FISHING FEVER! Magic opening day for a new river season 🎣

[@grahamnash9794]

I think there's always something super special about catching babies of huge fish. Baby carp are just stunning, especially the mirrors, and as you've shown here, baby barbel are equally as stunning. That's a cracking gift from your wife. She clearly love you. My better arf has provided gifts over the years that have so often made my day. But one gift she gave that never sops giving was er hand in marriage some 39 years ago. I know, soppy and cheesy, but honest. Next month I have surgery on my eyes, and that should hopefully permit me to read, tackle up, and paint pictures once more. Yet another time shared in your virtual company that did wonders in pushing the stress of the day to one side. For which I give you thanks. Take care John. TTFN

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks as always Graham - you are the poet amongst this rag tag band of anglers and your comments always bring a smile to my face. Yes, I’m lucky to have Rachel who is a cracking woman. She not only keeps me on my toes but knows how important my fishing is in my life. I’m glad you’ve had similar success in the romance department and it’s great to hear your eyes will soon be able to behold her - and the tip of a float - much better. My dad likes to draw and paint and that’s another noble passion. God luck with it and hope the recovery is smooth ❤️‍🩹

[@jim12065]

Hi John. Great video as always. I used to fish the Kennet many years ago, standing in the water and trotting with a centrepin. My fishing mates thought I was daft when I said this, but when I was fishing well and I was “in the zone” all of my surroundings seemed to vanish except for the river, and I felt I was part of the river. It’s a feeling I never got when fishing from the bank. Your video brought back some great memories. May I also say that I know how much effort is involved in videoing, especially to the level that you are able achieve, and I’m really grateful for what you do.

[@themagicoffishing]

Love it, Jim, and know exactly what you mean about becoming immersed in and absorbed by the river. I appreciate not everyone can do it (depending on access to venues and health etc), but it’s a magic way of fishing and seeing nature go by. Look out for another video in the next couple of weeks where I again spend several hours in the water 👍👌🎣 Thanks for commenting 🙏🤗

[@kennyscouse3388]

As always a great watch John. What a beautiful baby barbel, a good sign the river is in good nick for future generations of fish. 👌🏻🎣

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks 🙏 Really do appreciate the comment and it’s great you also appreciate the significance of that baby whiskers 😀

[@JonGrimshaw-o5c]

What a great vid John. When we were kids the closed season applied to all waters and those May & early June days used to drag by just waiting for the 16th. If it fell on a weekend we'd go night fishing on the 15th and the second it was dark you'd hear the ledgers flying, feeling really daring to be stealing an hour or two of the closed season. Innocent days.

[@themagicoffishing]

Hiya Jon! Thanks for the lovely comment and it’s nice to know people are still enjoying that video from back in the balmy days of June - now we’re in darker January. Just got back from a freezing but scenic day on the bank in fact 🥶🎣 I still remember that opening day from last year and it’s a good example of how special the 16th can feel to keen river anglers even if it doesn’t lead to a netful. I just about remember the closed season applying to all waters, or certainly reading about it and hearing my elders discuss it. However, I was lucky enough to not only be born in God’s county but be raised in Yorkshire - and the opening day used to be 1 June there?!! 🤯👍🎣👌 An extra two weeks! I never did make it to the bank for midnight as I was a youngster who wasn’t allowed up past 8pm, but I love your description of the memories. As I claim in my book, I don’t think anything can touch fishing for magical experiences 🎣

[@ianmiller865]

you make great videos as its just fishing without all the bs saying you must do this or that, loved it. thankyou.

[@themagicoffishing]

Love that comment! Many thanks, Ian. That’s what I aim to do 🙏🎣 Welcome to comment on my videos any time - really appreciate it.

[@cliveeariss880]

That for sure is a sign of things to come, great video Jon, and tight lines for the new season, I'm sure we will sometime, all the best.....Clive.

