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superb reels an absolute bargain and a saving of £100 on the new price....I have a pair and they really are the best fixed spools I have ever owned, and I have had a few I can tell you.

Trouble is the Severn rivers trust, Angling Trust and the EA to a lesser degree dont give a monkeys about the barbel on the Teme, its not only the barbel that have gone on this once wonderful river, big pike, chub, bream, wild carp and roach....all gone.

Yes Terry with every question answered another two remain unanswered, I am no scientist, just an old barbel angler thats interested in these things. I think climates change environments, Katie Guttman Roberts did a very good PhD study on the Teme regarding the declining barbel numbers of the...

I don't think so Terry, though the EA dont tell us, the angler everything they do or know, this is why i would like to see some form of study done whilst its at its peak, because the stocking of Calverton fingerling barbel and the whole creation process of aquacultured barbel in being...

I think the phenomenon of large barbel, has reasons that are varied, I think the development in aquacultured barbel is one of the main reasons, I spoke to a well known freshwater biologist only last year and discussed this very thing and he stated that not enough is understood of nature of bred...

Kingfisher guild was a junior page in the Angling Times and you got a badge upon joining not for catching a specimen, well not when i was 12 years old...I did join the Kingfisher guild though, i wished i still had my badge

Its a question that is often asked, without doubt barbel respond well to higher river temperatures so very large barbel are a thing of our times, the warmer the river, they longer the feeding periods, so they are getting bigger. Richard Walker once was asked what constituted a carp angler, his...

For some weird reason spell check changed the C to a K..... you are of course right, Scopex...

I wouldn't categorically say eels never eat skopex meat, as there will be always an exception, but without a doubt, Skopex gives you a chance and the edge when eels are present and a problem , we have proved this over the years many times, especially on the Severn

Cut up into desired bait size, open freezer bag, x 2 big glugs of skopex, close bag and rub bag together so al the insides are coated with the Skopex flavour, place meat into bag and liberally rub insides of bag over meat, seal bag and place in the freezer. Be prepared for the good lady of the...

I have been asked to post this.....long time ago now though, but still relevant. http://www.stevepopebarbelfishing.co.uk/big-baits-the-early-days/

The Trent, runs warmer for longer (maybe 3c in the colder months) during certain times of the year, so they feed longer, opposed to a spate river that rises in the welsh hills and is a very harsh place to live....Trent barbel numbers are in decline as I see it, it may appear not to be, due to...

Some Barbel on the lower Severn have been aged at 25 years old as I remember , without a doubt though old barbel do show signs of decline as they become old, I had a 13.12 off the lower Severn and subsequently caught her again a year later and witnessed its capture another 3 times over a 4 year...

Depends what sex they are, Female barbel become sexualy developed later than a male, males live shorter lives at 5 to 7 years years old, 10 years at best, whereas females grow to 20 years old plus, males dont grow as big, maybe 9lb being top, but it all depends on the environment they live in...

No problem Graham, however hindsight is a wonderful thing, as is often proven, sometimes you just have to stand up for what you believe in, no malice, just an opinion ...i wish you well though mate and keep catching....

I had a sort of open view Graham, without a doubt the current dates are totally ineffective for barbel, even on the Severn, barbel were still spawning a few weeks ago, barbel were being caught in July spewing milt and eggs all over the place, so I was against the current structure of the closed...

The last count was 3 pups, a dog and a bitch, its the same every year, the dog kicks the pups out and it starts again...., its his living Jason, this is a man who is on his river 24/7, he has seen his beat destroyed by otters. This is a river were barbel are indigenous. But you are entitled to...

But, this is my argument, the EA last night said that one of the best indicators for improved water and environmental quality was the Otter. I know a fishery manager on Trout fishery on the Windrush that has to now stock 40% more Trout into the stretch he runs to basically buy the Otters off...

So are you saying there are no Otters on the Windrush, Cherwell and Ouse?

As I keep reminding you Jason and others, the most up to date example on Otters versus pollution debate are the rivers Teme and Dove , both rivers are that clean they support both Brown Trout and the even more demanding Grayling, however the EA have launched and are conducting a study into...