• 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...

whats your pb barbel???

Last season was my first 'proper' season on the rivers (only ever match fished,pretty much every week for 10+ years!) and I found the going tough to say the least. Managed 7 barbel up to a new PB of 8lb 15oz right at the end of the season.

Really wanted to catch a double this season,especially after 25+ blanks last season. On my first trip I caught a 13lb 4oz beauty out of the Hampshire Avon on a short evening session. The next day I had a 12lb 3oz and 11lb 12oz out of the Stour at Throop, followed by an 11lb 7oz out of the Hampshire Avon the following Friday. It's amazing what a difference a bit of flow makes :D
 
Hi men,

PB,s or best ????

We crashed our way through head high balsum , being stung , sliding uncontrolably down the red earth of the river Teme . It was blistering hot , and we sat close to the edge on the carnage of a smashed willow on a un fished bit of the teme . We got within 2 ft of a couple of barbel , dropping a couple of pellets at a time onto their noses we got them smoking . Sue lowered the rig with 2 small pellet to a size 10 hook by hand , with the rod layed parallel to the bank . The fish made monkeys of us for 20 mins as I'm sure they could hear us breathing !. Eventually , with us laying on our bellys no more than 18 inches from its wiskers it made a mistake . In the tap clear water we see it's gills flare , shake its head , and the bomb make a puff as it followed the tiger with its tail on fire out the swim . We jumped to our feet , sue grabbed the rod as it flew past our heads !:D . The fight was the normal tiger out of control , only made worse when I ripped the net trying to get it through the bushes as we had left it pointing up the fierce slopping bank !. Sue bundled it into the net , and slumped back onto her bum . The fish was rested in the now empty of barbel swim . Un hooked in the net she held it in the water , then let it go .

It weighed 4lb , good job we don't catch big fish !:p

Hatter
 
Last edited:
Mark Anderson said:
Hi men,

PB,s or best ????

We crashed our way through head high balsum , being stung , sliding uncontrolably down the red earth of the river Teme . It was blistering hot , and we sat close to the edge on the carnage of a smashed willow on a un fished bit of the teme . We got within 2 ft of a couple of barbel , dropping a couple of pellets at a time onto their noses we got them smoking . Sue lowered the rig with 2 small pellet to a size 10 hook by hand , with the rod layed parallel to the bank . The fish made monkeys of us for 20 mins as I'm sure they could hear us breathing !. Eventually , with us laying on our bellys no more than 18 inches from its wiskers it made a mistake . In the tap clear water we see it's gills flare , shake its head , and the bomb make a puff as it followed the tiger with its tail on fire out the swim . We jumped to our feet , sue grabbed the rod as it flew past our heads !:D . The fight was the normal tiger out of control , only made worse when I ripped the net trying to get it through the bushes as we had left it pointing up the fierce slopping bank !. Sue bundled it into the net , and slumped back onto her bum . The fish was rested in the now empty of barbel swim . Un hooked in the net she held it in the water , then let it go .

It weighed 4lb , good job we don't catch big fish !:p

Hatter
Click to expand...

What a lovely post Mark, I almost felt like I was there as I read it. It had me smiling as it brought back happy memories of my own similar brief moments of heart stopping excitement in years gone by. Only stalking in clear waters can provide that, and they are moments to treasure. As I sat here quietly smiling to myself, it occurred to me how lucky we are to have a hobby which can produce such moments....but also how especially wonderful it must be when you have a partner who obviously shares your passion. Experiencing those moments together as you have just described must truly be the icing on the cake. You are a lucky man Mark.

Cheers, Dave.
 
So far my pb is 0lb 0oz.

Having only taken up the challenge of trying to catch my first ever barbel this season, I've not yet managed it. The season is still young though.

I've had consolation in a couple of 6lb+ chub (although I'm spoilt by fishing Throop, where I understand 6lb chub aren't that rare!)
 
Simon Lush said:
P.b. by a long way is a 12-1 caught many years ago off the Cherwell, very special fish that one, i have caught bigger ones but as a personal best that fish is and probably always will be the one.
Click to expand...

I agree, my first Cherwell double (first double from anywhere) of 10.5 and only my fifth ever barbel will always be my top fish. Like Simon I have caught bigger ones but there was always something special about Cherwell barbel, given their very elusive nature and the fact that it's my local river.

Mind you, I think any barbel from the Cherwell now would rank alongside Simons terrific fish from years back, considering the state of the river:(
 
Bradley Stocker said:
So far my pb is 0lb 0oz.

Having only taken up the challenge of trying to catch my first ever barbel this season, I've not yet managed it. The season is still young though.

I've had consolation in a couple of 6lb+ chub (although I'm spoilt by fishing Throop, where I understand 6lb chub aren't that rare!)
Click to expand...

I'll swap you a six pound barbel for a six pound chub Bradley.

You come up to the Severn and I'll take you out to get your Barbel, then come the Autumn, you invite me down for a go at a pb (for me) Chub off Throop....

My biggest Barbel(s) is/are 12,7 lower Severn and in one of those strange quirks of fate, 12,7 Hampshire Avon, but my best is 11,14 middle Severn in front of a couple of mates, and 12,3 middle Severn....

