"Biffa @ Work" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Fancy a change from the usual carp/pike this bank holiday.
So a couple of mates & myself fancy targeting the old bearded bottom
scavenger.... (fnar).
We're in the middle of Oxford, Swindon, Newbury & Reading, but I've heard
that the Thames ain't that great for Barbel.
Can anyone recommend some where not to far, that may be an easier fish for
barbel ?

Did most of my barbel fishing on the R Lee in Hertfordshire and lots of that
at Kings Weir so not too much help there I'm afraid.

I'm guessing that pellets and paste

Meat is a good alrounder, especially pepparami.

and fairly standard carp rigs are as good as anything else for targetting
these beasties as well ?


I'll throw in a few things here which are general tips for all and will
hopefully help some a little bit.

Standard carp rigs work fine. Years ago (late 60s) when we fished the white
water in weirs it was rods tips to the sky and tight line to bait via
adequate holding weight. Although a free running set-up because the line was
locked the result is similar/same to what we would now experience on a
semi-fixed in-line bolt rig, only a lot less fancy .... and instead of
taking line the rod tip hits the water (virtually).

One tip I was given (which transformed my catch rate) from an experienced
barbel fisherman at that time was to use a short hook link in weirs. His
theory was that the barbel normally take the bait moving up-water so you got
indication much earlier than if you used a long(er) hook link. Anyway it
worked for me too so I stuck with it.

You will enjoy playing barbel a real fighter. They don't give up easy and
often are extremely fatigued when netted so be sure to give them adequate
recovery time before final release.

One of the local lakes I know fish (spring fed) has some still water barbel
which go to 6/7lb ...... so babies really. I was always against still water
barbel but these seem happy enough and still put up good scrap. One or two
of the match fisherman have reported catches of babies (would that be
barblets I don't know) but I have never seen any.

Hope some of that is of interest to some ........ Richard