Bedchair

[Joe Fletcher]

Overnight stays, Barbel fishing...do me a favour.

Each to there own Neil ,Some times Neil it nice to venture further a field and find other rivers to fish other than the ones in your back yard I will be fishing the Tidal Trent again this season and for me it's about a 250 mile round trip and to make it worth while I like to stay for a couple of days .
So having traveled that far , It would be pointless going up for just the day .
So this season I will be joining the bivie brigade and will be staying , eating and sleeping on the river bank

 

[Joe Winstanley]

Meant pioneer not pierr. Now that would be overkill I admit...

 

[Neil Smart]

Sorry Neil,

I had quite forgotten your role as the self-appointed moral arbitor on all things angling.

As it happens I very seldom use a bedchair /brolly when barbel angling, but on the rare occasions I do - and that's usually when travelling over to the Trent for a couple of days (it's a 5.5hr round trip) - it's my concern, not yours.

Some anglers prefer to use them more regularly, again that's their business.

And as it happens I can pack my up my pieer, bedchair and the rest of my gear in less onto my trolly and be moving to a new swims in less than 15 mins - something I do all the time on v.low stock stillwaters I fish predominantly in the spring and summer months.

The great thing about angling is that is what you want it to be. Each to their own I say.

Go fishing and enjoy yourself Neil, stop worrying about what others are up to.

It was all tongue in cheek really, but since you have a trolly too...well.

 

[Neil Smart]

Each to there own Neil ,Some times Neil it nice to venture further a field and find other rivers to fish other than the ones in your back yard I will be fishing the Tidal Trent again this season and for me it's about a 250 mile round trip and to make it worth while I like to stay for a couple of days .
So having traveled that far , It would be pointless going up for just the day .
So this season I will be joining the bivie brigade and will be staying , eating and sleeping on the river bank

Joe the rivers in my, your back yard are the envy of many I am sure, if you want to travel, 250 miles then fair enough, I appreciate it is the BS book, and I guess you feel that it has to be done, but if I want to fish a featureless windswept Tidal River I need only go 2 miles not 250 And after every blanking session I can at least crawl into my own bed, but as you say it would be pointless in not staying for the next blanking day.

 

[Dave Taylor]

Com'on guys,... bivvies, tripods, comfortable bed chairs,... that ain't barbel fishing, its long-lining!
Joking apart,... everyone to their own. It's the way to go if you happen to fish parts of the Thames or Wey where boat traffic is a pain in daylight hours.
I can't speak for Keith, but I figure his post was a little tongue in cheek?
I don't often bother with any chair at all but my barbel fishing is often as much about spotting fish and roving than making camp.
Broad church and all that, just enjoy.

 

[Joe Winstanley]

Yes Neil,

Trolley/barrow whatever you want to call it. How else is one supposed the lug the kitchen sink to the bank? You should try one, maybe tow it behind your High Horse

 

[Neil Smart]

Sorry Neil,

I had quite forgotten your role as the self-appointed moral arbitor on all things angling.

As it happens I very seldom use a bedchair /brolly when barbel angling, but on the rare occasions I do - and that's usually when travelling over to the Trent for a couple of days (it's a 5.5hr round trip) - it's my concern, not yours.

Some anglers prefer to use them more regularly, again that's their business.

And as it happens I can pack my up my pieer, bedchair and the rest of my gear in less onto my trolly and be moving to a new swims in less than 15 mins - something I do all the time on v.low stock stillwaters I fish predominantly in the spring and summer months.

The great thing about angling is that is what you want it to be. Each to their own I say.

Go fishing and enjoy yourself Neil, stop worrying about what others are up to.

Aside from your rather uncalled for comments, do you think that anglers bivvied up fishing for barbel actually helps Barbel fishing per se? Because I really don't think it does, can you imagine if it was more the norm to bivvy up carp style on our rivers? The already pressured stretches would really suffer and be devoid of Barbel. Barbel need an an element of sanctuary, if we ignore that then we at least have a ready made scapegoat in the Otter I guess, whilst the real culprit might be a little less nearer to home?

I am I being honest here, feel for our pastime in fishing for the Barbel, I just have to look at the Facebook pages and see the two/ three rod set ups, all podded up, '''traps set waiting for the wrap round'' lot.

To me that has nothing to do with the principles that first fired my imagination as a boy when I found fishing, and it does nothing now, but as you say each to their own, but I think we can see the trend, and it's very much a down hill one.

