Originally Posted by Ricky3112

Oh and when did I say I knew "naff" all about small rivers? I just know about the Trent as I have fished more or less exclusively over the past 3 - 4 years that's not to say I haven't fished small rivers. I just don't have many that are close enough (within 30 miles) that hold barbel and are available on a Day ticket that's all. All the best for the new year. Ricky

Ricky you never used the same words as I chose but you did clearly state on FM you have no experience at all on small rivers, which does hint at you knowing naff all?!
If I am wrong, I apologise.


But I do doubt whether I am.

Originally Posted by cheef

if you could wey-laid that would be great

No problem Cheef, I will PM you tomorrow when my head clears a bit. It won't be an article like Ricky suggested but a few basics more relevant to the middle Severn than Rich P's post; which is in all fairness pretty sound advice.


I bid you all a very happy (and prosperous) new year, I am blogging off down the pub,


ATB, Ben

Originally Posted by Richard Parsons

Hi Cheef - look out for rising water temps, preferably but not necessarily above 6 degrees celsius. Rain will often bring barbel on the feed, however cold rain will do the opposite.

Great advice Rich, suprised you are the only angler to mention it so far! I've quoted the above post to reiterate the point as it is the single most important factor in winter barbel fishing after location. Keep an eye on the forecasts Cheef and try and get to the river when milder wet weather is pushing in ( like today! )

Hiya cheef i myself would go out there light and keep moving an hour in each peg I'd take 2-3 different baits. Plain meat in a block and break off diffrent sized pieces as needed, flavoured meat in strips and break a strip in half or smaller when needed then maybe a big lump of paste and a handful of boilies. As your sat there start flicking bits of paste or little pieces of meat into the flow making a picture in your mind of where you think the freebies are traveling and try to put your hook bait on the same line. I would try and cover about 3-4 swims in a day but then returning to the 1st or 2nd swim on the way back too the car for an hour or two. Before you leave the 1st swim put a broken up piece of meat in the swim and a few bits of paste to try and stir up sum interest for later. As we should all remember that we're not garenteed to catch even on the best looking day and blanking isn't anything to be ashamed of well that's what I keep telling myself. Good luck keep trying and happy new year it will soon be spring/summer mate.

HAPPY NEW YR EVERY ONE

cheef i went through a patch like you recent with a few blanks but now im back on them

stuck with the same baits 1 use in summer but smaller size no bigger tham 6mm to 10 mm max

done ok... on meat plain and curry and chilli flavour ...fishmeal pop up bollies 10mm 3/4 maggots 2x4mm hali pellets

also i have scaled down to 6lb main line small hook lenghts bettween 3lb to 6lb line no longer than a foot and small as 3/4 inch as done well

hook size 16 to 12 and the odd 10 also been using spade end hooks as to eyed made a big diffrence

used a lght running rig small lead or small maggot feeder or a small method feeder small pva mesh

not been given much if any freebies

been using a golf ball sized ground bait on feeder with hemp efg12o ground bait and maggots

they have not bin having big baits and heavy tackle but scaled down and back on them

plus caught all so far in the side deep or shallow they dont seam to be out far into the river

fishing stouport on the severn

hope this helps

paul

Originally Posted by Mark T

Great advice Rich, suprised you are the only angler to mention it so far! I've quoted the above post to reiterate the point as it is the single most important factor in winter barbel fishing after location. Keep an eye on the forecasts Cheef and try and get to the river when milder wet weather is pushing in ( like today! )

yes mate i am checking the water temps most days and the weather looking for a mild low pressure with a sw and lots of rain

Originally Posted by Pheonixphythian

Hiya cheef i myself would go out there light and keep moving an hour in each peg I'd take 2-3 different baits. Plain meat in a block and break off diffrent sized pieces as needed, flavoured meat in strips and break a strip in half or smaller when needed then maybe a big lump of paste and a handful of boilies. As your sat there start flicking bits of paste or little pieces of meat into the flow making a picture in your mind of where you think the freebies are traveling and try to put your hook bait on the same line. I would try and cover about 3-4 swims in a day but then returning to the 1st or 2nd swim on the way back too the car for an hour or two. Before you leave the 1st swim put a broken up piece of meat in the swim and a few bits of paste to try and stir up sum interest for later. As we should all remember that we're not garenteed to catch even on the best looking day and blanking isn't anything to be ashamed of well that's what I keep telling myself. Good luck keep trying and happy new year it will soon be spring/summer mate.

cheers mate those are the baots im using so will stick to that

Originally Posted by BARBEL BASHER

HAPPY NEW YR EVERY ONE cheef i went through a patch like you recent with a few blanks but now im back on them stuck with the same baits 1 use in summer but smaller size no bigger tham 6mm to 10 mm max done ok... on meat plain and curry and chilli flavour ...fishmeal pop up bollies 10mm 3/4 maggots 2x4mm hali pellets also i have scaled down to 6lb main line small hook lenghts bettween 3lb to 6lb line no longer than a foot and small as 3/4 inch as done well hook size 16 to 12 and the odd 10 also been using spade end hooks as to eyed made a big diffrence used a lght running rig small lead or small maggot feeder or a small method feeder small pva mesh not been given much if any freebies been using a golf ball sized ground bait on feeder with hemp efg12o ground bait and maggots they have not bin having big baits and heavy tackle but scaled down and back on them plus caught all so far in the side deep or shallow they dont seam to be out far into the river fishing stouport on the severn hope this helps paul

cheers paul i will scale down my baits but a bitwary of scaling down hooklengths that low as iv been bust up on 10lb line quite a few times but i do have low daimeter powerline which is 7.5lb but about the thickness of 3-4lb,also have you fished up towards bewdley by mucky meadow and the bottom of the baa blackstone stretch i was thinking of trying that tommorow?

i was unsre of dropping down that fine as been smahed on 15lb like it was candyfloss in the summer

but they are not fighting hard as they do in summer so get away with it on a soft clutch

all the best for tmz


paul