Noooooo

[Neil Smart]

I'm lucky enough to be able to call Steve Collett a mate.
The guy is a fishing genius.
I have the greatest respect for someone who can be catching silvers from a half frozen canal one week, then be bagging 4lb perch or huge Pike the next.

I've had the privilege of fishing with Steve a number of times and we chat most weeks...
I can tell you without doubt, if those stillwater barbel weren't in tip top heath and condition, Steve wouldn't be fishing for them....

Regarding my own feelings on Stillwater barbel is, I use to be against them, but these days, having accidentally caught a few, I have to say, they are just fish.

Yes if I was to go out with the intention of catching a barbel, it would be on a river, but I don't have any problem with others targeting them on still waters.

It does come across as a bit snobby and in my opinion, probably does barbel fishing no good...
At the end of the day, we are BARBEL FISHING 'WORLD'....

Steve

Never heard of Steve Collett before yesterday but a quick Google and I had found some info on him, and it was a AM video that then I realised what was what. OK he is a mate of yours and to boot a 'Angling Genius, however at one time I guess we have all thought the same about ourselves, albeit for a fleeting moment until someone goes and catches a bigger and better model and has it on the front cover of a magazine.

So it is what I guess we all get out of Angling that matters, we all can't be Guru's and neither do we want to be, just happy fumbling around on a River bank catching the odd fish, well at least I am.

Do you really think that those that want only to fish for Barbel in rivers as 'snobby'?

Why would that be?

For a thousand reasons I prefer and others too prefer Barbel in the rivers, where they actually belong, and to say we are BARBEL FISHING WORLD and should embrace your notion, well Steve good luck with that

 

[Jeff Collins]

Never heard of Steve Collett before yesterday but a quick Google and I had found some info on him, and it was a AM video that then I realised what was what. OK he is a mate of yours and to boot a 'Angling Genius, however at one time I guess we have all thought the same about ourselves, albeit for a fleeting moment until someone goes and catches a bigger and better model and has it on the front cover of a magazine.

So it is what I guess we all get out of Angling that matters, we all can't be Guru's and neither do we want to be, just happy fumbling around on a River bank catching the odd fish, well at least I am.

Do you really think that those that want only to fish for Barbel in rivers as 'snobby'?

Why would that be?

For a thousand reasons I prefer and others too prefer Barbel in the rivers, where they actually belong, and to say we are BARBEL FISHING WORLD and should embrace your notion, well Steve good luck with that

Glad to see you've let it go and don't want the last word

 

[Nick Hay]

Be'jesus, even more pseudoshyte!

An alien environment to a fish is when you hook it and pull it out into the air to have your picture taken. If your worried about putting barbel into alien environments you better not take them out of water!

Qlty reply Ash,

 

[Nick Hay]

Lets get one thing straight here guys, this site is called Barbel Fishing World, not Barbel in Rivers Fishing World, it's a fish, that lives in water, still or flowing, if you don't like them in still waters then don't fish for them.
Another thing, what is with the character assination of certain anglers ? what one angler does, how he fishes, who he is sponsored by has in my opinion got naff all to do with the essence of this site,,,,,,,,,, catching Barbel,,,,,,,,,, so come on you name slayers, get real, stop the shyte and get back on track.
Are you telling me that if you had the opportunity to get free bait free tackle and access to some elite waters you would say an emphatic NO??????

Everyone knocks carp,carp anglers and all that goes with it, but my oh my how it has changed since the secret squirrell days of the 70's and 80's, yes it is down to money, but it is not only the business's that have benfitted, the punters do also. Carping has gone full circle but I feel barbelling is/has gone the same way as carping did back in the 70's..............

 

[Paul Carter]

Well put nick .

 

[Neil Smart]

Lets get one thing straight here guys, this site is called Barbel Fishing World, not Barbel in Rivers Fishing World, it's a fish, that lives in water, still or flowing, if you don't like them in still waters then don't fish for them.
Another thing, what is with the character assination of certain anglers ? what one angler does, how he fishes, who he is sponsored by has in my opinion got naff all to do with the essence of this site,,,,,,,,,, catching Barbel,,,,,,,,,, so come on you name slayers, get real, stop the shyte and get back on track.
Are you telling me that if you had the opportunity to get free bait free tackle and access to some elite waters you would say an emphatic NO??????

