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i just adore this... " But best of all I love the barbels because they roll like big, brown-and-white cats upon golden shallows and sing in the moonlight with the joie de vivre of June. And, because, so, they are all Thames to me and wild-rose time and the streams running down from the weir."...

Have just watched a noted angler touch Ledgering for barbel, which is his favoured method, as it is mine. How many BFW members touch ledger? All the time? On occasions? Or never? No criticism of other methods, just interested in knowing members' preferences. Happy Boxing Day...

This is where I caught my first barbel in the early 60s Penton Hook Lock - WHERE THAMES SMOOTH WATERS GLIDE Great times! Regards, Hugo

There are lots of these niche cliques. I wonder why. What are your feelings? The only exception I would make is for The Baffling BURBOT ! As ever, :) Hugo

I do not often fish day ticket waters but did today. Normally it is a peaceful and pleasant place to be and for two hours I had the water to myself and was enjoying catching reasonable perch then........ The Carp Boys arrived, they were going to fish overnight! They erected their bivvies...

Some anglers might find fishing very easy, but if one suffers from arthritis and sciatica then it is somewhat painful. Have just returned from a fish less trip to our local river, which was nevettheless totally fulfilling as kingfishers, owls, swallows and house martins filed the scene, which...

Here in The Weald of Kent the weather is perfect for catching barbel: it is warm, humid with the occasional light shower. Richard Walker wrote that these were April days in September, although on this occasion August. I remember many such days on the Kennet when the barbel were plentiful and...

I was just pondering how many members use a cane rod and a centre pin. Would be very interested to know. Regards, Hugo

In Wednesday's Metro, a free newspaper for London rail travellers, there is a small article about a monster stickleback which was caught from an undisclosed river on a tiny piece of worm; the amazing fish was 2.9 inches long and weighed 12g (about half an ounce)- 3g more than a three-spined...

With the glorious sixteenth only days away might I recommend that,if you want to join a friendly club with excellent fishing in glorious countryside, then you visit our website, just google it and download a membership application form. You won't regret it! Regards, Hugo

How wonderful the weather has been today if only one could be fishing a river for barbel. Perfect conditions, although their minds are on other things. This sort of weather used to be the norm in September, and I found it to be the most reliable time to fish. Alas we have some time to...

i have been browsing through Barbel Rivers and Captures by the Barbel Catchers, which was published in 2004. It is amazing how things have progressed. Many rivers did not even merit a mention and I think that only one river record remains and that is from the Somerset Frome. Now I am...

I just wonder how many members of the fairer sex fish for barbel. My daughter does and there is a lady member of our club. Any more? Hugo

Following on from the "Is barbel fishing in decline" thread, I wonder if we have reached the ultimate weight for Barbus Barbus? It is some time now since the record was set and many of our rivers have a stock of aged, large fish, but the real monsters are no longer there, apparently. Food...

Just cannot wait to give this a whirl.... Barbos con mosca Regards, Hugo

Piscators, How many of us use cane rods and centrepins I am not going to do a poll, but would just be interested in your comments, pro or con. Regards, Hugo

Is anyone fishing in this dreadful weather? If you are I take my hat off to you. Oh dear it has just blown away......... :D Hugo

Years ago when the Kennet was full of streamer weed and crystal clear I used to regularly catch barbel by casting a lump of meat to the densest weed bed and leaving the bait on the surface, this was after dark. The barbel could be heard slurping like carp and on moonlit nights it was wonderful...

From observing the fish in our tropical freshwater fish tank it is amazing how different species feed at specific levels. In the morning when I turn on the tank's light all the fish are resting on the gravel but as soon as the flaked food is introduced, they assume their positions. I put in a...

I have just been re reading an old copy of Angling Today from January 2007, which was a Barbel Special. There are several articles on 'The Traveller' and Adams Mill In another article Pete Reading wrote " There is an unfortunate trend towards rods which are too stiff for barbel, often called...