk of inter gallactic proportions.!!!!!!!
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 IanH |
hardgoing | ||
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Posts: 15 (27/07/08 19:28) |
The stretch I fish fished very well for the first couple of weeks of the season then it tailed off week by week and is very hard going now.
Last year seemed to be affected by the floods but the start of the season proved that the fish are still there, they just don't want to play at the moment. |
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tenchman1 |
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Posts: 2 (27/07/08 19:56) |
Tks for your feedback
whats weird is the fish seemed to be lacking in numbers and very bait shy . good example at Talbot at Knightwick about 20 barbel just above the footbridge activley taking small pellets but would not take any hookbait. Also some locals were telling me stories that after the floods lots of fish were trapped in pools around the edge of the river. Allans at Worcester confirmed the fishing is very patchy, still guess the storm of a lifetime is bound to have some impact. Guess also i have been spoiled by this brilliant River. 
Hopefully the bigger fish will leave the Severn soon and head upstream. 
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smeth |
Entrapment | ||
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Posts: 54 (28/07/08 11:51) |
That is a possibility Tenchman but I'm not sure that the numbers trapped would have been enough to have such an affect. I know there were some areas where
volunteers actually worked putting fish back from their "temporary homes" It would be interesting to know from any one involved the numbers of fish
that were trapped. I suppose its possible that there were areas where trapped fish were not so lucky and once the water has subsided they have been left high
and dry so to speak. The absence of corpses could be explained by the fact that a passing fox/mink et al would not turn down the opportunity of an easy meal.
In previous seasons when form has been patchy people have blamed all sorts for the poor form and a perceived drop in fish numbers otters/mink then the river
suddenly bursts into life. Lets hope that the latter happens again, the sooner the better.
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Freeliner |
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Posts: 120 (29/07/08 21:51) |
Anyone know what the level/colour/flow is like?? Anyone been out today??
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willcatch |
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Posts: 107 (30/07/08 03:08) |
Hi Freeliner,
Had three hours earlier between 8.15 and 11.15 and blanked. Completely different river to two days ago up this way - it is about a foot up and very coloured. Not too much weed coming through at the moment and I could hold bottom with 2.75oz in a steady paced swim. Thought it would be ideal but not a touch - not even a chub bite. Tried some stinking boilies and dipped pellets - forgot the Spam. With hindsight it might have been the spots I picked (which are near where a flood drain enters the river - cooler water and cr*p off the roads washing in maybe) rather than anything else. Will try again tomorrow elsewhere! Will |
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Freeliner |
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Posts: 121 (30/07/08 10:50) |
Cheers Will, maybe it was the rising level (with maybe cold-ish water) that kept them down. Think I'll wait until tomorrow morning.. and give 'em
something they can't fail to sniff out.
Best Regards Freeliner |
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