Everyone knocks carp,carp anglers and all that goes with it, but my oh my how it has changed since the secret squirrell days of the 70's and 80's, yes it is down to money, but it is not only the business's that have benfitted, the punters do also. Carping has gone full circle but I feel barbelling is/has gone the same way as carping did back in the 70's..............

No name slaying or assassination here, and it is about opinion and it seems that those that are happy that Barbel should be in ponds rant the loudest, your comment about free bait access to the best waters etc sums up the mentality, and you tell me? to stop the 'shyte' and get back on track?

Do me a favour.

 

[Jeff Edisbury]

I wish people would stop referring to Barbel as "Beards", It really makes me cringe.

That was the sole reason I stopped buying the Mail in the first place.

Only six weeks to go before I go Barbel fishing!

Best regards,

Jeff

 

[Nick Hay]

No name slaying or assassination here, and it is about opinion and it seems that those that are happy that Barbel should be in ponds rant the loudest, your comment about free bait access to the best waters etc sums up the mentality, and you tell me? to stop the 'shyte' and get back on track?

Do me a favour.

Are you having a laugh Neil or what, ''it seems that those that are happy that Barbel should be in ponds rant the loudest'',,,,,,,, it would seem the reverse if anything as the thread evolved into a barbel in rivers only.

No slaying or assination then what is your comment about sums up the mentality? Exactly what mentality is that Neil?

Close season blues,Neil? try a still water, lots of fish in those, even barbel it would appear

 

[Mike Hodgkiss]

I reckon we are sometimes in danger , as ''specialist ' anglers of becoming a bit precious / self righteous . As has been remarked the barbel is clearly ' designed ' as a fish to frequent riverst,the fact that they have been stocked in commercial fisheries is not in my view the crime of the century . As long as fish welfare is taken in to account by anglers catching them then I can't see the problem . They do seem a bit out of place in a pond , and might not be able to breed but that in itself is not wrong . Barbel are often quoted as fish that haunt well oxygenated rivers with a good flow etc . The current record fish came from the upper reaches of a river that at times hardly fits that bill . If barbel were proved to be suffering and dying in stillwaters I would be opposed but I have not read anyhtings that suggests that is happening . Lots of the commercial ponds have aerators to keep the dissolved oxgen levels up , not many of them in the Upper Gt Ouse , St Patricks steam , the River Loddon etc . What about chub in stillwaters ? A river fish for sure ,but they grow to monstrous sizes in ponds .Are the Chub Study Group opposed ? [ this is a genuine question as I don't know if thet are or not ]. My favourite fish the gudgeon , a barbel in minature , but that Yates fella has been dragging them out of Redmire Pool for years , appalling , a travesty ??

 

[David Hall]

Are you having a laugh Neil or what, ''it seems that those that are happy that Barbel should be in ponds rant the loudest'',,,,,,,, it would seem the reverse if anything as the thread evolved into a barbel in rivers only.

No slaying or assination then what is your comment about sums up the mentality? Exactly what mentality is that Neil?

Close season blues,Neil? try a still water, lots of fish in those, even barbel it would appear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w1y-kMPNcM

 

[Howard Cooke]

