Paul Bullinger
Senior Member & Supporter
I recently acquired (through an on line auction) some vintage fishing magazines. Among the various publications was a copy of "Angling" (a Country Life publication) dated April 1951. I reproduce below part of an article by F. W. Oates titled "Barbel Fishing" which I thought may interest some of you:
"J. W. Martin, the famous "Trent Otter" used some prodigious tackles to catch barbel. His home-made slider floats which he used in deep water were cork covered turkey quills, carrying 12 "B.B" shots, and two or three barrel leads. Such tackles he fished to "drag" and "lay" right on the bottom. It was with gear of this kind, mounted with three lobworms on a No 8 hook to 1 x gut that he took 33 barbel weighing 100lb at a sitting. He evidently put more reliance on heavy ground baiting than fine tackle. His swim was baited up the day before with six bucketfuls of scalded bran and boiled greaves; and two buckets of lobworms for good measure."
The article also mentions staining nylon line with the addition of "glauber salts to make the dye more effective" Dark sorrel is the suggested shade.
How things have changed in 70 years but what a fascinating insight into barbel fishing techniques used in the early 50's
"J. W. Martin, the famous "Trent Otter" used some prodigious tackles to catch barbel. His home-made slider floats which he used in deep water were cork covered turkey quills, carrying 12 "B.B" shots, and two or three barrel leads. Such tackles he fished to "drag" and "lay" right on the bottom. It was with gear of this kind, mounted with three lobworms on a No 8 hook to 1 x gut that he took 33 barbel weighing 100lb at a sitting. He evidently put more reliance on heavy ground baiting than fine tackle. His swim was baited up the day before with six bucketfuls of scalded bran and boiled greaves; and two buckets of lobworms for good measure."
The article also mentions staining nylon line with the addition of "glauber salts to make the dye more effective" Dark sorrel is the suggested shade.
How things have changed in 70 years but what a fascinating insight into barbel fishing techniques used in the early 50's