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I’d been using a Korum 30 inch folding triangle net for the last couple of years but the spreader block snapped when landing a fish recently. It made returning the barbel quite a challenge, and it’s put off buying another Korum net. I’ve heard the TB Darent Valley nets are decent in a few places...

River Dearne this week.

I know that spot, have you ever scrambled down the bank to fish it?

The Upper Don

River Dearne in December

Beautiful, Lewis!

That’s a shame, I’ve only just bought some new Vass waders.

I’m the same really, I just fancy trying groundbait out as an alternative. Scalded pellets moulded around a gripper lead are a great option, as is buying the hook in it method style, especially when wanting to underarm lob your rig under some trees.

I’ve got these DVDs, not watched them in 6 years so maybe time for a revisit. I’ve always attached my mesh bag to the lead, but as they show here you can never be 100% confident the bag hasn’t gone for a wander.

That makes sense, not vastly different to what I’ve been doing last year but adding dry groundbait. Thanks, I will experiment.

I do use pva funnel web filled with a mix of dry pellets, usually attached to the lead and my hook nicked into it. I’m not overly familiar with stick mix’s, what’s the advantage?

Very true Simon, it helps to know what you want to achieve with the groundbait before deciding which one, and how to mix it.

I’ve thought about ordering some of the Hinders baits, the barbel bomb mix sounds good and it’s about £5 for 900g. Not as cheap as brown crumb but maybe worth a try to compare.

That’s almost certainly true! Me included. The marketing from the bait manufacturers is excellent, I always pick a bag of something new up when I visit a tackle shop. Thanks for replying, it’s given me some food for thought.

I very rarely use groundbait in a feeder when barbel fishing, instead I prefer the straight lead with PVA parcel approach. The fish in my local small river seem to feed more confidently over smaller particles, and when I have tried a feeder with groundbait I’ve never had any luck (albeit only...

I can be on the banks of the Trent within about an hour… but I’ve never fished it. I’ve got miles of river to go at close to home so I decided to try and master that first rather than spend hours driving. I will eventually fish the Trent but only when I’ve achieved my local barbel targets...

The first goal is just to catch a barbel, it’s never a guarantee where I fish. I’ll be aiming to catch my first ever barbel from the Don, then once that’s achieved looking to catch a double. And if this isn’t pushing it, I’d like to beat my PB of 10lb 4oz. But mostly I’ll just be happy to be...

Since returning to angling I’ve always fished alone, which means my photos are always of the fish and not me holding them. I really don’t need to see that, and I can assure you that you’re not missing anything either! My first barbel was in 2015 on the River Dearne. 6lb, and was soon followed...

Seems some of mine has gone towards the removal of bank side cover on my local small river. The EA rocked up yesterday and proceeded to rip out the far bank trees from the best swims. It’ll be bare banks and nowhere to hide for this fish now. 😢

Severn Dearne Don I have some catching up to do!