I reckon we are sometimes in danger , as ''specialist ' anglers of becoming a bit precious / self righteous . As has been remarked the barbel is clearly ' designed ' as a fish to frequent riverst,the fact that they have been stocked in commercial fisheries is not in my view the crime of the century . As long as fish welfare is taken in to account by anglers catching them then I can't see the problem . They do seem a bit out of place in a pond , and might not be able to breed but that in itself is not wrong . Barbel are often quoted as fish that haunt well oxygenated rivers with a good flow etc . The current record fish came from the upper reaches of a river that at times hardly fits that bill . If barbel were proved to be suffering and dying in stillwaters I would be opposed but I have not read anyhtings that suggests that is happening . Lots of the commercial ponds have aerators to keep the dissolved oxgen levels up , not many of them in the Upper Gt Ouse , St Patricks steam , the River Loddon etc . What about chub in stillwaters ? A river fish for sure ,but they grow to monstrous sizes in ponds .Are the Chub Study Group opposed ? [ this is a genuine question as I don't know if thet are or not ]. My favourite fish the gudgeon , a barbel in minature , but that Yates fella has been dragging them out of Redmire Pool for years , appalling , a travesty ??

There are parts of the Kennet that are deep and sluggish (and often this is where the large girls can be found-especially on a straight section between two bends). However, they can generally move along the course of the river as and when it suits them to more oxygenated sections (for breeding purposes). I remember when river levels were generally very low last season and on the Wye many people reported catching well in the much faster oxygenated sections. This was particularly so after their late spawning.

Also, I would have to say that I do think it would be wrong to stock barbel in still waters where it was known that they couldn't breed successfully. However, we don't, as far as I am aware, know if that is the case.

 

[Nick Clark]

I reckon we are sometimes in danger , as ''specialist ' anglers of becoming a bit precious / self righteous . As has been remarked the barbel is clearly ' designed ' as a fish to frequent riverst,the fact that they have been stocked in commercial fisheries is not in my view the crime of the century . As long as fish welfare is taken in to account by anglers catching them then I can't see the problem . They do seem a bit out of place in a pond , and might not be able to breed but that in itself is not wrong . Barbel are often quoted as fish that haunt well oxygenated rivers with a good flow etc . The current record fish came from the upper reaches of a river that at times hardly fits that bill . If barbel were proved to be suffering and dying in stillwaters I would be opposed but I have not read anyhtings that suggests that is happening . Lots of the commercial ponds have aerators to keep the dissolved oxgen levels up , not many of them in the Upper Gt Ouse , St Patricks steam , the River Loddon etc . What about chub in stillwaters ? A river fish for sure ,but they grow to monstrous sizes in ponds .Are the Chub Study Group opposed ? [ this is a genuine question as I don't know if thet are or not ]. My favourite fish the gudgeon , a barbel in minature , but that Yates fella has been dragging them out of Redmire Pool for years , appalling , a travesty ??

Just to distract the debate a little, have just been reading an old interview with Chris Yates where he mentions the British Record Fish Commitee not accepting his record carp from Redmire, maintaining that the only thing in the lake other than carp was gudgeon.

http://www.caughtbytheriver.net/200...arp-silver-tourists-and-rocket-powered-boats/

I had the pleasure of seeing him last night at the book launch of his Lost Diary from 1981.

Anyway, when I was a kid I put a couple of small dace from the brook in this tiny 3 or 4 foot plastic pond I’d put in our garden. After years of neglect and the general shift of interest towards girls, Deep purple and ELP my mum demanded I got rid of the pond. When I did, lo and behold there’s this dace among the sludge and leafs that had actually grown to about 9†and looked really healthy - it must have lived in that tiny amount of water for 3 or 4 years. Not that I advocate torturing dace or barbel with a similar experiment mind.

Pretty pointless post really - 6 weeks to go!

 

[Dave Taylor]

A good thought provoking thread is this, as long as we keep the red mist at bay.
Dinosour that I am, I doubt that I shall change my percieved views on my lifelong hobby,..or should I say obsession!
I don't fish in the close season,..but accept that many enjoy doing so and that the tackle trade benefits.
I don't much like muddy puddles or commercials that try to create a Noah's Arc of fish species to attract punters,..but accept that many enjoy fishing these venues.
I hate grossly overstocked stillwaters,..but choose to keep large koi in a garden pond!
I will always associate chub and barbel with rivers,..but have caught large chub from Mercers Park.
A thread such as this makes me re-evaluate my mindset,..thats what forums are all about,...listening to the veiws of others,..hypocrite that I am,..I still have'nt changed my mind though!
Another pointless post I suppose

 

[Nick Hay]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w1y-kMPNcM

Nice one David

 

[Nick Hay]

Another pointless post I suppose

No Dave not pointless at all, we are all entitled to our own opinions, but opinions can sometimes stretch to personal comments ,,,,,,,,,,,, something I object to.

