Tees barbel (7)

Date fished 12/7/2026

4.40am until 8am

Yes, I watched the football. Yes, all of it. 

2.5 hours sleep and a 3.15am alarm. I must love my fishing!? 

It was always going to be an early start. In this heat, I wanted my discomfort to be more than that of the fish.  

After some minutes sleeping, not that much more than the match itself, I dragged my arse out of bed and headed towards the river Tees. No beers for the match helped, but it wasn't until I put the Argentina V Switzerland game on 5 Live and started to drink my cup of tea, that I felt ready. 

I picked a fast flowing swim and rolled some meat. People make it look easier than it is. A few runs through and I was not convinced. 

I cast the same weight to the slack water and put the rod down. Instantly it pulled round. Not the barbel I craved but a nice chub of about two and a half pounds. Released without even leaving the water! 

I decided to change to paste wrapped pellet next, it served me well on the Nidd. Constant taps, pulls. The lot. I just couldn't connect. I assumed crayfish, however when I finally connected, it was dace. I managed two.

I had seen a kingfisher, heron, eel and otter and it was not even breakfast time for many. 

After a few more biteless rolls, I walked around an island and saw a big chub lethargically heading towards a tree for shade. It's back out the water, I could of just netted him. 

I took this as a sign that I should go find my own shade, it is likely going to be snory and sofa induced. 

Does anyone know if mobile speed cameras always get you??

Asking for a friend. Ffs 🤬

No, not really

Date fished 22/6/2026

9.30am until tooth hurty pm

GCSE's completed and one more day of holiday for me was a perfect mix for me to take Rupe to the Swale to see if he could catch his first barbel.

We headed to Topcliffe as we could not leave at the  crack of dawn and he had a dentist appointment (brace tighten) at 4.45pm which could be on our way back North. 

First swim

Second swim

The weir swim looked good, sounded noisy and ate two swim feeders in two casts! We moved downstream 100m.

This swim seemed better, we cast our ledgerd pellets just in the flow and waited. 

I like fishing with pellets, they are:

Easy

Cheap

Last ages

Stay on the hook

Different sizes, flavours

Child friendly

I don't like some boilies that I have. I won them years ago and have never really used them. I take them with me on many trips and they come home again. They smell like vomit to me. I decided they were going in the river or in the bin!! 

Suddenly, Rupe's rod wiggled and I let him know, just incase he didn't see it through his fringe. He was in. A cute little chub his prize.

I cast too close to the far bank and lost more tackle. 

Today's mission was to hopefully get Rupe his first barbel, so I changed my rig to a vomit boilie on a hybrid feeder, no respectful barbel would get caught on that! 

A missed bite on that, it must work. I kept with it. 

My second of the week (ish). Big smiles all round! On the vomit too!!

Another angler came to fish this swim as I was releasing the barbel, he warned us of some snags. We had none in this swim so far. 

We reeled in. Snag! 

Another lost feeder. Am going through feeders quicker than............ (fill your own answer in here)

The sun burst through the clouds and although we liked the warmth, the fishing died. We watched birds, river critters and a little mouse having his lunch.

It was lovely to spend time with the boy. 

Oh, the title. I nearly forgot. Speaking of things that annoy me. Ask my son any question and his reply is usually "No, not really".

It doesn't even make sense!! 

Love him though!! 

What is this hair!?

Rupe's chub

This post is not about Rupe putting on weight, or indeed going to the gym or making some kind of protein milkshake concoction in my special beer glass. It's about him trying to catch a chub as I guaranteed him I could help him....

Its been a few trips in the making, starting some years ago (sept 2021) when we went to the Swale with my dad. Rupe caught a crayfish that day and declared that was a fish - Fishin' Impossible: Tired out

Then all subsequent Swale trips that were masked by grayling, trout or pike were actually chub trips too! There have been 4 blanks on the chub front. 

Fishin' Impossible: Junior anglers

Fishin' Impossible: Minn-ho ho ho

Fishin' Impossible: Dork hat

Fishin' Impossible: Catching salad

12/7/2025 - 90 mins

A hot day and evening meant we could not be arsed with driving to the Swale. 

Trying to buy a local day ticket was 'awkward' but we managed to visit the Tyne. 

Rupe fished meat and bread flake alternating for an hour and a half in the evening. It was certainly pleasant sat in the shade as the paddle boarders went up and down. No chub though!

