It seems now to be a trend that when local rivers/venues decline of barbel, then anglers just pack up and leave the area without a second thought regarding why, and just leave the river environment to decline further..
Ray. Local river Thames. 2 hours to get there,1 of which stuck on the M25.
Paid 75 quid for membership,to find on arrival a punt with 2 anglers aboard
(and no clubcard) fishing the swim i wanted.Find another swim,but dead as a dodo in daykight hours,but persist,in hope,so sit watching,the boat traffic
that is as busy as the M25 that i was stuck on earlier,and darnt cast more than a third of the way across the river.Also notice on the opposite bank
six eastern europeans spinning for pike,knocking them on the head,to take home.....im not happy,but thinks...ok after dark.
Not so every half hour of darkness,i hear the throb of bass from the disco
boat packed full of hooray henrys,supping red wine,that then spends half an hour turning around near the weir swims im fishing.
The following week i fish the Great Ouse,very nice,banks covered in litter,
and otter paradise,though i do pass the time stamping on the 15 crayfish i caught.
So this coming season,syndicate water for me,No litter,No dog walkers,
no Eastern eruopeans,and "may" catch something 30 minutes away from home
Can you really blame me for deserting rivers.
As for deserting rivers when they die.You still fishing Adams Ray.
regards Howard