 

[Nick Hay]

I reckon we are sometimes in danger , as ''specialist ' anglers of becoming a bit precious / self righteous . As has been remarked the barbel is clearly ' designed ' as a fish to frequent riverst,the fact that they have been stocked in commercial fisheries is not in my view the crime of the century . As long as fish welfare is taken in to account by anglers catching them then I can't see the problem . They do seem a bit out of place in a pond , and might not be able to breed but that in itself is not wrong . Barbel are often quoted as fish that haunt well oxygenated rivers with a good flow etc . The current record fish came from the upper reaches of a river that at times hardly fits that bill . If barbel were proved to be suffering and dying in stillwaters I would be opposed but I have not read anyhtings that suggests that is happening . Lots of the commercial ponds have aerators to keep the dissolved oxgen levels up , not many of them in the Upper Gt Ouse , St Patricks steam , the River Loddon etc . What about chub in stillwaters ? A river fish for sure ,but they grow to monstrous sizes in ponds .Are the Chub Study Group opposed ? [ this is a genuine question as I don't know if thet are or not ]. My favourite fish the gudgeon , a barbel in minature , but that Yates fella has been dragging them out of Redmire Pool for years , appalling , a travesty ??

I was a member of the CSG, and yes there are those that believe Chub should be left to the rivers, but always the threads were objective, non personal and most of all constructive,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, lessons could be learned from that

 

[Sam Lloyd]

That's a very good point and I agree that perhaps with the Barbel boom then other species especially chub did suffer, but there has been some redress and other species have made a comeback. My point was that the barbel will do well when the river itself is in fine fettle, not the bio diverse question.
Actually it depends what you define as "fine fettle". If you mean better water quality, you may be wrong. The EA suggested that cleaner water, promotes the growth of certain algae on gravel, which puts Barbel off from spawning. Also water with a level of contamination gives food to invertibrates, which fish naturally feed on.


But if as you say the EA representatives had that opinion then officially they might actually want to put something across, but of course on such matters they don't, for they are a Quango body and therefore have a vested interest in themselves and not the public they allegedly serve.
The EA pointed out that they are a Government body, as you say. As such they are not allowed to lobby, even if they so wished. The EA have their policy dictated to them. They said the best tool avilable to anglers is actually the AT, as they are able to lobby for changes.

However if the EA officially are of this opinion it might explain the lack of action in the demise of Barbel stocks on the Rivers due to predation, coupled with some comments I have heard on here, that the future is ponds for us river anglers, actually this thread would seem to fit perfectly into the EA promoting pond life effort.
The EA pointed out that restocking, generally on hides problems, and they are more interested in identifying route causes. They do seem to be working hard to do this.
The fact that they think Barbel should not have been stocked, does not mean that they won't them to disappear. Infact, they are aware of the economic value of Barbel to local businesses. As an easy fish to catch, they are a species which appeal to a wide audience. They actualy find Coarse fishing now to be more valueable to the ecomony than Game fishing ever has been.

.

 

[Neil Smart]

I was a member of the CSG, and yes there are those that believe Chub should be left to the rivers, but always the threads were objective, non personal and most of all constructive,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, lessons could be learned from that

Lessons will be learned , where have I heard that before, but it's a start Nick....

Well at least it got you away from the classifieds for a bit

 

[Nick Hay]

Well at least it got you away from the classifieds for a bit

aha I have sussed your intentions in getting me away from the classifieds, only temporary though

 

[Neil Smart]

Thanks Sam, certainly the point about water quality is something I can relate to, when I was your age m'lad, my local Bristol Avon was reckoned to be polluted, didn't stop huge catches of Bream being made, along with Chub and Roach.