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Barbel distribution

Be lovely to tag some and see what there movements are. The ones I've had the pleasure in watching don't appear to be anywhere near as fixed in location, as Chub for example which can be depended upon to be in the same areas year after year (unless substantial changes to the riverbed occur). Most seem to patrol areas of 100m or so. Quite annoying really, each year you seem to have to find new holding areas.
 
Stephen Crowhurst said:
Be lovely to tag some and see what there movements are. The ones I've had the pleasure in watching don't appear to be anywhere near as fixed in location, as Chub for example which can be depended upon to be in the same areas year after year (unless substantial changes to the riverbed occur). Most seem to patrol areas of 100m or so. Quite annoying really, each year you seem to have to find new holding areas.
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The joy of fishing rivers Stephen, if they were always in the same area it would be boring and everybody would know where to catch them.

I went to one of the clubs quieter areas today, no barbel but a 7-4 chub, all the more appreciated because it didn't come from where everybody is fishing.
 
Hi All
Well done Phil, a good fish although not your PB, very welcome in cold weather.
I must say I am very surprised that not many anglers fish on Beat 1 at THROOP.
A section of river that runs deep and is under fished.

This part of the Stour has seen the capture of many large fish, Bream like dustbin lids, Barbel over 14lb, very big Roach, Carp and Tench.
The Pike and Chub are available in good numbers and also reach some good sizes.
A video will be released soon taken by Ray Walton, I will put on the link when it becomes available.
For anglers that like to explore a river that holds big fish and not see another angler then this is for you.
Brian.
 
As you say Brian, Beat 1 looks more inviting especially for specialists the further you go upstream to the 'out of the way' areas. The top end of the stretch then backs onto RDAA Bounds Farm and then onto RDAA Church Farm, which are just as inviting and productive. The new vid realeased in a couple of weeks time is of Throop Beat 2 from top to bottom, starting at Throop Mill and ending at the A338 Roadbridge covering both banks in places. Here are a couple of more recent short vids of RDAA Dorset Stour venues and 2 older ones of Throop Beat 1 and 3. Click the underlined links to view.

Dorset Stour, Bounds Farm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q2JA-dD54s
Dorset Stour, Church Farm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF4LJk_7zVs
Dorset Stour, Throop Beat 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1lb9ptTK6w
Dorset Stour Throop Beat 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJfej36s8qA
 
Phil Nixon said:
The joy of fishing rivers Stephen, if they were always in the same area it would be boring and everybody would know where to catch them.

I went to one of the clubs quieter areas today, no barbel but a 7-4 chub, all the more appreciated because it didn't come from where everybody is fishing.
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I suppose challenging would of been a better word than annoying haha. Your right the ever changing nature of a river is why I can't stay away. I don't have the same connection with still waters and abandon them completely once closed season ends, other than one or two January forays.
 
Stephen Crowhurst said:
Be lovely to tag some and see what there movements are. The ones I've had the pleasure in watching don't appear to be anywhere near as fixed in location, as Chub for example which can be depended upon to be in the same areas year after year (unless substantial changes to the riverbed occur). Most seem to patrol areas of 100m or so. Quite annoying really, each year you seem to have to find new holding areas.
Click to expand...

I think around 1500 small barbel were re-introduced into Throop not long ago, to which a good deal of them were dye marked. Also around another 9,000+ small tagged and dye marked barbel were re-introduced over the past 6-7 years on various other stretches upstream of Throop, including on RDAA Dorset Stour fisheries. Would be interesting to see where they are and where they have travelled. That's a challenge for you Stephen. ;)
 
It took me over 20 years to partly suss out 12 miles of the Wey on my old patch Stephen which involved a 50 mile round trip and countless miles of walking coupled with many blank sessions at weekends. After a series of blanks it was often difficult to resist the temptation of the more prolific stretches, but when I did cave in I eventually found it less gratifying,...perhaps because it seemed pre conceived?
Trouble was, that over that period of time some of the big transient fish that had remained in my mind on the hard stretches may have been nothing but ghosts and long gone. Then out of the blue a different big fish or two would grace the net, then it was back to chasing shadows again, ...but the unknown aspect of it all, .. was ..and still does inspire me to get out there.

Now I find myself again with miles of lightly fished bank to explore which has reignited my fishing, still getting the blanks and sore feet, but I'm loving every minute!

I note you fish Throop,...one of my favourite waters of years gone by.
I'd fished it as a tourist for a good 25 years and foolishly/ pompously thought I had it sussed until I met a top angler who opened my eyes to parts of the venue that I had for years discounted as good barbel territory.
He had just finished a two week stint and was happy that I wasn't about to cramp his style. The fish he showed me were amazing and it taught me an important lesson of not getting tunnel vision with waters and believing there's nothing else to learn. To me, the learning curve is the fun bit.;)
 
Hi Dave,
Well done mate, a very good post.
Reading quite few of Chris Yates books in his very early days, when all he had was a pedal cycle and an ordinance survey map, crossing fields, knocking at land owners doors for permission to look at the bit of water that appeared on his map in search of his dream water many times to no avail.
That's proper pioneering, and I bet he was over the moon when he found a little piece of heaven through sheer graft and determination.
It will take more than a lifetime to find that piece of heaven.
Brian.
 
Great stuff Dave, those big fish can sometimes go from season to season uncaught, and just ghosts and shadows, but how satisfying when they do come to the net!!
PM sent regarding that top angler, I believe he taught me a thing or two too...
 
That's exactly what my old dad used to do Brian! Bless him.
One of his pioneering finds gifted him the perch record back in the late 50's and in my angling memorabilia I've still got a letter of congratulations from Dickie Walker and a scale along with a pic of the fish laid over the angling weekly to prove date of capture!
Happy days.
 
Ray Walton said:
I think around 1500 small barbel were re-introduced into Throop not long ago, to which a good deal of them were dye marked. Also around another 9,000+ small tagged and dye marked barbel were re-introduced over the past 6-7 years on various other stretches upstream of Throop, including on RDAA Dorset Stour fisheries. Would be interesting to see where they are and where they have travelled. That's a challenge for you Stephen. ;)
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I'm sure your better placed to the details than myself Ray, you are of corse correct that a large number were introduced to Throop, 3 years ago I spose. From what I understand and I'm more than happy to be corrected. These where fingerlings of around 10cm from what I understand. If your observant you can spot them on the shallows mixing with the gudgeon. From what I understand you shouldn't be catching these mini ones as they feed on food stuffs far smaller than the average anglers bait, in fact some suggestion was applied that catches of these tiny ones is a sign of poor food availability. Thankfully Throop has a diverse and healthy population of micro fauna.
Due to the poor survival rate of them at this size, I can't recall the figures, due to predators such as Pike and Chub but 30% rings a bell. It would/should around year 4-5 after stocking they should start turning up at around a foot in length. So if we said 10k fingerlings have been introduced there should be around 300 3-5lb Barbel extra, as previously discussed though these could be anywhere now. I have witnessed 3 shoals of sub 6" Barbel but I think I'd be best keeping it to myself where I've seen them. The people who need to know, know. ;)
As you may have guessed I'm becoming more and more interested in this side of things and am keen (time allowing) to get involved with this side. Ive been interested in these things most of my life and have a long list of fish I've reared over the years.
 
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