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Very good bit of speculation that. Good summary.

No theories being banded about, just hypothesising. Speculating in pure conjecture is what anglers do isnt it? Untill we have evidence that fish are getting bigger skeletons then talking of fish getting bigger and growing is a misinterpretation, anglers only have evidence for fish weights...

yeah, we are thinking on similar lines Paul. Skeletal growth is the significant issue here, not weight. I don't think fish are getting bigger skeletons just putting more weight onto their frames. I aggree with Fred Crouchs assertion that the proportions of fish have changed. I dont agree with...

Hi Paul, I wasn't on about dominant genes rather that carp will have a much more varied gene pool than barbel due to selective breeding. I doubt there is much genetic variation in proper Wildies for instance. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Have we even...

GTI. Lovely rod. Cant see me ever changing. Did I mention I've landed carp to 34lb on mine:D?

Sorry Alex, sense of humour bypass moment there. Thing is carp are a different beast to barbel when it comes to their gene pools. Carp have been selectively bred for the pot for centuries. If we take a stock pond full of carp, one breeder took scale patterns as his preference, and other...

That is not really what I wrote though Alex.:) The effect of global warming on increasing conditions for growth would affect all rivers, but there would be other variables to factor in across different rivers/geographical areas. I also mentioned that barbel would dominate any feeding situation...

I doubt there is huge variation in Barbel genetics across different rivers for that to be a factor in some barbel attaining larger weights. Obviously genetics play a part in fish diversity, as it does for all species, but I doubt it would explain why Trent fish get bigger than another rivers...

It would of been the same with my Speedia and the ratchet on Howard. The inertia in that split second is enough to move the whole lot. Im not skilled enough to ledger with a pin with the ratchet not on!

"Upstream ledger whenever you can" One of THE best bits of barbel fishing advice. Negates the need to pin the line above the lead down as the flow does it for you. To backlead effectively you need to be able to lower the rig in, IMO. The thing with backleading is that bites come...

They go mushy when defrosted. If you want rubbish casters then freeze them.

I'll have 2 of what you had please.

Chris, the barbel used to be prolific with all year classes just like the chub you are refering to. The chub are now doing what the barbel did, they (chub) being the dominant fish in the river are getting bigger but with a dying population. I also remember nearly 10 years ago in the Bell...

I know the EA regularly clean the gravels on the Ouse, Mark. I have often remarked to my friend, who works closely with them, that why dont they look to do more flow improvement work as this will in turn keep the gravel clean? I think the farming practises along the Ouse's catchment have alot...

Dave, you do have a point. The reintroduction of the otter at such a time wasnt a wise thing to do from an anglers perspective. But, and its a big but, it has happened, otters are thriving and you need to get over it. Conservation successes are not cliched in the slightest, it probably sums...

Good rant that Rhys. Im just glad Roach anglers didn’t want to kill barbel in the same way barbel anglers want to kill otters for interfering with what they perceive as the right balance! The otters re-inroduction is a conservation success. The predator prey balance that everybody keeps...

Clubs still going. Club books for sale in local tackle shops. They probably thought 'we dont bother with this website so why bother?'.

Snowy or Dumbo?

Tragic irony. Just when will we get the imbalancing act just right. Its almost as if 'balance' is just a subjective arbitrary term.

Okay, devils advocate time here. I thought we were into the 19th no closed season (1995?) so if the decline has been happening for 22 years then it started before the abolishment of the closed on stillwaters? What harm has the closed season abolishment on stillwaters done to rivers...