Winter Whiskers

I don't quite know what it is but I just can't quite turn my back on the Barbel scene just yet the Pike fishing been put on the back foot so with a day off work Monday there was only one thing in mind the River Ribble so Sunday night I got all the gear ready made a nice batch of paste and I was ready for "Hopefully" some barbel fishing.
After negotiating the steep bank I was on the bank of the Ribble at first light. Conditions looked good air Temp was 9 Degrees so still quite Mild, I decided to fish a lodge baits 14mm Shrimp Boilie with a Flat paste Lead up-streaming the rod consistently casting every 20-30mins I was feeling quite confident the first hour after 3 hours I wasn't feeling so confident it seamed I was doing everything right or as right as I thought.
I decided I would have a look for a few worms I found a nice big lob under what looked like a tomb stone changed things over on the rig hooked the lob first cast right into Chub City only a little chub around 2lb but it Was a welcome fish I couldn't find another worm anywhere so it was back on the Shrimp this time a Dumbbell and what a good change that turned out to be within 20 minutes I was slipping the net under the first barbel of 2013 an 8lb 4oz Whisker with the epic fight she put up I thought it was a new PB never the less a very welcome fish and very Pleased decided to wrap up and head home at 1pm with a big smile on my face,
Look forward to the next trip.

January Whisker 8lb 4oz

The Rig 

The Rig "Now wrapped in The Lodge Specialist Baits Paste"