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Is Barbel fishing on the decline?

Thanks to everyone who has written on this thread, some very good points..

Just like to say the reason why i stopped going after Barbel on my local rivers..
Firstly on several occasions i actually spotted more Otters than Barbel on more than one occasion..

Secondly i actually didnt get any joy from catching fish with nasty gashes inflicted from Otter attacks or parts of their tails missing.

Thirdly i began to realise that alot of my Barbel catches were infact repeat catches..

If it was just me experiencing this then i would blame myself and adapt, but its not..I have caught alot of big Barbel from many rivers so i am no stranger to challenges and whats involved to catch big Barbel..

I could stalk a Barbel from a puddle if it was in there!..;), but if it aint there, then you aint going to catch..

Theres whole stretches of rivers local to me that as little as 10years ago had good sized Barbel shoals and now there simply aint any at all, and believe me ,its not a case of their hiding in the weed.;)..
 
Here in Oxfordshire a few of us have been fishing a Thames tributary but no one as far as i know has had a fish since Xmas (inc chub) - the barbs are few and between as it is but even though the extra water has looked really good - nowt/zip/bugger all - so it leaves Friday afternoon or it is the first season in a good number of years with no barbel. Add to this an O has been spotted - may have to try the Kennet next year. Declining .... yes compared to 7/8 years ago when you could have a few in a session not huge but mid weight.
 
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