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Re your last comment, feels a bit like cod fishing to me where you have to crank up from depth although I admit I don’t fish our bigger rivers where you may be 80 yards plus when you hit the fish. I love the idea of rear drag, I.e. keeping your hand out the way of the front end when playing the...

I could go with the grey but only if it had the optional extra double handle ! Feels like we are negotiating the perfect barbel reels for us all. Maybe we should crowd fund it ….. not sure I exactly know what this means but I hear the tech savvy boys talking about it so must be worth a punt !

You could offer it as an optional extra for heathens like me ! All the best.

Make that four thinking about it. That should see me out !

Rich, Add Matt black powder coat finish and (sorry purists but) a double handle version on the left and I’ll have two please ! Happy new year all. Steve.

In roughly chronological order with an asterisk against the ones that have produced barbel for me: Thames* Wey* Mole Colne* Cherwell* Bourne Thame Kennet* Blackwater Potts Stream Hamps Avon* Dorset Stour* Welland Nene Witham Teme* Severn* Wyre Ribble* Think that’s the lot. Never fished the...

Just after the turn when the flotsam and jetsam has dropped out but before the colour goes as well.

Interesting topic and we all like the idea of a “magic” bait that will give us the extra edge on tough rivers. I had a look online and, wow, this stuff is expensive but as Alex said if it gets you a few extra fish it is probably worth it. What about using the powder to dust luncheon meat ? As I...

I have two of the Harrison 1lb 6oz and have used them for years, best barbel on them was 11lb 8 ozs but they always felt slightly under powered. Great tench and bream rods but moved to two Harrison 1lb 10ozs stepped up versions bought from Davistackle in xchurch. These are great and have had...

Porpoising is just like a dolphin or whale taking a breath whereby they breach the surface of the water head first and then dive down again. I have seen this on a few of the rivers but not often. The full breach where they completely leave the water and crash back in I have only seen on the...

I have caught barbel on a lot of rivers in the UK including the Thames, Wey, Colne and Mole in London, the Thames and Cherwell in Oxford, the Stour and Avon in Wessex, the Teme and Severn in the Midlands and the Ribble in the North. During this time I have occasionally seen barbel porpoise or...

Harrison Avon SU 1lb 10oz for me.

Forgot to mention the Kennet, how did I forget that ? ! Used to be a wonderful place before the crayfish invasion. Caught a few barbs from there as a boy ! steve.

Well, just completed my first expedition of the season to the Wessex rivers and not a bad trip however barbs were not playing ! The buggers ! Managed 18 chub to just over 6 lb over 7 days on the H Avon and the D Stour with all coming to cheese or meat on the float and light ledger rigs but...

Well done mate, welcome to the club. However a word of caution: you may find yourself addicted to the species. I certainly did after my first !

I will continue to try to beat an old record of 13 lb 12 oz that was the UK best when I caught my first ever barbel in 1980 as a boy from the Thames at Penton Hook, however this one needs to come from my beloved Hampshire Avon. I also want to beat my PB chub of 6 lb 14 oz (at which weight I...