The Challenge

The Sixteenth of June...The very words used to send shivers down the spine of every angler in the country. Visions of casting a porcupine quill towards fizzing bubbles next to lily pads in a freshly raked swim, the mist rising and a the glimpse of a rolling Tench. Sunshine, Dragonflies flitting and that first bite, the bite you've waited for weeks, months for. Even before all this the preparation, making floats, repairing tackle, the first trip in ages to the tackle shop.

For the majority of anglers these things are a thing of the past, I have nothing but respect for those die hard traditionalists that still have the will-power to resist stillwater angling in the old Closed Season, I have said before that the lure is just too much for me.

For me, the "Glorious Sixteenth" is now about the river and I will find myself beside my beloved Great Ouse. Even more these days, now that the Barbel boom circus has left town, it is a true anglers river, majestic, picturesque, an escape from everyday drudgery. The ever drecreasing Barbel population brings a challenge in many forms....location is key, there may be one or two fish in a mile of river, there may of course be a lot more. They've seen everything an angler may chuck to tempt them many times before and every one, regardless of size is a true prize. Presentation is also a problem, many stretches are crawling with Crayfish.I won't just be targetting the Barbel of course. Carp, Chub, Roach, Bream, Perch, Pike, you know me, I'll be after them all. At this moment in time, I have a plan, bait, rigs, location...I'll be there on the 16th knowing I've done as much homework as possible...It doesn't guarantee a thing, plans can be thrown out of the window on the first trip, such are the variables of this pastime of ours...I'll be sure to let you know how my river season progresses. Have a goodun.