A trip to the Swale end of July and it happened - 27/7 - 7am until 1pm

Well, it would of if it wasn't for dad to muck it up.  

We fished the Swale again, all three of us. Two rods. Meat and worm - the worm just got attacked by small stuff and the meat just sat. Eventually some local advice arrived and put us on the potential for a pull. Rupe crept into position and cast mid river, the flow took the bait under the tree and we waited. It wasn't long and the rod began to twitch, I was so excited I shouted at Rupe to strike. He obliged, but far too early and the chub was gone. I mean, it might have been a barbel - who knows. 

We kept on but nothing came back, another blank on the chub front, but a minnow, called Gary (obvs) got impaled on our hook. He went back strongly though. I swear, I will get Rupe to catch his chub this calendar year!

1/11/2025

7am until 10am

I woke Rupe up by switching his bedroom light on. We had agreed a gentle shake does not work and he usually goes back to sleep. Cup of tea, homemade sausage muffin and we were off. Wanting to put everything 'down by my feet' said rupe, I let him pack the car. 

We had not left Hexham and he was fiddling with the radio. November must mean one thing. Heart Xmas! Over an hour of nonsense, but we did get a spaceman and a fairytale! 

Travelling light it was a quick scamper to the river. It was high but fishable and looked good. We started in the swim we ended in last time and started to fish. The cheesepaste we made last night was ledgered on the crease towards the over hanging willows. 

Nothing here, we moved on. 

The sun was warm but blinding. we moved on. 

We came to my usual spot. I helped my dad and Tom catch their first Swale chubs from a particular peg. I tackled up a 7ft rod and shepherded Rupe to the swim. He has fished it before, but would today be different? 

"I've got one dad!" I heard, as I checked the photos on my phone. 

I scrambled down behind him, with a near useless net and scooped up his prize. For a first ever Chub, it looked a beauty! 

At 5lb exactly, we were both over the moon. We rested it and watched it slowly swim down and through the weed. 

Was there time for me to try in the first swim again, if I could only pry the rod out his hands!!??

Not a chance! 

Tees barbel (3)

Date fished 7/9/2025

6am until 10am

I am enjoying the Tees barbel challenge. I chatted with an angler as I walked back to the car, he told me he caught a Tees barbel from the swim he was in a few weeks ago. It's an area, I have never even considered!!! 

I was back in the same swim as the previous trip. This time travelling even lighter as I was planning on wading mid river to present a moving bait in and below the faster water. 

I only had meat and spicy sausage for the hair. 

Third trundle down, the line went slack. I struck and the culprit pulled back. Head shaking and zig zagging around the current and I soon saw the lips! A while ago, I would of weighed this, but today it was just slipped back. 

I changed the line and pace of the rolling meat. I was using the korum touch ledger and at times (not always) I controlled the bait downstream. Parts were so fast, I had no control.

During one of the pacier trotting down, I noted the line was spooling really fast. I closed the bail arm and struck. I was correct, something had intercepted the rolling meat. 

A different fish from the first, however I think the same as last session. A noticeable scar on its flank, maybe from a heron or similar.  

The upstream wind was warm and strong, my rolling took a more static approach as I found dips and places the meat would sit. A few times it came back with corners missing. Something was having a nibble. Not the two pincers buggers, but some whiskered beauty, whom I am always pleased to catch.

I will take this as a sign that I am getting closer to the Tees barbel. 

"Tam prope, quantum longe"

Tees barbel (2)

Date fished 29/8/2025

10am until 3.15pm

Two weeks in Florida with the family was very much welcomed. We had planned to go bass fishing but timings etc just didn't work out. We saw loads of fish whilst on an airboat ride, incidentally they are an awesome bit of kit, would love to have one for fishing. We also saw fish whilst looking for manatee, they are awesome too, we swam with them in their natural environment. 

Anyway, the barbel quest continued. Armed with the right bait, I tried again. Same peg BTW, the perks of fishing during the week maybe. 

First cast was met with a strong pull. I knew it was not a barbel though, on another day I would be happy with the 2.5 to 3lb chub.

One rain shower got me drenched, but 10 minutes later it was 20 degrees again and I was dry.

A few other anglers passed by, they were fly fishing for barbel - Good luck there! 

Knocks happened throughout the session. I was sure some were fish in the area, but nothing else graced net. 

