How far North do barbel live

[Jim Brook]

I’m of the belief, that only the Themes and Yorkshire river Ouse systems had indigenous barbel populations and all other rivers have been stocked?

 

[Joe Winstanley]

I’m of the belief, that only the Themes and Yorkshire river Ouse systems had indigenous barbel populations and all other rivers have been stocked?

Barbel are also native to the Trent, Great Ouse, Welland and Witham systems.

 

[Tim Marks]

These spate rivers in Scotland which originate in upland areas are just too acidic to support coarse fish like barbel. They are only suitable for Salmonids.

The East coast Scottish rivers support significant roach populations. The Tweed, Forth, Earn etc were worth fishing when I lived up there in the 80’s. These days I think the Forth is more of a dace fishery.

I didn’t come across any barbel info during the 5 years I spent up there. Most of the locals that I fished with were only interested in pike.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Barbel are also native to the Trent, Great Ouse, Welland and Witham systems.

I believe they were native to the Lea aswell Joe

 

[Jim Brook]

Barbel are also native to the Trent, Great Ouse, Welland and Witham systems.

Yes I forgot the Trent but that does join the Yorkshire Ouse to form the Humber so a different river system by name but still connected.

 

[Joe Winstanley]

I believe they were native to the Lea aswell Joe

Is the Lea not part of the Thames system Rich?

 

[Jim Brook]

I believe they were native to the Lea aswell Joe

Is the river Lea not part of the Themes system?

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Is the river Lea not part of the Themes system?

Yes it flows into the Thames. That’ll teach me to read posts properly

 

[Jim Brook]

A week ago my wife and I were in Scotland as she was running in the Loch Ness Marathon (rather more brutal than she expected!!)
Anyway, we stayed up there for a few days to look around. The rivers were impressive. Many had fast sections but with areas of slack water. They seem ideal for barbel but they aren't found up there. Is it purely due to them not being introduced or is there another factor?View attachment 32157View attachment 32158Fred crouch said , it’s too cold for barbel to reproduce naturally

 

[Kevin Siddle]

Barbel are also native to the Trent, Great Ouse, Welland and Witham systems.

A friend now sadly passed away claimed to have witnessed EA stocking the Welland with barbel many years ago. I have never seen one or indeed know of anyone who has though I did hear a third hand rumour about 15 or so years ago that someone had caught a long lean fish similar to a carp with whiskers in the Market Deeping area. Unfortunately both the Witham and Welland are large rivers and it would take nothing for a few hundred fish to disappear within them! I would love the rumours to be true!