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I know of stillwaters that stock barbel but have never fished them. Did your pool stocked barbel fight like its river cousin? I'm guessing that as you weren't battling against the river flow as well as the fish, it didn't fight as hard?

It seems my "Close Season Blues" post has prompted 2 main "themes", namely, how things used to be and current problems with pollution. As a 71 year old I like to think I am quite "forward thinking". It's easy to think about "the good old days" of river fishing but not all rivers were in...

That is quite sad Neil but I know what you mean. Our smaller rivers are less able to cope with pollution and extraction than the bigger ones, but even they suffer as we all know. Good luck with your target of catching a dace from the Isbourne post June 16th !

Yes you're right. Need to find one with tench and maybe crucians?

I've fished from the age of 7. I'm now 71. Strangely I am missing my river fishing more acutely this Close Season than ever before. There are no canals in Norfolk so I can't even fish them unless I travel. In desperation for a bit of "rod action" I visited a local "commercial" and caught some...

I read that the local MP of jailed farmer Price, thinks that the farmer, who has consistently ruined the local environment should have been spared jail and just been given a fine. These MP's just don't get it do they? I beggars belief that our Members of Parliament are so out of touch with...

It beggars belief that anyone would want to support this vandal. However, I often see examples of people wishing to "tidy up" the countryside with no understanding of the damage that is done to the environment when undertaking this kind of work. What makes this example different is that Farmer...

Just heard this on Radio 4. Brilliant. Let's hope he doesn't appeal

Great question Nick. I am looking forward to replies/recommendations as, I too, am going to have a go at trotting for barbel in 2023!

I had to smile when I read this thread. Years ago I watched "Passion for Angling" (didn't we all!) and in one episode Chris Yates was using a Kelly Kettle. I thought to myself "I have to get one of those". I took it on my annual barbel fishing trip with my mates. I never heard the last of it! I...

I had 2 x Stanley flasks. Now replaced with the big Thermos King. Its much much better plus I got it on offer at Tesco. Win win

Adam, this is a MASSIVE pet hate of mine. I walk my local rivers a lot here in Norfolk and take a carrier bag with me to pick up "so called" anglers rubbish. Can't say anything too non PC but a lot of them aren't "true" anglers. However, the public perception is that they are fishermen and that...

Without going too much "off topic" I have for some years been concerned about the wider implications of water pollution and "fast/cheap" food production. Due to insatiable demand for Bargain Buckets (other varieties are available) of cheap chicken, the UK industry around the Wye has expanded out...

What a brilliant post! In a world where many anglers are obsessed with catching bigger and bigger fish, you're targeting the tiny gudgeon. This was the fish of my childhood. I still catch them now in the upper reaches of the Bure, normally when trotting for roach and dace. I use a 13' Guru float...

As someone else said earlier in these series of posts, having watched Part 2 of Paul Whitehouse programme about pollution in our rivers, I am not sure he was the best person to present it. I like the guy. He and Bob Mortimer have introduced fishing to a wider audience but I think he is too...

I agree about the "short-term" outlook of politicians but Water Co executives are in post for a long time. Its relatively easy to impose conditions on the Water Co's that insist a certain % of revenue (not profit as they will just squirrel it away somewhere) to be spent on sewage treatment and...

Our small Angling Club has a Rolling 5 Year Plan of improvements. The Plan outlines the funds needed to complete works required, details of costings, materials, volunteer labour needed and allows for any disruptions (although we did not foresee Covid!) My point is this: we are a tiny Club with a...

I know what you mean Graham. I'm in the old 'un category myself! The thing is on the one hand you have private Co's doing what they please and not what the public need or demand, and on the other hand the possibility of public ownership of utilities. If the latter were to happen, then driven...

So many individuals, many on this forum, are demanding answers from the EA, politicians, Water Co's etc. about this poor state of affairs. Not wishing to be left behind in this race for answers I have today written to Sec State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. I have "open copied"...

The collective anger at the situation which is displayed by forum members is understandable as we witness the effects of pollution on a resource we use for pleasure but also understand its importance to the general public. The problem, as has been highlighted by many here, is greed. Money, and...