Fred Bonney

Gloucester Region 7th August 07:30pm at The White Horse Inn in Soudley Gloucestershire GL14 2UA Starting at 8pm Dr Paul Garner will be presenting a talk and slide show of his fishing exploits on the Warwickshire Avon and the Lower Severn Entry on door will be £4 for members £6 for non members with a £2 refund to those signing up for membership on the night. •There will be a small raffle •Food included is in the entrance fee Contact Andy Holder - 01594 825968 or Tom Nutbrown - 07739838093 for further details.

Just four places left!

Just outside Worcester near Eastham(WR15) Ian. You can camp overnight as stated.

Barbel School 2012: River Teme Held over the weekend of the 21st and 22nd July 2012 on a private section of the stunning River Teme, the Barbel School in conjunction with Rob Swindells will be open to members and non Barbel Society members alike, whether you're a complete novice or wish to improve your barbel fishing, the weekend will have something to offer for all! Please don't apply if you were at last years event. Itinerary for the two days will include an opening introduction from Rob and then a bacon bap breakfast (Saturday morning). Tackle selection and suitability- including rod / reel choice, line, safe and unsafe rigs, weights and feeders, hook and knot choice. Baits and Bites- including bait selection, baiting strategies, bait demonstration, accurate casting and bite recognition. Fish welfare- including the Barbel Society handling code, fish care/photography. On the river-including fish location, feature finding, swim selection, setting up, fishing demonstration, water craft. Saturday evening will include fishy chat around the camp fire with an informal questions and answers session followed by a BBQ Sunday – Breakfast, followed by anglers putting into practice some of their skills on the river bank and taming some of the legendary Teme-Tigers, help will be on hand throughout the day to all anglers. 4.00pm conclusion and debrief. A selection of guest speakers will give short talks throughout the weekend on tactics/rivers including one to one tuition on "trotting" Please bring along with you a suitable tent for your overnight stay with suitable outdoor wet weather gear, tea and coffee will be provided throughout the day. Bring your normal fishing gear and bait!!!! The price for this second Barbel School will be £45 per head for the two days including breakfasts and evening BBQ. Places are limited to 20 anglers, to book a place on this Barbel School. Please note this weekend is not suitable for youngsters. Please drop Fred Bonney a line telling him why you want to come and what you would like to gain from the weekend. It will have to be on a first come first served basis. Email: barbelfisher@btinternet.com to register no payment no trip. Cheques payable to the Barbel Society and sent to Fred Bonney address details will be given on registration

Looks like it's going to be a miserable day weather wise on Sunday! Do you really want to sit around in the cold and damp of a jubilee street party/fete when you could be in the comfort of an air conditioned hotel ? No? Well the Barbel Show at Hinckley could be your saviour, why not come along, only £10 on the door and you may get to chat to Dave Harrell, Phil Smith John Wilson and many more.

We pleased to be able to advise those coming, or thinking of coming along to the Barbel Show with their wives/partners and children, that we have agreed with the hotel management, special rates for use of their leisure facilities. The swimming pool, gymnasium, spa pool, steam room and sauna are available at the cost of £8.00 per adult and £5.00 per child for the day of The Show. See you there

Thanks for the comments Graham. It became apparent that £20/£30 was just a bit too much for people to bring along their partners, even with John Wilson and Dave Harrell in attendance. Add to that the cost of fuel it was a no brainer to drop the extra's. Not setting up a hecklers corner by the way, we leave that to the Forums

As a result of enquiries on what after all is a long family weekend it has been decided, that along with Juniors, wives/partners will now be able to gain entrance to The Show on the one ticket of £10. Hope to see some of you there, you may have the chance to chat to John Wilson and Dave Harrell and many other top name anglers as they will be there all day.

I have to say I'm more inclined to accept Emma's suggestions, than some of those put about concerning the otter!

Right, where were we, ah yes the following link is on barbel handling and is a short film produced for the Barbel Society by mR Hugh Miles.

It is thought that the Wensum had barbel from the post-glacial period, but ther's nobody still alive to confirm that! I can only conclude that Andy is trying to flog his horse that has been put to rest by most many......many.....many times!!

Roger Rance Regional Organiser invites you to A BEER, A CHAT, AND MUCH BRAGGING. BRING YOUR PHOTOS, DISCUSSIONS AND FORTH COMING ATTRACTIONS THE WHEATSHEAF DRAYTON OX14 4JA THURSDAY 3rd MAY 2012 7.30/1930hrs.LICENCED BAR and first class food pub Bring a friend male or female DIRECTIONS: ABINGTON TO STEVENTON ROAD B4017 PARKING ON THE ROADS ROUND THE GREEN OPPOSITE. ENTRANCE FREE TO ALL contact Roger for more details 07850 394094

Andy, the opening sequence were Wensum barbel. And Elton is not the only one, I have too and I don't know about you, but some people like something hard in their hands! A certain Mr Walli s captured over 60 barbel at the Royalty fishery in September 1933 does that help a bit ? He certainly didn't have any problems with access!!

