Leanne Jones and Mike Welsh have enjoyed a brilliant start to the river season on Yorkshire’s River Swale. Together they took 7 Barbel in the first few days of the season, with Mike landing fish to 9lb and Leane this super 8lb fish.
Despite the river being up in flood they made a 4am start on opening day, and had the stretch to themselves. In view of the conditions a clever tactical decision was taken to fish huge Lobworms as hookbait – presented just off the main flowline.
Mike told us that they both used Drennan Supplex 12lb as mainline, “which performed fantastic” – used with a Fox Warrior Barbel XT rod and Daiwa Infinity reels. At the business end they used ESP Strip-Teaze braid through to a Super Specialist Barbel hook.