Steve
 
It's not really about size is it?

Some are lucky to live near to places with big fish, others are not, and some don't live anywhere near a Barbel river, so for those anglers it is even more difficult.

So for those of us that do live within reasonable distance of a river with big Barbel, it stands to reason that, should we be lucky enough to fish a fair amount, then we are likely to get a few fish, and if we were to fish a lot, sooner or later we are bound to fall over a big one.

For me it is all about how I catch them, I have caught some decent fish on the tip, but now I prefer to fish on the float, simply because it is so much fun, but then we all have our own silly peccadillo’s.




Personally I take my hat off to the chaps that get stuck into big fish on some of the tough northern streams; to get one is a result, to get a big one is an achievement.

To my eyes a fifteen from the Ouse system is not a patch on a double figure fish from one of the tough northern rivers.
 
Mark Anderson said:
Hi men,

PB,s or best ????

We crashed our way through head high balsum , being stung , sliding uncontrolably down the red earth of the river Teme . It was blistering hot , and we sat close to the edge on the carnage of a smashed willow on a un fished bit of the teme . We got within 2 ft of a couple of barbel , dropping a couple of pellets at a time onto their noses we got them smoking . Sue lowered the rig with 2 small pellet to a size 10 hook by hand , with the rod layed parallel to the bank . The fish made monkeys of us for 20 mins as I'm sure they could hear us breathing !. Eventually , with us laying on our bellys no more than 18 inches from its wiskers it made a mistake . In the tap clear water we see it's gills flare , shake its head , and the bomb make a puff as it followed the tiger with its tail on fire out the swim . We jumped to our feet , sue grabbed the rod as it flew past our heads !:D . The fight was the normal tiger out of control , only made worse when I ripped the net trying to get it through the bushes as we had left it pointing up the fierce slopping bank !. Sue bundled it into the net , and slumped back onto her bum . The fish was rested in the now empty of barbel swim . Un hooked in the net she held it in the water , then let it go .

It weighed 4lb , good job we don't catch big fish !:p

Hatter
Click to expand...

Great post.

You need to write a book. :)
 
002-1.jpg
 
Hi men,

John , iv been fishing for near enough 50 years :D , and I bore my mates to death with my tales , and it's only when they realise it normaly ends in disaster most of the time , that they laugh along with me :D .

Dave , it was carrying sues stuff around unspoilt rivers that got me into barbel fishing . I was happy dotting myself around some carp waters like Horseshoe , vauxhalls , Harefield , Savay etc , many picked so I could drop her off at a river close by to fend for herself :eek: . I can remember when it sort of changed . I was winter carping at Marlborogh pool in Oxfordshire , I'd caught a few fish and waiting for sue to come back from the near by ;) Evenlode . A bloke came into my swim for a chat , he had been chubing , and moaned that some woman had caught a couple of chub and a barbel !. As he told me Sue walked into the swim and put the rod down , well pleased .

A week later on our wedding aniversary she spent the day on another river , catching in the most atrocious conditions , a story I must tell one day , and I knew I was missing out !.

Hatter
 
I am with you Jeff, gave up worrying about the size of fish a long time ago, seen too many people driven up the wall by the big fish at all cost mentality!. Any sized fish will do me as you well know!! Full respect for the people with the patience and time to sit it out for a biggie though!
 
David Gauntlett said:
What a lovely post Mark, I almost felt like I was there as I read it. It had me smiling as it brought back happy memories of my own similar brief moments of heart stopping excitement in years gone by. Only stalking in clear waters can provide that, and they are moments to treasure. As I sat here quietly smiling to myself, it occurred to me how lucky we are to have a hobby which can produce such moments....but also how especially wonderful it must be when you have a partner who obviously shares your passion. Experiencing those moments together as you have just described must truly be the icing on the cake. You are a lucky man Mark.

Cheers, Dave.
Click to expand...

As I said on a previous post Dave , Its not all ways about size :D
 
Mark Anderson said:
Hi men,

John , iv been fishing for near enough 50 years :D , and I bore my mates to death with my tales , and it's only when they realise it normaly ends in disaster most of the time , that they laugh along with me :D .

Dave , it was carrying sues stuff around unspoilt rivers that got me into barbel fishing . I was happy dotting myself around some carp waters like Horseshoe , vauxhalls , Harefield , Savay etc , many picked so I could drop her off at a river close by to fend for herself :eek: . I can remember when it sort of changed . I was winter carping at Marlborogh pool in Oxfordshire , I'd caught a few fish and waiting for sue to come back from the near by ;) Evenlode . A bloke came into my swim for a chat , he had been chubing , and moaned that some woman had caught a couple of chub and a barbel !. As he told me Sue walked into the swim and put the rod down , well pleased .

A week later on our wedding aniversary she spent the day on another river , catching in the most atrocious conditions , a story I must tell one day , and I knew I was missing out !.

Hatter
Click to expand...



She's a one off allright mate, don't think I know of another woman that would do that, I had the impression (being a bloke) that she just came along for the ride so to speak, never realised it was Sue that 'saved' you.

One in a million :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top