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Mike, it is a "catch 22" (Sorry for a pun) situation. If the fishing is poor, no one fishing equals no food going in to keep a healthy bio-mass if there is a lack of natural food for it to feed on; or too many fishing spoiling it for the locals, but keeping a supply of food going in to maintain...

Tim. This is one big issue. it is a combination of points. 1. the amount of chemical pollution. the ability of fish/barbel to smell/taste any food. Since the lower Kennet has had higher levels of discharge MORE Noticeable after 2018; (As an example) My results on luncheon meat is non...

Having now been a member for several years; one of the reasons for joining was access to the river reports. A post has been put up on the Dorset Stour in the last few days referring to the lack of reports. The individual surmises that the reason for this is we as barbel anglers are being overly...

River Loddon yesterday. In between the rain and strong wind

Well like others, I would put my pennies worth in. The bio-mass of humans. CANNOT BE SUSTAINED "The end is nigh"; sadly it will be drawn out and we will see a lot of suffering while we pretend that we can improve it! When man decided to be their own God; the world was lost and we made our own...

These fish should be put into the rivers that have lost almost all their barbel, such as the loddon and kennet etc. If we are honest the rivers that produce regularly like the trent are artifical puddles themselves!!!! The fish stock are from the excess of Caverton fish farm, put back if not...

know that swim well

we pay a bit more down in Reading. on Monday a pint of caster cost me a fiver!!!!

Do you know the bait is still safe to eat though. If we ate mouldy food, it would be a day or so of "meeting Ralph and Hughy" as Billy Connelly would say. I appreciate that human bodies function differently to fish; but, all the same I have always applied the same rule of thumb to bait as I have...

Over many years of fishing for barbel, mainly on small rivers; during the summer fishing hemp and caster; baitdropping regularly to build up a swim. Until the last two years it worked really well on both the river Loddon and Kennet, my local rivers; nine times out of ten, it produced multiple...

However, each contributor is limited to a few thousand words; it will be difficult for each to give more than a personal approach; and with multiple minds there will be multiple ways to approach CATCHING barbel. However, it will be a great read, chapters by guys who know how to catch barbel on...

1973, walking the couple of miles( it seemed further) from Broxbourne train station with a friend to fish the LAA stretch below Kings weir on the river Lea. Either light swan shot linked or light waggler fished luncheon meat on a size 12 hook, would catch endless small barbel to just over a...

The pair in question at their peak. the last picture shows the growth on the smaller fishes tail better.

I have also found that when they pair up, this bigger fish will stay together for years. on the lower kennet, every couple of years in the same swim between December and January; a couple of fish, one with a growth in it's tail, which was split and it's bigger companion would get caught. Over a...

late to the discussion....... I would chose the Harrison 11ft 1.4lb Avons (pair) and if really quick, would also grab the 1.75 Torrex. And as the reels are on them, the two Dave Swallows and Rapidex

Advanced angling section

Confidence restored. Took the other rod of the pair out yesterday afternoon. Didn't catch any barbel; however in four hours four chub topped by two over 5lb from same swim with rod tips down. By aside. The rod is going in for repairs with a reputable repairer rod builder and only costing a tenner.

Alan don't know what rod you have; but I have received great support from harrison's, sorting out the correct eye and putting me onto a good rod repair man only 12miles or so from me. Hope you can find the same service near you.

How often do we check the line guides on our rods? Yesterday while fishing, I had a disaster that leaves me really upset. Fishing a small river in a swim that the fish appeared spooky; I was fishing with my rod tip resting on the river bed and waiting for the centre pin to scream. Well, very...

May be a fine diameter; however in my tests at home; abrassion resistance is terrible.