Leeds & DASA News

Leeds DASA forum regular, Charlyfarly, had a barbel session that most can only dream of - an amazing 3 double-figure fish, the best topping out at an incredible 11lb 13oz. Charly fished a Leeds DASA stretch of the River Swale and took advantage of an influx of extra water when the level rose sharply after heavy rain in Richmond.

Tactics were 14mm hair-rigged halibut pellet, feeding a few 6mm pellets every 15 min, plus a small golf ball sized mush of halibut groundbait every half hour cast. “The peg is not noted for barbel - just one or two and is not often fished, the crucial thing was that there had been very heavy rain the previous evening up at Richmond and it had just reached this stretch; consequently the river
was rising very quickly from a low level”.

The recent Leeds & DASA Paul Hunter charity night raised over £3000 for Kirkwood Hospice & the Paul Hunter Foundation. Leeds DASA president Stan Jeffreys presented the cheque to Paul’s dad, Alan.

“With a few of our rivers carrying a bit of extra water last week I thought Sunday might be a waste of time with bites hard to come by. On Saturday I crossed over the river Aire on Wellington St, Leeds and there was maybe 18inch in - ok for Sunday maybe. I took the advice of  my mate, Frim, and decided to give the Aire a go. I got there Sunday morning at 9am armed with bag of liquidised bread and a bit for hook with chub in mind, chucked in and immediately a bang on the rod - a proper wallop missed it (couldn’t believe it!). 2nd chuck wallop again and a chub was on. Another half hour 3 more landed with 100 bites missed (had to laugh - sat in Leeds city centre missing chub bites every chuck. By dinner I was running low on bread so packed up, re-armed my-self, and moved to another stretch. Same again, 1st chuck wallop, the tip banged round again and by 3.30 I had 7 more with another 100 bites missed. Then the 3 police officers arrived -  I thought the fun was up with a “what you doing here”,  but no they were surprised to see an angler. Anyway can’t wait to get back again and cheers to Frim for putting me on some brilliant fishing.