Double click to edit
Sunday May 11th
At last,on the agenda for today is a Barbel session on the border Maas with no one less than Leon Haenen.
For a couple of years now I’ve been fascinated by the reports and stories of Leon,among other things the total coarse fish catches,the bites,the website of total fishing and not to forget here also on Barbeel .com.
04-30 the alarm goes off and 30 minutes later we(Wendy and myself) are sitting in the car leaving Zwolle and heading for Maastricht.
At last,on the agenda for today is a Barbel session on the border Maas with no one less than Leon Haenen.
For a couple of years now I’ve been fascinated by the reports and stories of Leon,among other things the total coarse fish catches,the bites,the website of total fishing and not to forget here also on Barbeel .com.
04-30 the alarm goes off and 30 minutes later we(Wendy and myself) are sitting in the car leaving Zwolle and heading for Maastricht.
Leon should be heading toward the swim for prefeeding.
We arrive in Limburg and receive a message on the cell phone---- barbell 68 cm appears on the screen,a promising message and full of confidence we head for the earlier designated location.We search along the bank and there between the undergrowth see we the sympathetic limburger already standing in the water.
We arrive in Limburg and receive a message on the cell phone---- barbell 68 cm appears on the screen,a promising message and full of confidence we head for the earlier designated location.We search along the bank and there between the undergrowth see we the sympathetic limburger already standing in the water.
We introduced ourselves and leon tells us that he had already caught a bream so quickly we unpack and Leon gives us the low down about the gear we should use and the techniek useful for this swim.
My first impression of the border Maas was of a dreadfully fast current and I think to myself is this really suitable for float fishing?Leon gave me a beautiful hand made float specially made for these conditions,real craftsmanship!.
My first impression of the border Maas was of a dreadfully fast current and I think to myself is this really suitable for float fishing?Leon gave me a beautiful hand made float specially made for these conditions,real craftsmanship!.
After mounting the rig we can almost begin with fishing but leon gives us a clear explanation of the techniek,the current,the bite, the swims and so forth.This man is clearly a well of knowledge.
I begin a bit nervously with my first drift,because ,and believe me, you cannot compare this with fishing on the Yssel.
I am using a Ron Thompson B-52,3.90 mtr match rod,a 90gm float on a Preston 0.20 direct mono main line and a 0.18 leader.The hook is a gamakatsu IS 2210 size 6.The hook is loaded with 5 fat maggots and now the fishing can begin.The drift only lasts about 15 to 20 seconds and then after a quick retrieval a new cast.After a short time a sence of security sets in and the drift seems to feel better.It is very difficult to differentiate between a bite and catching the bottom or snagging in the underlying weed growth, but the main rule is,if the float goes under,STRIKE!
Leon does get a couple of bites but the fish manage to escape.
I begin a bit nervously with my first drift,because ,and believe me, you cannot compare this with fishing on the Yssel.
I am using a Ron Thompson B-52,3.90 mtr match rod,a 90gm float on a Preston 0.20 direct mono main line and a 0.18 leader.The hook is a gamakatsu IS 2210 size 6.The hook is loaded with 5 fat maggots and now the fishing can begin.The drift only lasts about 15 to 20 seconds and then after a quick retrieval a new cast.After a short time a sence of security sets in and the drift seems to feel better.It is very difficult to differentiate between a bite and catching the bottom or snagging in the underlying weed growth, but the main rule is,if the float goes under,STRIKE!
Leon does get a couple of bites but the fish manage to escape.
During the session leon has a visitor and a quite pleasant man introduces himself to him.After hearing his name I know at once who this man is,reknown from the Barbel tales in Marcel Pomp’s(alias bertus bream and present Barbel record holder for the Waal)weblog.Yes it is none other than Jos Raaijmakers,yet another barbell expert.A cheerful exchange of friendly banter is a result of this meeting.We get regular visits of other barbell freaks during the session and that’s freaks in a positive sense of course.Really friendly people these Limburgers
We continue in the attempt to catch a fish.During the drift the float goes under where it has not disappeared before,I make a strike and it feels like a fish.A second later and the resistance has gone,missed.A short while later I hear leon strike and see that his rod is bent double,fish shouts Leon.After a short play Leon lands a bream,not a barbel but at least a fish
A beautiful bream,the dark colouration is a trademark of the border Maas,all in all a beautiful fish.
It remains quiet for a while after this catch but leon tries using different tactics.He tries using a different rod with zink and a different mount but the fish just wont bite.Then once again with a what heavier float and a little further into the current.Leon opens the whole box of tricks to no avail,when suddenly the water level drops like a stone.Not a good sign and very often associated with poor catching conditions.The sun is omnipresent and the temperature rises to 30c.After a few hours we decide to call it a day.
My final conclusion of todays session:
Despite the lack of a fish,at least on my part,a more than successful dayand I am sure that later in the season asecond try on the border Maas will be worth the effort because this is just a beautiful place to throw a hook out.
I have learned a lot today including a few tips that maybe useful angling on my own home ground,the yssel.
How ever,I must thank Leon Haenen for his hospitality and the trouble he went to to explain his methods and tricks to me on how to catch a good fish on his home river,the border Maas.We had a super day angling with you leon,Thanks.
Further we would like to thank all the visitors who came along including Jos and Giel,It was our pleasure to have met you all.
I will surely be back for a second attempt to get a maas Barbel on the hook but Leon…….are you sure there are barbel in the Maas?
My final conclusion of todays session:
Despite the lack of a fish,at least on my part,a more than successful dayand I am sure that later in the season asecond try on the border Maas will be worth the effort because this is just a beautiful place to throw a hook out.
I have learned a lot today including a few tips that maybe useful angling on my own home ground,the yssel.
How ever,I must thank Leon Haenen for his hospitality and the trouble he went to to explain his methods and tricks to me on how to catch a good fish on his home river,the border Maas.We had a super day angling with you leon,Thanks.
Further we would like to thank all the visitors who came along including Jos and Giel,It was our pleasure to have met you all.
I will surely be back for a second attempt to get a maas Barbel on the hook but Leon…….are you sure there are barbel in the Maas?
The Grensmaas Barbel
