Monday 20 March 2023

Barbel Challenge 2022/23


I didn't really set a Barbel Challenge this season as I was unsure if I'd be able to go fishing that much. But I did manage to get out on the Small River quite a lot - it turned out to be a godsend during my treatment. And I landed a remarkable 228 barbel - mostly small fish but just what the doctor ordered! *Plus 31 Wye barbel.

One of the highlights was a Small River double, they are very few and far between these days. And despite occasionally fishing with James over the years we'd never witnessed the other land a double - until I was netman for James' Kennet double in January - a couple of weeks later he returned the favour - and jumped into the photo!!

 Season No 5+ 7+ 10+ Best
 2010/11 27 1 0 0 6lb 6oz
 2011/12 44 14 8 0 9lb 12oz
 2012/13 56 34 20 6 12lb 4oz
 2013/14 8 5 4 0 7lb 13oz
 2014/15 71 33 16 1 10lb 1oz
 2015/16 127 45 15 0 9lb 4oz
 2016/17 70 31 15 2 11lb 15oz
 2017/18 132 56 23 2 10lb 9oz
 2018/19 101 36 13 1 10lb 3oz
 2019/20 164 69 28 5 12lb 1oz
 2020/21 250 77 20 6 14lb 2oz
 2021/22 180 34 8 2 11lb 1oz
 2022/23 228 47 8 1 10lb 9oz
 Total: 1,458 482 178 26 Breakdown

7 comments:

  1. There are either more barbel about or you are getting better?!? Not sure what you were doing in 2013/14?!?

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    1. There are definitely more barbel about, but the average size has plummeted - not many over 7lb (or I couldn’t find them). Hope some of them grow on to replace the lost doubles - but with more fish competing in the same system only time will tell.

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  2. Hi Brian, was the 14 from the little river too ?

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, that list is every barbel I’ve ever had out of there - lots of splashers but some real beauties mixed in

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    2. I haven’t fished it for a few years now. Parking became a nightmare and lots of other anglers so moved on . Was it down Wanda’s end or up G.R way ? Surely it wasn’t Wanda was it !!
      All the best ..Richard

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    3. I’m pretty sure Wanda expired years ago, along with the other known fish of her time - The Pig, Stitch etc. This was ‘Meatball’ (Stu named her), hope she’s still in there somewhere - would love to see her again…

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