• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

River Kennet at Padworth question

R

Robin West

Member
Dear all..
I'm just returning to barbel fishing after an eight year break. I've rejoined Thatcham AA having fished at Padworth (the north bank of which is now shared with CALPAC) and Rainsford Farm on and off for 18 years or thereabouts up to 2008 with reasonable success, but I realise that things have changed a bit since then.
Without giving any secrets away I just wondered if someone would point me in the right direction as to how to approach the fishing for the end of this season and looking ahead to the summer..
Many thanks if you're able to help..
Robin
 
Hi Robin and you are right, things on the Kennet would have changed and many would say profoundly so. You are looking at a much smaller population of fish but there will now be some bigger girls about. There wont be large shoals of fish and so for me, this means that techniques based around competitive feeding work less well. So you would need to adjust your approach to feeding accordingly. The fish will generally be more cautious meaning more stealth in your approach. Roving is also a must in my view combined with a little bit of pre-baiting but its vital not to overfeed which is very easy to do, especially with the increased use of boilies etc. Don't ignore the margins either and use a back-lead where feasible.

At this time of year you are looking for the usual factors (weather/river level and colour etc.) to help you decide when best to head to the river and these last couple of months can be very productive. I wouldn't get massively hung up on baits either. Meat or any decent boillie will work, particularly when the river is up and coloured, but again, don't overdo the freebies.

Hope that helps.
 
Robin, Thatcham lost some of the stretch at Padworth a few years back. Only the first couple of swims are fishable I believe (the paddock) and upstream from there to the sidestream has been lost due access issues but that is probably stated in the membership book. Good luck and hope you catch a few before the seasons end.
 
Hi Howard, Boilies have been banned on The CALPAC, Thatcham Angling stretch at Padworth. They have been banned for the last 7 years on this stretch. Its clearly stated in the Calpac rule book a copy which you need to carry if fishing as a Thatcham member on the Calpac stretch. They kindly let Thatcham members fish there bank after Thatcham lost the opposte bank apart from the 4 swims in the Paddock.

Regards Ray Thorpe.
 
Thanks..

Many thanks everyone, much appreciated. Thanks especially to Howard for pointing me in the right direction with respect to how I should approach fishing for the seemingly fewer and more spread out but larger fish that the river now contains..
 
I fished the Padworth Mill stretch on the Reading Ticket (opposite bank) during the 2013/2014 Season. It was very hard going - only 3 fish all season and I fished it a lot. Spotted otters a couple of times too. I was using boilies most of the time but had a dabble using the maggot feeder etc. I don't recall having a single chub from the stretch either during the whole season which is unusual.

All I would say is keep very quiet and stick at it.
 
I would suggest Rainsford.

Right at the bridge. Keep going till just before opposite the overflow. Just before tree line.
Inside line. Boilie with few freebies. Or small pellet feeder.;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top