Big Barratt's Bite - River Chelmer

This could just as well be called The Boat Battle as Mark Barratt and Joe Atkinson (16) take each other on in classic predator marina territory on the River Chelmer.

Joe is such a good predator angler that hes already won a consultancy from Fox, and hes taking us to a spot where hes had a number of 3lb-plus perch in the past.

Thats the target today, but the boys livebait tactics arent initially proving all that attractive to old striper, although some small pike do come their way.

Time for a change of tactics and a change of scenery, and as its Marks birthday he gets choice of pegs. And hes first into the fish, although unfortunately its a daddy ruffe thats smaller than his lobworm hook bait. Whats more hes trying to claim points for it. I think its a predator!

However, Mark is soon into something much more substantial, albeit its still not quite going to plan this time its a lovely Chelmer common carp which gives him the right old runaround between the colourful moored boats. Oh crap!

Finally things start coming together, Mark sticking with lobworm and putting one over on a perch of over a pound, but Joe quickly bites back with a cracking double figure pike on livebait great fun on the light perch gear.

But the old un has the last laugh, getting two quick runs and putting two beautiful perch in the landing net at the same time, and one of them looks like it could be pushing the magical 3lb barrier.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Barratt
• carp
• perch
• river chelmer
• pike
• common carp
• mirror carp

[Uncivilization]

Was it me or did it look like the line was cut at the end?