Barbel

Listening to Fishermans Blues this morning, Nigel B. and the fishery officer for the barbel society saying that it was irresponsible to fish hard into snags.
I have to throw my hands up and say, guilty as charged. I know of several swims where six inches off the snag= no bites.
However, their comments made me think and perhaps will make me change my techniques. Priority 1 must always be the welfare of the fish.

I was very fortunate recently to fish with Dr. Paul Gardner and Ade Kiddel for Barbel, They are in favour of 4 or 5 feet of hook link material below the feeder. Their observations on the Severn show that this is the sort of distance that the barbel hang back from the feeder ( as against chub which attack it ).
They stated that anyone who has been shown this on the Severn and takes the method back to smaller rivers, has a marked increase in success rate........... WE SHALL SEE !!!!

"The barbel affords an angler choice of sport, being a lusty and a cunning fish: so lusty as to endanger the breaking of the anglers line".....

been there... seen it... had it done to me !!!!!

Having fished for barbel many times on the Hampshire Avon I to have seen a novice angler throw a barbel back in to the river to float belly up downstream , fortunately I managed to net it and give it time to recover I then resisted the urge to nudge the offending person into the river who after a heated conversation calmed down and explained that he genuinely did not know that he had done any thing wrong and had he known would not have acted that way and in future would return fish as I had shown him by holding it upright facing into the current and when ready letting it swim out of my hands. I think that the angling press, clubs, and the enviroment agency need to do more regarding the treatment of different species of fish. Well done Eddie for raising this importent subject.

Every now and then a youngster or novice hooks into one of our superb whiskers. These beautiful creatures give away every ounce of energy during the scrap. It's not that long ago that I was given good advice by some of the great barbel anglers who visit our waters. i.e.
When you net your fish, you are shaking with excitement, you can't wait to get it on the unhooking mat before weighing and photographing. However, for the best welfare of the fish, after unhooking ,return it to the water in your landing net ( facing upstream of course ) and give it several minutes to recover, this is good for the fish and your old ticker.
I know of Rovers anglers who would not dream of returning a fish before ten minutes at least.
I have only seen 1 barbel go belly up, ( I don't want to see another ) happilly it was re-netted and eventually recovered and swam away strongly after some 20 minutes.
Any comments ??