 

[Neil Smart]

Yes Neil,

Trolley/barrow whatever you want to call it. How else is one supposed the lug the kitchen sink to the bank? You should try one, maybe tow it behind your High Horse

Oh! Dear try and compose something without name calling, actually try and stop to think before you reply, I know it's hard to admit that one's actions might impact on others /fish, but clearly this sort of throwing everything at it, including the kitchen sink, is worthy of some deep considerations on your part perhaps?

Deep breath

 

[Neil Smart]

Com'on guys,... bivvies, tripods, comfortable bed chairs,... that ain't barbel fishing, its long-lining!
Joking apart,... everyone to their own. It's the way to go if you happen to fish parts of the Thames or Wey where boat traffic is a pain in daylight hours.
I can't speak for Keith, but I figure his post was a little tongue in cheek?
I don't often bother with any chair at all but my barbel fishing is often as much about spotting fish and roving than making camp.
Broad church and all that, just enjoy.

Keith? Nice sentiments Dave, and I bet you enjoy every moment?

 

[Neil Smart]

More... opening day on the Lower Severn, actually Severn Stoke, two lads bivvied up been there all night and were intending to stay the next. They apparently had a small Barbel between the up untill the afternoon. However their method was straight out of the French Carp Handbook....using a rowing boat to position their leads far bank, and the same boat to drop a mountain of boilles on the area, needless to say they struggled, I suspect they have retreated back to the Carp Pools.

 

[Dave Taylor]

Keith? Nice sentiments Dave, and I bet you enjoy every moment?

I was ref. Keith H's post that obviously caused some disquiet.
Sorry it took me a while to reply but I was busy erecting the gazebo and firing 5 kilo's of boilies into my swim!
Just put the bivvie slippers on and tuned in the tele for Glasters , nearly forgot to cast out!

 

[Neil Smart]

I was ref. Keith H's post that obviously caused some disquiet.
Sorry it took me a while to reply but I was busy erecting the gazebo and firing 5 kilo's of boilies into my swim!
Just put the bivvie slippers on and tuned in the tele for Glasters , nearly forgot to cast out!

Ha!

 

[Gerry Giles]

looking for info on a new Bedchair just brought a fox brolly system 50

Another vote for the Trakker levelite ELS it has a roped middle section for extra support and this means its great to sit on too

having been a Carp angler for the past 55 years I have used pretty much all the bedchairs and without question in my mind the Trakker levelite ELS is the best out there

 

[Dave Brooksbank]

Overnight stays, Barbel fishing...do me a favour.

Neil, if I lived more local to rivers like the wye or Severn two of the most prolific Barbel rivers in the country, where on a good day multiple catches are to be had during the day up until dusk do you really think I would bivvy up for the night and want more?Absolutely not,why because I've had an enjoyable days fishing and satisfied with the result which will keep me going back with confidence for more day dusk sessions. Down south rivers like the Thames are very tough and require a lot of time and effort and if it fished like the Severn would throw away my bivvy tomorrow. Maybe I'll treat myself this season and make the 270 mile round trip and fish like a proper barbel angler for the day. Ps I've never been a Carp angler, do own a pin and use a spoon landing net.

 

[Joe Winstanley]

Aside from your rather uncalled for comments, do you think that anglers bivvied up fishing for barbel actually helps Barbel fishing per se? Because I really don't think it does, can you imagine if it was more the norm to bivvy up carp style on our rivers? The already pressured stretches would really suffer and be devoid of Barbel. Barbel need an an element of sanctuary, if we ignore that then we at least have a ready made scapegoat in the Otter I guess, whilst the real culprit might be a little less nearer to home?

I am I being honest here, feel for our pastime in fishing for the Barbel, I just have to look at the Facebook pages and see the two/ three rod set ups, all podded up, '''traps set waiting for the wrap round'' lot.

To me that has nothing to do with the principles that first fired my imagination as a boy when I found fishing, and it does nothing now, but as you say each to their own, but I think we can see the trend, and it's very much a down hill one.

Neil,

I agree angling pressure can be detrimental, but I think the issue is much nuanced than just pointing the finger as those anglers who fish over night.

For a start, who causes more angling pressure; the bloke who due to family and work commitments fishes once a fortnight, but when he does tends to fish overnight and for around 24 hrs or the retired old codger who pops down to the river 3-4 times a week for 4-5 hours at a time?

