Tidal Trent Fish

[Adam Wylie]

Why is it that the larger stamp of Barbel appear to live in the Tidal Streches of the River ?
Surely the Salt in the water would create problems for the Fish ??? Were they stocked in the Tidal streches at some point ?

 

[Richard Dawson]

I don't think the tidal is salty until you get towards the humber / estuary, all the tide does is hold the flow back at a certain point.

 

[Deleted member 2993]

I don't think the tidal is salty until you get towards the humber / estuary, all the tide does is hold the flow back at a certain point.

Possibly pack on the weight in muscle etc through the rigours of dealing with powerful tides and big tides, also heavily fished 24/7 with kilos of high protein baits constantly going in.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I wouldn’t agree with that. I’m not a regular Trent angler by any means but I know afew people that are. There’s afew real big girls in the tidal but the average fish is not any bigger than the other sections.
the middle spits out plenty of big doubles too and the upper while the population is much lower can put out some very large fish. I would say the average upper fish is going to be substantially bigger than the average tidal fish

 

[Phil Heaton]

The non tidal anglers tend to be more secretive and not as active on facebook.

 

[Deleted member 2993]

I wouldn’t agree with that. I’m not a regular Trent angler by any means but I know afew people that are. There’s afew real big girls in the tidal but the average fish is not any bigger than the other sections.
the middle spits out plenty of big doubles too and the upper while the population is much lower can put out some very large fish. I would say the average upper fish is going to be substantially bigger than the average tidal fish

That's true enough the trent is plentiful with them upper down to lower in all sizes, do you think that the amount of doubles is down to the amount of feed that goes in or just because there's more fish in general, or a bit of both?

 

[Rhys Perry]

I think if you take Collingham out the mix there probably ain't a lot of difference all across the river.

 

[Terry Harman]

the middle does plenty of big fish… even at collingham you have to wade through the 7,s and 8,s to get to the doubles

 

[Chris Allcock]

the middle does plenty of big fish… even at collingham you have to wade through the 7,s and 8,s to get to the doubles

Not me. Straight to a double

 

[Jim Ufton]

There's a lot more anglers at the bottom end than the top , and its easier,,,, because a bigger water holds more fish ,
Regards

 

[Jon Frisby]

Some big fish all over the TT, caught them a few mile upstream of Gainsborough all the way to the weir pool. Past few years the larger fish haven't moves far from Cromwell, maybe because of the easy meals etc. Still say the average is just over 8lb for the TT. The middle seems have a higher percentage of doubles to the TT imo. I'd also say 80% of anglers fish within 3 miles of the weirpool, with maybe an handful of anglers fishing below Torksey. It gets very challenging below here and you just don't know what your gonna catch, when that rod hoops over.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Absolutely Jim. People are definitely fishing for multiple captures on the middle and lower sections where as the guys tackling the upper are seeking one fish and suffering afew blanks. …the upper Is definitely on my list of venues to fish.

 

[Guy Leeder]

Some big fish all over the TT, caught them a few mile upstream of Gainsborough all the way to the weir pool. Past few years the larger fish haven't moves far from Cromwell, maybe because of the easy meals etc. Still say the average is just over 8lb for the TT. The middle seems have a higher percentage of doubles to the TT imo. I'd also say 80% of anglers fish within 3 miles of the weirpool, with maybe an handful of anglers fishing below Torksey. It gets very challenging below here and you just don't know what your gonna catch, when that rod hoops over.

Yep...certainly not full of anglers bait that is for sure.

 

[John Newman]

No one has mentioned repeat captures which I feel is a likely factor.

 

[Nick Coulthurst]

When I first fished the tidal about 17 years ago around Dunham area I caught as many doubles as singles, with 1/2 fish a session normal. Not many anglers, not that many fish. Visited a remote stretch below Torksey this season and after chatting to a lone angler it would appear that’s the case down there now. Not many anglers, not many fish, but as many doubles as singles. Still haven’t fished it down there though, too much mud and crabs.

 

[Terry Harman]

be careful if fishing alone around the torksey area can get a bit dangerous with the muddy conditions there

 

[Lawrence Breakspear]

Well we have to take into account that the EA have stocked over the last 10 years about 400,000 (or maybe more) Calverton mini barbel into the Trent catchment, this includes rivers like the Dove, the Derwent, the Anchor, The Mease, the Tame, the Soar and the Trent its self, the river at high tide will be brackish below Collingham, mitten crabs during their baby and peeler stages will be very nutritional food source for the barbel as will the huge runs of Lampreys the river gets, being tidal the river will be full of nutrients that the big females will thrive off as the river ebbs and flows, not forgetting the HNV baits that go into the river, the Trent as an inland waterway runs warmer than a spate river like the Wye or Severn, I have noted 2c or 3c higher in the winter months, may be barbel feed for longer periods because of this, the tidal Trent is a very unnatural barbel environment, its numbers of huge female barbel confirm this, my view is that it wont last forever as nothing does, the lower Trent as a barbel fishery is a phenomenon and its barbel are phenomenal...

 

[Mark Frost]

I used to fish Dunham to Rampton Island a lot 10 years ago and it was plentiful of barbel. For some reason the Island and Laughterton side (which was free fishing) held a good head of big barbel and carp. Not sure why, plenty of food I guess as it’s quite rocky. Big tides so I had to time it right. But it was great fun. I’ve been back to Dunham Bridge for the first time this year since moving down south and I blanked twice. So either unlucky or it’s changed. It was seriously low and gin clear, couldn’t of helped me to. I’m actually waiting for it rain again and get some water back in it. Travelling from Aylesbury, try to time it right at least. Good luck all.