I hate it when that happens, fine line between tackle for barbel and carp. I am still a barbel virgin. Hoping to change that in the next few weeks.
Just got back from a few hours on my local river the wandle. Had a 14lb 2oz Mirror within 5 minutes of dipping my hook followed by a 2lb 8oz trout. Such a weird river, you really do not know what is on the line till it is a rod length in front of you. Some fair size Barbel have come out of The Wandle in the last few years, great considering all the problems it has had.

Had an 8.5lb fully scaled mirror from my local river last week, heard reports of bigger ones being caught too. Went off like a steam train.

Fortunate enough to have had a couple off the middle Severn this season both Commons at 10.05 & 17.07 and both on boilys. Lovely fish and made a welcome change, had a proper Wildy out the Warks Avon a few years ago about 7lb had a huge head totally out of proportion to the rest of it's body.

As Barbel anglers we seem to view Bream as a bit of a nuiscence (Me included) which they can be at times so after putting the net under what I thought was another one some weeks ago you maybe able to imagine my shock when putting my headlamp on the said fish to be confronted with an absolutely pristine 2lb 7oz Warks Avon Roach. Fluke I know but a stunning fish non the less.

Stuart
(Merlin 28)

Originally Posted by Merlin 28

Fortunate enough to have had a couple off the middle Severn this season both Commons at 10.05 & 17.07 and both on boilys. Lovely fish and made a welcome change, had a proper Wildy out the Warks Avon a few years ago about 7lb had a huge head totally out of proportion to the rest of it's body. As Barbel anglers we seem to view Bream as a bit of a nuiscence (Me included) which they can be at times so after putting the net under what I thought was another one some weeks ago you maybe able to imagine my shock when putting my headlamp on the said fish to be confronted with an absolutely pristine 2lb 7oz Warks Avon Roach. Fluke I know but a stunning fish non the less. Stuart (Merlin 28)

nice one on the roach where on the middle severn were the carp from,and what bait if you dont mind me asking? ive caught bucket loads of barbs but always wanted a river carp

Both fish came from just above Worcester (BAA) , I don't know the middle Severn that well having only started to fish it this season so I have no real idea about the middle Severns head of Carp and how widespread they are. My knowledge of the Lower river between Diglis & Tewksbury is far far more comprehensive having fished most of the stretchs over the years.

Both fish came to my own John Baker recipe boilys fished over a light scattering of the same.

Stuart
(Merlin 28)

cheers for the reply well there is more the further you go down although theres still a few aroun bewdley,bridgenorth etc saw one last summer by bewdley bridge looked a 20 anywaysomething on my list anyhow

Had a nice 12lb 7oz mirror at begining of july while barbel fishing on the ribble, have heard reports of a 19lb carp coming from same stretch.


http://www.barbelhunters.co.uk/photo....php?photo=798


Regards

Paul

Where have most of these river carp come from? From stockings, legal or illegal, into the Trent/Severn/Thames etc, or as a result of floods washing them out of stillwaters, as they become ever more common in so very many ponds and lakes these days?

I am led to believe the Carp in my area got into the river after serious flooding a few years ago, there is a stillwater fishery close by. Makes you wonder what other species may be around especially as a lot of these commercials have some strange strains of fish including many ornamentals.

theres a few 10lb to 14lb fish in the tame, a 6lb tench has also been caught, not heard of any above the weir but they must be there I suppose. I believe the trent has some monsters in it but they are very nomadic, with pre baiting your chances are slim to say the least, I had a very battle scarred fish from gunthorpe last year, fishing the near margin shelf