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Do Barbel Swim up Weirs?

J

James Worley

Senior Member
I Visited a small River the other day and there were 2 anglers fishing for Barbel, they were about 80 years old and as a fellow angler thought I'd have a chat.

Now this river is / seems to be about 20 feet wide max down to 6 ft in places, it has short stretches about 100 yards between small weirs. they are max 18 ins high.

The 2 old boys tell me there are Barbel in there up to about 8lb that only seem to show at dusk and into dark.

The river is about 2 ft deep, very clear & gravelly.

I walked for about 1/2 a mile and with my Polorised Glasses couldn't see a fish.

Thinking about what they said I was trying to see where the Barbel hide.

The only conclusion I could think was that they must be going up & down the Weirs.

can anyone confirm?

thanks for any replies.
 
They have certainly been using the salmon ladders that the EA insatalled on the Kennet. Barbel now showing up for the first time on some of the game estates between Newbury & Kintbury...


C.
 
Chris Plumb said:
They have certainly been using the salmon ladders that the EA insatalled on the Kennet. Barbel now showing up for the first time on some of the game estates between Newbury & Kintbury...


C.
Click to expand...
that will upset a few....:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
people have told me they do, i don't how they get up a 5ft weir pushing at pace.
 
Hope not to digress & just a quick related thought - if the river is navigable, have tagged barbel been found moving through adjacent locks?
 
There was a famous Barbel on the Wharfe that travelled up and down various quite substantial weirs on a regular basis.
 
Agree with Jon,
they move up and down the Thames through locks along with chub. They also move through weirs A friend watched it happen on the Hants Avon
 
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