Target weights past and present

[Alex Gowney]

Has the target weight of barbel increased for most anglers? That is, for those of us who do like to weigh the bigger fish and actively seek them. I realise many do not care about the weight of a fish and seldom if ever weigh what they catch, and that is perfectly fine, but many anglers do like to target a PB. For many years I would think the "target" for a barbel would be a double, for chub 5 pounds, roach 2 pounds, pike 20 pounds etc. Apart from barbel I would imagine these targets still hold good. But barbel sizes have increased beyond what could possibly have been imagined 25 years ago. The current record is practically 50% higher than the two 14.6 fish that topped the list for so many years. The only other fish to show such dramatic size increase is tench. Chub, although 5,6 and even 7 pounders are now more commonplace, have not increased in weight that much, as a species. Obviously the target can depend greatly on the waters but no less than 34 rivers have record fish higher than the two long standing fish of 14.6. My own view is that the barbel "specimen" target weight is now probably 12 pounds, not sure what anyone else's take on this is?

And yes, I know a 6 pounder is just as worthy and valuable as a double, but specimen anglers do generally set their stall out for the biggest fish they think is possible.

 

[Howard Cooke]

Interesting thread Alex. I suppose bream might be another species that has gone a bit porky? Hoovering up carp baits might have helped a bit there.

As you say, it is very river dependant. The Trent and the Wye could be a good example of that. A 10lb fish from the Wye is a special fish but would there be a tinge of disappointment if that’s all you had from the mighty Trent. Personally, I still regard a 10lb barbel as a special fish and perhaps because when growing up it was such an established benchmark that I seem unable to shift too far away from it.

It might sound a bit floppy hat and squishy pants, but more recently I have started to appreciate the shape, condition and colour of the fish. There are just some that look beautifully proportioned. It’s sometimes inspired me to take up painting or poetry. Just need to finish the Game of Thrones box sets first though.

 

[Alex Gowney]

Game of Thrones is extremely addictive Howard, you need to go through the night and get it done

I also still regard 10lb as a special fish and although they may not make the angling press as regularly the double mark still has an aura about it. But with size increases in barbel I think I could happily catch fish of 9.15 all day long, but if I had a run of fish at 11.15 I may start to feel frustrated. That, of course, is in a Utopian world, the chance to get a run of 9.15 or 11.15 barbel is dreamland for me. Or indeed a run of barbel of any size!

Chub are a species where I seem to specialise in getting fish of 4.15, from a certain stretch of the Cherwell. These are usually February/March fish so probably in top condition. No matter how much I shake the scales they still weigh 4.15 and no it's not the same fish every time! I'm still waiting for my first 5 from the stretch.

 

[Graham Young]

Imo target weights need to be kept in proportion to whatever river is being fished.

 

[Alex Dalton]

Imo target weights need to be kept in proportion to whatever river is being fished.

Yes a good double from the River Hull, or Yorkshire Derwent is usually a hard earned fish, although the a small river like the Dearne's have increased more I would say than its neighbour the larger river Don. My first river Calder barbel a few years ago meant just as much as my own Pb, considering as a kid the river was orange /purple and many other hues and stank to high heaven.

 

[Alex Gowney]

Imo target weights need to be kept in proportion to whatever river is being fished.

Quite agree Graham, I imagine a double from the Wye would be as significant as a 14 from the Warks Avon for instance. What I was meaning to comment on was general "national" target weight if you like. As in 5 pound chub, 2 pound roach etc. My 5th ever barbel was a 10.5 from the Cherwell and I still rate it as my most memorable fish ever, and probably always will.

 

[David Craine]

I fished the Wye for the first time this year, and was lucky enough to be able to fish an area that gets little of any
attention .I had high hopes, having read as much as I could find on the Wye fish ,and was hoping to catch something in the 8-9lb area, never expecting to better that, and would have been very happy. So, my target fish on an unknown (to me) river was 9lbs.
The first 3 fish I took were over ten pounds. I may have been extremely lucky and come across a group of large fish swimming together, they had obviously dropped upon my prebaited area and seemed happy to stay.To say I was suprised is an understatement, but from then on the sizes dropped , and I had quite a few 7-9 pounders, plus I also had Chub to five pounds. All taken over a weeks fishing ,every night for a couple of hours at a stretch.If I could expect that from every river I visited , I think I would probably be very disappointed .
To me what Graham says is right, expecting doubles is probably false hope, hoping for doubles, and getting 9 pounders could be frustrating .
So, for me size doesnt matter too much. I have broken the 12 pound barrier a couple of times , very nice too, but unexpected. I am not a specimen hunter.
Its nice to catch big fish, but I target anything that comes along, being happy with whatever the river sees fit to present me with , obviously I do like to increase my chances by prebaiting, or fishing swims with a history of producing larger fish , but if I cant get those swims because somebody else has got there first, I dont worry.

Dave

 

[Jon Kennard]

Nice words Dave. Where's the spot on the Wye I won't tell anybody

 

[Mike Hodgkiss]

With a few exceptions , e.g. the Trent , Derbyshire Derwent and a few others , Barbel from the North of England don't grow as big as there softie Southern cousins . As primarily a Yorkshire angler I regard any barbel over 9lb from a Yorkshire river as a big fish . I reckon specimen Perch are a species that have become noticeably bigger in the last ten years or so , 4lber"s seem fairly common

 

[David Craine]

Nice words Dave. Where's the spot on the Wye I won't tell anybody

Its relativeley unfished because its, er, relativeley unfished, and access is not that easy . Its a good walk, and then a bit of mountaineering ,as well as threading your way through brambles etc, but worth it .

Dave

 

[Jon Kennard]

My kinda fishing . I remember fighting my way through literally head high stinging nettles on a Norfolk river. I didn't see a fallen tree and feel head first in into them stung all over including my face! Carried on great great fishing for brownies

 

[Alex Gowney]

With a few exceptions , e.g. the Trent , Derbyshire Derwent and a few others , Barbel from the North of England don't grow as big as there softie Southern cousins . As primarily a Yorkshire angler I regard any barbel over 9lb from a Yorkshire river as a big fish . I reckon specimen Perch are a species that have become noticeably bigger in the last ten years or so , 4lber"s seem fairly common

Similar to chub Mike, 5 pounders are much more widespread but the actual top end weight hasn't increased that much. The chub record is still hovering around the 9 mark and I think perch around the high 5 or 6? But barbel and tench records increased by 50% or more which maybe suggests genetic changes in some strains of fish.

 

[Richard Barnatt]

With the number of commercial stillwaters stocking barbel, do you think a record could come from one? They are producing very large chub already. I would like a double figure tench or bream, I think they would be an impressive fish, along with a 2lb roach or rudd, or a 4lb perch.

 

[Alex Gowney]

With the number of commercial stillwaters stocking barbel, do you think a record could come from one? They are producing very large chub already. I would like a double figure tench or bream, I think they would be an impressive fish, along with a 2lb roach or rudd, or a 4lb perch.

Possibly Richard but I would still expect the Thames to produce the next record, if there is to be one in the foreseeable future. I think the current chub record came from a small stillwater in Oxford and the Oxford gravel pits used to be well known for outsize chub.