I think Ronnie and Reggie approve of the new bait. 

Until next time, I am going to make like a snowbird. 

• Snowbird: A Northerner who visits Florida for the winter months. 

No perch here, mate!

Date fished 5/7/2025

7am until 1pm 

A solo trip today to the Tees. I would like to catch a barbel from this river, so am going to try and target one. Likely, I will get bored and try for everything else, but let's see. 

I did my usual and was outside the back door of the tackle shop about 6.20am. They were actually taking delivery of the days fresh maggots. I was let in and bought some bits. 

4 pints mixed maggots

Small tub worms

8mm Robin reds

Sonubaits groundbait

2 packets hooks to nylon

Total £30

Yes, I only needed maggots but when you have a good, reliable tackle shop, I missed out local, it's worth spending some extra quid! 

I parked up just as another angler was unpacking. He was off to find a swim before I could enquire into his welfare! 

I had some spots to try down stream, but couldn't not have a trot with the float in the faster water first. Second trot through a good sized trout. I put him back and fished on. A bite a chuck and quickly I had half a dozen chublets of a similar size.

A few grayling and I was smiling. The float went under and I struck into something bigger. It didn't feel like a loony trout. I saw it was a good sized chub. It slipped into the net from the fast flow. 

I saw it seemed to have a piercing, so I removed that. Not quite sure how the size of that was snapped off, but it's out now. 

I fished on catching chublets and grayling on the float. An angler came and spoke to me, he was after salmon and sea trout, we chatted and he asked about catching perch here. I dont think Ellis and I have ever had a perch up this way, so I told him quite confidently "no perch up here mate!"

Eventually I headed off to search for barbel. I was expecting to sit behind the ledger rod, so was glad to have had an active start. 

The wind was warm and strong. I sat on a beach, which was prime dog swimming territory. Most owners, seeing me called their dogs and carried on splashing down stream of me. One running dog owner didn't seem to care and the dog carried straight through me and actually went under my rod! I moved on.

Finding a recommended spot, I sat with my meat in a hole (Jason's words, not mine). 

I was putting the bait and stop on the hair, not as easy nowadays without my glasses, which were at home. I reeled in the slack and noticed that I had cut the main line and now the rig was not attached!! 

I set the rod back up, but this time decided to hair rig three worms instead. I put the rod down and it instantly swung around. I was hopeful of a barbel, a chub even but I feared it would be a trout. I saw the very red fins of a perch as it came to the surface! 

1lb 5oz 

I fished on as the wind buffeted me. It was becoming unclear if they were bites or the start of my rod being blown away. I decided to walk back. 

A few hundred metres away, it was sheltered and warm. But that was not the right place for the fish. 

I decided I had been rewarded with the perch and nice chub, so will keep the barbel hunt for another time. 

Reely odd first fish

Date fished 20/6/2025

9.45am until 1.45pm

A red hot day, weekend, week, but I had the day booked off work. Once the kids left for school, I decided to jump in the car and try the Swale at Northallerton. 

I walked around a section that has changed 'again'. Ellis was telling me about the change, but I thought he meant the previous change as he had not been there for a while. I now realise he meant this change, and I agree Ellis. Its unrecognisable!! 

I am sure the fish would find new areas to live in the deep, fast currents. All I managed to do was realise I couldn't wade through as I usually did. 

I cast in a piece of hotdog sausage, am still trying to catch on this bait. The rod gave a slight twitch, I struck and a fish pulled back. It was a jagged fight, I soon realised why. A good sized eel had taken a liking go my sausage! 

I managed to unhook it, but not hold it for a pic. It really was a wriggly bugger. I needed some shade, so walked the long way round to the bank opposite. Finding a shady tree, I sat down and leisurely cast meat this tine against the far bank bush. 

A few minutes was all it took, the rod bouncing as the fish dived into the bush. It was snagged, I pulled, no luck. I took off the tension and left it for a minute, I could feel the fish still swimming about. Eventually, I gave a smooth sideways pull and the fish was out into the river. Quickly unhooked, photo and rested, it was away back to the bush before you knew it. I was happy. 

I walked to a few more swims and even fished mid river for a bit. No more fish, but the weather was getting a lot hotter. 

Sitting in my favourite spot, I threw in a couple of slices of bread. I was sure catching on floating bread would make everything OK. No fish found the bread, so I departed.