I know a couple of barbel anglers who only really get to fish nights. They tend to arrive at the river after work, fish till the early hours, bring the rods in, grab some sleep, get the rods back out for a hour of two before heading back to work. That's the only opportunity to fish that they get - does anyone seriously think they have the right to deny them opportunity?

Angling pressure is best dealt with a combination of individual anglers using their commonsense, and clubs and syndicates applying sensible rules that best fit the local circumstances.

And yes I agree fish need sanctuary - that's why I have always argued that each water should have areas that aren't fished and closed periods.

I'm not to sure the trend is downhill - that's a very pessimistic view and the idea that fishing was necessarily better in the past is a bit rose-tinted. The general standard of fish handling and care is infinitely better than it was in the past. It's been over 34 years since I've seen an angler knocking a double figure pike on the head 'for the good of the river'.

ps - 'can you imagine if it was more the norm to bivvy up carp style on our rivers? The already pressured stretches would really suffer and be devoid of Barbel' Have you ever been to Collingham, just below Cromwell Weir? I can't think of a more pressured stretch of river - it's certainly not devoid of barbel.

 

[Joe Winstanley]

Oh! Dear try and compose something without name calling, actually try and stop to think before you reply, I know it's hard to admit that one's actions might impact on others /fish, but clearly this sort of throwing everything at it, including the kitchen sink, is worthy of some deep considerations on your part perhaps?

Deep breath

I give my fishing a lot of consideration, and I'm very happy with my approach thank you. And I'm always keen to minimise my footprint and to put back more than I take - hence all the habitat management work I undertake on the stillwaters I fish.

Fishing challenging waters means you need to maximise your opportunities, a good example is the water I'm fishing at the moment. The tench have a clear feeding spell which starts around 4.30am and ends around 9.30 - 10am-ish. Although I've had the odd fish during the day, and on the occasional overcast day with a nice warm westerly ripple on the feeding spell can go right through - but generally it's v.early morning and late evening.

So I make no apology for arriving after work in early evening, getting the rods out (and yes I do usually fish 3 rods) fishing till 10pm before bringing my rods in, putting some bait out and getting some sleep before my alarm sounds at 4am.

That first brew of the day watching the mist roll across the watch in the hope of some seeing some tench roll over the swim is bloody magical - it's one the reasons why I go fishing. Come 9am I'm packing up and heading back to work.

 

[Dave Brooksbank]

Joe the rivers in my, your back yard are the envy of many I am sure, if you want to travel, 250 miles then fair enough, I appreciate it is the BS book, and I guess you feel that it has to be done, but if I want to fish a featureless windswept Tidal River I need only go 2 miles not 250 And after every blanking session I can at least crawl into my own bed, but as you say it would be pointless in not staying for the next blanking day.

Good luck Joe. That's Grade 1 pessimism.

 

[Derek Funcks]

Crikey, is this thread half full, or half empty. Lighten up fellas, its only fishing, each to their own, just get out there and enjoy the moment, were not here long enough to spend time squabbling. Tight lines to all.

 

[Neil Smart]

Good luck Joe. That's Grade 1 pessimism.

sarcasm?

I know Joe Dave I don't think he needs any reassurance, what I am stating is pretty much fact anyway, well pretty much, except the Tidal Trent is more likely to produce a Barbel for Joe on the BS stretch anyway.

And it did produce a Barbel for him last season, compared with the Tidal Severn in comparison it's prolific, there was the irony in my post.

 

[Matthew Thomas]

Time and a place for everything

Used to enjoy a few days in my bivvy on the river , pod , Alarms, bedchair, sleeping bag, full cook kit, 5litres of water , two buckets of pellets , 6oz feeders, little telly - even watched the World Cup England matches at Collingham while barbelling!!
Mate even had a motorised barrow so we could pile all our stuff down to the swim in two journeys in comfort.....

Still got all the kit and maybe a few times will use it but I also have an alter ego that wears a fly waistcoat, salmon net on back and breathable waders and if I can't carry it it doesn't go - great fun trotting or rolling and usually my catch rate per hour is much higher.

I also like one rod a rucksack and chair for the static swims for the evening- still take a kettle and burner though when doing that as I like my tea fresh.

All types of Angling for Barbel has its place, as long as the fish care is high and the rubbish goes when the angler leaves then no problem in my eyes

EDIT; to answer to the original Posters question a top tip- buy an inflatable camping mat for your bedchair the thin foam lines air mattresses from go outdoors, they are about £20-£50 dependant on brand but they will transform your comfort levels - blow them up fairly hard and even a cheap bedchair becomes luxurious.