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers, Clive, and the same to you! 🎣

[@pauledwards6470]

Nice film that John,what lovely baby barbel eh,the great British weather never let you down again,supposed to heat wave next week they,all them carp have started spawning again they say

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks, Paul, your warm words are always appreciated - please keep ‘em coming! 🙏🤗🎣

[@saturn16]

Really enjoyed that video, thank you 👍

[@themagicoffishing]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting.

[@johnwilson7174]

Nice relaxing video. I'm 81 now and looking forward to being back in Ireland in 8 weeks time. I'm running out of years!

[@themagicoffishing]

Amazing! I’m still yet to make it over there, but it’s legendary for coarse fishing and I grew up reading about the huge hauls of roach, bream and hybrids. You keep trucking - and fishing - as long as you can! 🎣 ✊😀 We have a chap still fishing my old club matches up north who turns 90 this year.

[@PinreelPaul]

Great video as always and lovely to see the pin reel in action!

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks for watching and commenting - makes it all worthwhile 👍

[@neilwayte517]

Great to see those small fish which unfortunatley is a rare sight these days. Lovely atmospheric video mate setting the scene for the next 9 months. Oh one thing though you mentioned getting up early to get out fishing . Yeah right the John i've come to know over the last few months is not creature of the early mornings. I'll see you down the Thames at the start of next week around mid day no doubt lol

[@themagicoffishing]

You are unfortunately bang on the money, Neil - I’ve never been a morning person, even though that means I miss a lot fishing-wise. I’ve always preferred my evenings, although I do get up relatively early for my northern club matches each summer a do a 360-mile round trip each weekend to fish them. That’s dedication after 25 years of living in the south! But wait until you see the next vid on here - I managed to get up early again and really enjoyed it!

[@johnnewman2046]

Would that be a naturally recruited juvenile barbel or have the EA done some stocking?

[@themagicoffishing]

I believe it’s 100% natural and a couple of club members have said as much - feeling as happy about its appearance as I did. No recent stockings that I’m aware of and it was so small it had the feeling of being a survivor from last year’s spawning 👍

[@cliveeariss880]

Im going to fish Cobbets lake tomorrow, and have a plan of attack, so a week of getting everthing ready for a 5am start.

[@themagicoffishing]

Sounds great Clive and well done on an early start - it’s something I don’t do enough of. I hope you had a good day, even if our angling plans don’t always go down exactly as we envisaged them 😄🎣👍 You’ve certainly had the ☀️

[@cliveeariss880]

@@themagicoffishing The lake is really lovely, spoke to David the bailiff, but how did it go, well you will find out soon, have a nice Sunday mate.

[@markmott5578]

Loving your videos mate. I had a 12lb pike out that platform swim a few years ago and had a few nice barbel on that stretch too. Keep up the good work. Fellow Woking member. 🙌🏻

[@markmott5578]

I’m also a Byfleet member. Would be nice to cross paths on day 🙌🏻

[@themagicoffishing]

Loving your comment! Thanks very much for watching and for taking the time to leave a comment - always welcome 🙏

[@markmott5578]

@@themagicoffishing My close fishing partner Tim Carter recently met you at the Byfleet AGM and is reading your book while on a beach in Greece. He is complimenting on how good it is. Where can I purchase your book, would it be Amazon? Regards Mark.

[@شاكر-ز5ح]

Hello my name is Shaker from Iraq I use the bean bait and it is an effective bait for barbel fisherman thank you

[@themagicoffishing]

Hello Shaker! I think you might be my first Iraqi viewer, or certainly the first to leave a comment, which I really appreciate. I didn’t know you have barbel there and thanks for the bait tip. I hope you might enjoy some of my other videos on the channel that feature barbel, like these two examples… kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZLXZH6caJyoaZYsi=uObVvZ-kdU9NXdZw or kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIerfpqngc6rZpYsi=uUQ7d65IFsisbyFZ

[@johnferris7983]

Just watched your episode at frensham small pond, very interesting to me as I was lucky enough to fish there and the big pond plus many of the other waters you’ve shown. if you’re interested in what was caught before all the “famous anglers” fished there contact me.

[@themagicoffishing]

Great to hear from a local angler and it sounds like you’ve got some interesting fishing tales to tell! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🎣