As said Andy things have changed, nothing stands still, the weather plays a huge part in that, as I am sure you can testify. Despite some of the gloomy comments regarding Barbel stocks, there are still some around, it just might mean having to travel a bit further. The BA has suffered as much as any river, I caught my first Barbel a few years back on the Chippenham stretch...and I do believe you used to bailiff there?
I moved from Tetbury 2004 to Tewkesbury, which as you will know has the Lower Warks Avon and Severn flowing through it...it was a steep learning curve for me, especially with the Severn, a huge river that I will never get to grips with, but despite that I have had a couple of big 'kippers' out, more luck than anything else, but some very good Severn Anglers down this way, and I do admire there patience in enduring so many Barbel blanks, but often it does pay off. As with Kevin Gittens who holds the current Severn record at 16lb something, well deserved too he puts the hard hours in, last season when I spoke with him he was enjoying his 37th successive blank!
The Warks Avon still has Barbel, and Otters, but they are still there, and even I fluke the odd one. Lovely River and looking better than ever.
The Teme. well the decline and fall of what was the the jewel in the crown of all Barbel Rivers was dramatic, the 2007 floods were as many would testify was the main culprit, along with Mr 'O' even Terry (Teme Wanderer) has divorced her, but there are signs of recovery. She is looking fine too.
Wye.... well what can you say? Still loads of Barbel and plenty of juveniles , which I can testify to... but all good and the 'go to' river if you have to have a Barbel, Wye and Usk control most of the River now, but there are still some DT's to be had.
The Kennet Thames, and others have suffered greatly I am told, these Anglers have either moved or travel
So if there are any vacancies you might want to consider around the Ross on Wye area, you might want to consider that option
Good luck.