How high is too high?

[Matt Shipley]

Fished with my friend for a couple of hours today, just messing about really as we both had a chance to get out.
The river was in the fields, I haven’t fished in such a flooded river before.
We both got snagged and lost leads, using 4 ounce ledgers where I’d normally use an ounce at most.
We didn’t catch anything.
My question is, is there a point where a river is not worth fishing or is it never too high for a chance of barbel ?

 

[Stephen Goderski]

In my opinion, when it’s dangerous is too high, otherwise in happy

 

[Jim Gregory]

If it's in the fields, andit's warmer water than running previously, and air temps are rising, I'll run to the river.
No I won't , both knees are knackered ..
But if you do , make sure you know the lay of the land really well and always let someone know where you are;

 

[Jon Frisby]

The height ain't a problem, it's the shiiiiiiiite, that's coming down that affects it.
Once fished mid trent, 4 foot on, fishing just over 2 thirds across the river, payed out 20yd of line to create a bow. Next to no rubbish coming down, 19 Barbel on a day session. Bites were just the tips flapping in the breeze, after being bent right over.

 

[Matt Shipley]

The height ain't a problem, it's the shiiiiiiiite, that's coming down that affects it.
Once fished mid trent, 4 foot on, fishing just over 2 thirds across the river, payed out 20yd of line to create a bow. Next to no rubbish coming down, 19 Barbel on a day session. Bites were just the tips flapping in the breeze, after being bent right over.

A lot of rubbish coming down the river today. At least 6 or 7 foot on normal level, probably quite a bit more.
I spoke to a guy last year reckoned it was good fishing when it’s flooded in winter, but the peg he mentioned he fished you couldn’t get near it today. Cold air temps probably not good either

 

[Steve Jeffery]

I have heard differing views on whether you should still have your bait in the river itself when it's flooded. I have always tried to do so, rather than fishing on what is normally the grass bank, fields etc but a friend of mine has caught when he was fishing "out of the river" on the bank where you would be sat at normal levels.
Are you flood experts happy if your bait is outside of the normal river bed? Do barbel venture out of their normal environment?

 

[Andrew Jackson]

I think knowing the river well is the first thing. Provided you are fully conversant with the terrain and you know areas out of the main flow where Barbel do or are likely to sit then why not? Temperature and shelter from drifting crud are also factors. If you don't know the features I wouldn't bother! Safety aside, many good looking areas will be full of snags or rocks!

 

[Steve Roffey]

They definitely move out of the "normal" river, I've seen them pushing through nettles on the part of the bank I would sit on at summer level.

 

[Jim Brook]

I have heard differing views on whether you should still have your bait in the river itself when it's flooded. I have always tried to do so, rather than fishing on what is normally the grass bank, fields etc but a friend of mine has caught when he was fishing "out of the river" on the bank where you would be sat at normal levels.
Are you flood experts happy if your bait is outside of the normal river bed? Do barbel venture out of their normal environment?

I always aim put the bait on clean gravel where it would be inches deep under normal conditions.

 

[Terry Simner]

I've caught barbel from anglers' 'normal sitting position' several times. Those bits of flat, cleared ground can be 'the' place in a swim. I've fished onto tarmac a couple of times too ... but sadly not caught there

 

[Trevor Brown]

Chance of a motor pike and side carp on the tarmac Terry