very wet indeed.  We look at each other in glorious stalemate. It is then I decide to take a risk and take a step into the unknown. The clump of hemp agrinomy to my right looks just strong enough to support at least part of my weight, if I can get a bit side strain for the downstream angle it maybe enough. "Thank phew for that!" I say out loud to myself...or at least words to that effect. I nearly went in there when the fish came free and I got stung all up my arm trying to grab my balance back. It worked though and a nice looking barbel is now wallowing in front of me. I grab the net and literally engulf it in one fluid motion, before dropping the rod and making sure I have the net and my balance properly controlled. Now comes that moment I think all anglers love - the sudden euphoric sense of relief. I take off my hat and sunglasses to wipe my brow and it is only then I release my left boot is decidedly wet, being a good ten inches under water. I had managed to avoid getting wet right up until the last minute when I made the  lunge with the net. But such a fish is worth a wet sock. A golden bar of raw shining copper. The formula one car of the fish world, glittering in the weak sunshine. It is not the biggest of barbel, no