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Unfortunately my nearest barbel rivers involve a a journey of one and a half hours, including one bus and two trains. I won't even bother to bore you with how I would get to my stretch of the Kennet but the round trip would be in excess of four hours. I know others travel longer, but it kind of...

Really enjoying this thread. One of the biggest problems I encounter is acquiring watercraft. As others have said, time on the bank is what it takes to learn and acquire knowledge (unless you want to cheat and learn from one of the many guides around, such as Ray!). Maybe there lies the answer...

I think the point is that no, it doesn't matter. Unfortunately there are those that believe it does.

When using a size 8 or 10 I tend to hook one through the saddle, then nip the tail off and hook that through the cut end. Anything bigger for multiples.

Gotta be something with a realtree pattern, surely? ;-)

Unfortunately some people are incredibly small minded. And that goes for individuals on both sides of the fence. I believe that many of the traditionalists who are of the opinion that their way is the only way, do so in some misguided belief that they are following some religion as set out by...

Ahh, big cats. Wonder whatever happened to the Padworth Puma? Maybe the Surrey cat's offspring.

Ouch Steven! Still at least you know the wereabouts of a couple of big fish now. I remember breaking two tips of my old Kevlar multi tip in consecutive sessions a few seasons ago. The first one was one of those slow motion moments. Trying to get my tackle together to move swims, I knocked my...

Apologies if I am missing the point here and that some amazingly clever, sarcastic bit of fun is going on, it must have flown over my head. Due to several factors centering around the times I can fish and how I get to the river, most of you that would happen upon me during a trip to the...

Now there's a coincidence, sat on the train reading your post an Train In Vain comes on the iPhone. Maybe you local tackle dealer is off down the river prepping his swim for midnight. Must admit that I've been a serial web shopper in recent years. Both Specialist Tackle and Leslies have...

No worries mate. I'm not necessarily the right person to take advice from, my catches hardly set the world alight! I would say that it's unnecessary to go for a freezer bait if you want immediate results. Apart from the Team Barbel I've never had any trouble catching barbel instantly on a new...

I'd find one you really have the most confidence in and stick to it. Then vary the size to suit the conditions. Don't think I'm saying don't use other non boilie baits, but if you're determined to use them stick to one. It cuts down on the variables. I started last season on the backside team...

What one are you using Neil? Oh and what size?

I have been checked a few times when fishing Longbridge Lake in Hampshire. I also used to get checked regularly when fishing the RDAA stretches of the Kennet. Considering the few times I used to get on the bank per season this would indicate that the bailiffs were visiting these waters...

I have never really done much upstreaming, at least not in the Tony Miles way with critically balanced weights and a quivertip, so I'll leave advice on this method to others. I have tried something I read about in a book or article once, possibly Quest for Barbel. I believe it is a Trefor...

Lol!

Not so sure myself, One of my stretches of the Kennet which is normally covered in the stuff has a lot less this year. I believe that the fisheries manager may have been removing it. I know from my own experience that it uproots pretty easily. One particular swim which is normally covered...

Hi Jon Well done on the pb again mate. I think most people headed off early in the end, so not much bagging up done, although a few more fish were had before last knockings. Luckily my theory on the main river proved to be b*ll*cks! Although areas where loose feed had been swirling out...

Sorry for the confusion mate, didn't think the shot looked like any of the enborne I know. Fished the enborne with a friend on friday. My mate Kev managed a two pounder first cast from a new swim. We walked the stretch for an hour or so before I moved back down to my banker swim to fish the...

Got the rod on Thursday. First impression was that it looked a very nice rod, but that the Avon tip was a bit stiffer than I expected. Tried the rod out today using the quiver section. Nice action and even managed to christen it with a decent fish. Not something that can be said for many of my...