• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

You Can't Catch Barbel On The Float In Winter.....

Julian Griffiths said:
The late Keith Speer did it too, 17lb wasn't it?
Click to expand...

I believe he did, and I think he had quite a few larger specimens.
Did he fish the southern chalk streams ?
Amazes me how the fish grow so large in those small streams/rivers!
For many years i've fancied fishing on one of those lovely looking chalk streams, maybe one day 🙂.
 
Ian Woods said:
I believe he did, and I think he had quite a few larger specimens.
Did he fish the southern chalk streams ?
Amazes me how the fish grow so large in those small streams/rivers!
For many years i've fancied fishing on one of those lovely looking chalk streams, maybe one day 🙂.
Click to expand...
Ian, I had a 16-12 last March on the float on the H Avon which is one of the most iconic of the southern chalk streams. There are a few day ticket stretches down there and also Christchurch Angling Club offer holiday memberships which are worth checking out if you ever fancy a week down there. Sopley, Winkton, Severals, Bisterne, and Royalty are all worth a punt but beware, these are low stock barbel waters unlike the Ribble and can be very hard going.
 
Steve Kenchington said:
Ian, I had a 16-12 last March on the float on the H Avon which is one of the most iconic of the southern chalk streams. There are a few day ticket stretches down there and also Christchurch Angling Club offer holiday memberships which are worth checking out if you ever fancy a week down there. Sopley, Winkton, Severals, Bisterne, and Royalty are all worth a punt but beware, these are low stock barbel waters unlike the Ribble and can be very hard going.
Click to expand...
Severals (members only) and the Royalty are on the Ringwood ticket and day tickets can be purchased for the Royalty and all 3 beats of Throop / Lower Stour.
 
Ian Woods said:
I believe he did, and I think he had quite a few larger specimens.
Did he fish the southern chalk streams ?
Amazes me how the fish grow so large in those small streams/rivers!
For many years i've fancied fishing on one of those lovely looking chalk streams, maybe one day 🙂.
Click to expand...
It was caught on the river ivel when it had a reasonable population of barbel to go at. For me it is still one of the most notable barbel captures of all time.
It’s a very different river nowadays after suffering a big predation spike in 2016/2017.

There are places down this way like the upper lea where you can have float caught barbel sport in winter similar to what you’ve got up there.
Most of the big fish rivers are much lower stock and require perseverance. Putting in blank time and fishing for 1 bite type thing.
I occasionally hook one on the nene in winter usually after I’ve scaled everything down for one of our big crafty chub and as a result often ends up in disaster very quickly.

if you fancy a change of scenery Ian you know the offer is always there to come and have a go down this way for a big en. Can’t promise a result but can can promise afew chub and slabs trying.
 
Steve Kenchington said:
Ian, I had a 16-12 last March on the float on the H Avon which is one of the most iconic of the southern chalk streams. There are a few day ticket stretches down there and also Christchurch Angling Club offer holiday memberships which are worth checking out if you ever fancy a week down there. Sopley, Winkton, Severals, Bisterne, and Royalty are all worth a punt but beware, these are low stock barbel waters unlike the Ribble and can be very hard going.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Steve, much appreciated my friend 👍.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
It was caught on the river ivel when it had a reasonable population of barbel to go at. For me it is still one of the most notable barbel captures of all time.
It’s a very different river nowadays after suffering a big predation spike in 2016/2017.

There are places down this way like the upper lea where you can have float caught barbel sport in winter similar to what you’ve got up there.
Most of the big fish rivers are much lower stock and require perseverance. Putting in blank time and fishing for 1 bite type thing.
I occasionally hook one on the nene in winter usually after I’ve scaled everything down for one of our big crafty chub and as a result often ends up in disaster very quickly.

if you fancy a change of scenery Ian you know the offer is always there to come and have a go down this way for a big en. Can’t promise a result but can can promise afew chub and slabs trying.
Click to expand...

I know you have had some very nice specimens on your river!
Richard, thanks for the very tempting offer to fish, no doubt i'll take you up on that in the future, and we know that offer works both ways bud 🙂👍.
 
Yo
Phil Nixon said:
Severals (members only) and the Royalty are on the Ringwood ticket and day tickets can be purchased for the Royalty and all 3 beats of Throop / Lower Stour.
Click to expand...
You're right Phil, sorry for misleading you Ian. The rest though are true Avon classic beats that are available on day or holiday permits. Phil is also right about the throop. Wow, what a river in its hey day, alas very low concentrations of barbel these days but I believe it has produced a twenty or two so far. I’m sure there is a barbel record or two swimming there tonight. Mark had a 14 back in the day when we were still learning and Martin hooper was showing us what barbel could grow too on the Avon. He had a fifteen From my, nowadays , favourite swim when I still only had an 11 1/2 as my best back in the 90’s. There are still some huge fish in both the Avon and the Stour as I have seen them ! When I retire in a couple of years I will try and concentrate on those beats again for a while or two.
 
Last edited:
Watched the video last night Ian. That Zeppelin is so smooth, with no rattle that u get on some pins.
You rang a bell in my head when I saw the sweetcorn; having caught loads of Barbel in the past on corn(feeder). I haven't tried it on the float on the lower Trent yet, it's going in next time for sure.
Keep up the good work...
 
Jon Frisby said:
Watched the video last night Ian. That Zeppelin is so smooth, with no rattle that u get on some pins.
You rang a bell in my head when I saw the sweetcorn; having caught loads of Barbel in the past on corn(feeder). I haven't tried it on the float on the lower Trent yet, it's going in next time for sure.
Keep up the good work...
Click to expand...
They are built like tanks those zeps and they spin for an eternity with a light flick.

I’ve caught afew on the nene and Trent trotting several pieces of corn on the hook. It definitely loose feeds better than meat having a faster sink rate.
I often take both as it’s not uncommon for a switch to bring on a quick bite.
 
Steve Kenchington said:
Yo

You're right Phil, sorry for misleading you Ian. The rest though are true Avon classic beats that are available on day or holiday permits. Phil is also right about the throop. Wow, what a river in its hey day, alas very low concentrations of barbel these days but I believe it has produced a twenty or two so far. I’m sure there is a barbel record or two swimming there tonight. Mark had a 14 back in the day when we were still learning and Martin hooper was showing us what barbel could grow too on the Avon. He had a fifteen From my, nowadays , favourite swim when I still only had an 11 1/2 as my best back in the 90’s. There are still some huge fish in both the Avon and the Stour as I have seen them ! When I retire in a couple of years I will try and concentrate on those beats again for a while or two.
Click to expand...

Hey Steve, I know you didn't mislead me bud, so no worries my friend.
Prolly just a pipe dream, but I might get to fish one of those sexy chalk streams eventually lol.
 
Jon Frisby said:
Watched the video last night Ian. That Zeppelin is so smooth, with no rattle that u get on some pins.
You rang a bell in my head when I saw the sweetcorn; having caught loads of Barbel in the past on corn(feeder). I haven't tried it on the float on the lower Trent yet, it's going in next time for sure.
Keep up the good work...
Click to expand...

Thanks for watching it John 🙂.
Yes, the Zepp is a nice smooth reel, and as you say no rattles etc. It has a high set narrow line lay but doesn't suffer from line stick. I have a 4 and a 4 3/4 models and the line pick up on the retrieve is good on them both due to the high set line lay. Nice reels to be fair.
Maggots and corn have been my go to baits for 20yrs now 😉.
Yes, i'd deffo give it a go on your river, i'm quite sure you'll do well with it, fingers crossed you do anyhow 🤞👍.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top