Warwickshire Avon - Pot Hunters and Piddingtonians

I’d not fished this particular stretch for barbel for quite some time, which is probably why, in a moment of complete irrationality, I suddenly developed the overwhelming urge to go and annoy one of them again. There are few things in life more predictable than an angler voluntarily returning to somewhere that has previously caused him considerable frustration, armed with exactly the same tackle and considerably more optimism. It’s a strategy that has served me badly for years, so naturally I saw no reason to change it now.Upstream, since the fish kill in this area, there have been a few barbel coming out, which is encouraging, although the phrase “a few barbel” is quite sufficient to make an angler cancel weddings, birthdays, dental appointments and, if necessary, a minor operation. Tell an angler there are three barbel in a stretch and suddenly he’s studying Google Maps at two in the morning and explaining to his wife that he really does need to be there before sunrise because “the…