Thanks Elton that's excellent and much appreciated. Andy, we haven't set the price yet, but it'll let everybody know when we have them ready.

Quite right lutra, it's should be standard practice for all species. BUT, we are the Barbel Society that's why our emphasis is on barbel! We'll leave it to the other specialist groups to do their own thing for their favourite species if they wish The written Barbel Handling Code produced by the Society is accepted practice for many clubs and associations where barbel are likely to be caught in their waters.

Right that's got that out of the way. We shall be selling the dvd for a small sum to go back into the Research & Conservation Fund, after we send a copy to all members. If anybody wants to reserve a copy, please PM me, or see you at The Barbel Show where it will be available less the postage. NB: Predictions come free but at your own risk

I've edited the above because we had a committee meeting today and decided that because of the financial situation we would drop the differential of non-memebrs paying £15...everybody can now get in for £10 tickets are available from 2nd April.

It's all gone quiet !!! 2-1 twoooooo one!!

£5m Watch out N'rch

I'll give Norwich one goal and Fulham two, after tonights game they will need pay back.

The Barbel Society presents THE BARBEL SHOW 2012 Sunday 3rd June 2012. 9.00am to 5.30pm The Barceló Hinckley Island Hotel Hinckley Leicestershire LE10 3JA Entrance fee £10 Tickets available by post from 2nd April Speakers include: John Wilson, Phil Smith, Dave Harrell and a presentation by The Avon Roach Project and Peter Wheat. Visit the separate Trade Hall open throughout the day Tickets by post from Martin Howell 7 Abbots Close Purbrook Hants PO7 5ET Cheques made payable to The Barbel Society or via our website Barbel Show and use Payapal from the 2nd April

Do you know what Andy, I really had to think about that after 4 pints of a rather nice dark ale!!

The Barbel Society is delighted to announce that the 2011 online auction in aid of the Research and Conservation projects undertaken by the Society, raised almost six thousand pounds, with generous donations from tackle companies and fishing days donated by noted anglers such as Bob Roberts, Martin James, Chris Ponsford and Ian Welch. "This funding enables us to carry on with the valuable conservation work we are wholly or partly funding on many of the UKs barbel rivers, as well as some ground breaking research into barbel and barbel fisheries" said Pete Reading, BS Research and Conservation Officer. "We raised almost nine thousand pounds this last year, combined with the annual Barbel Society and Roach Club Fundraiser on the Hampshire Avon last autumn" The Society would like to thank the following donors of lots to the auction: Andy Sliwa Rods Billy Clarke Tackle, Sheffield Bob Roberts Coarse Angling Today Chris Ponsford Stephen Harper of Harper Fine Angling Books Christchurch Angling Club Climax Tackle, Sheffield Dave Brown Dave Mason Dave Steuart Don Caliendo Dynamite baits FishingMagic Fred Crouch Gary Mills Mills Tackle Gerry Higham Glyn Gomersall, Three Rivers Baits Graham Marsden Ian Welch International Centre for Birds of Prey Kevin Clifford Martin James Nutrabaits Pete Reading Phil Buckingham Phil Smith Predator Publications Rich Frampton Richard Hewitt Fish & Fly Ringwood and District AA Rob Burt Steve Derby Steve Pope Wickersley Angling Centre Research and Conservation projects: Where the money goes. In the last five years, the Barbel Society has funded, or part-funded, the following projects, supporting both habitat work of real conservation value, and positive research into barbel and barbel fishery management; Stocking of the River Dane. Following pollution of the river, the BS made a grant to a local club to help establish barbel populations. Stocking of the River Aire. The BS made a grant to a small club to help improve barbel populations on the river. Dorset Stour Barbel Project.In partnership with local clubs and the EA, the Society raised over five thousand pounds towards habitat improvement works on the river, involving the reintroduction of gravels, and construction of fry bays. Work on a weir at Throop was recently completed, and further works are planned. The EA and the BS placed 9000 small barbel into the middle reaches of the river in the last three years as part of the project. Arborfield Weir Project. The Society provided several thousand pounds worth of gravel and materials to support this EA led Award winning project on the River Loddon. Bransford Project. The Society worked in partnership with the EA and consultants to skylight a stretch of the Teme near Worcester, bringing life-giving light to the river, as well as providing improved bank stability. Unstable willows were pollarded and coppiced, and woody debris placed in the river, along with planting of fresh willow pollards to retain bank collapse. St. Patrick’s Steam Project. The Society paid for a fish survey and report on this Thames tributary, and will support the resulting habitat works. Bournemouth University Research Project. The Society has funded a major piece of research work, which involves a review of all current barbel research work and tank experiments into competition between barbel and other species, both of which have now been published. The University is also carrying out a scale reading study, using scales provided by the EA and BS members. This study will be the largest of its kind, and will provide information on growth rates and population structure for many UK rivers. A database of all available barbel-related research is to be compiled over time by the University. Barbel and gravels. The Society is helping to fund a PhD student researching the effects of barbel on gravel mobility and structure. River Cherwell Project.The Society is working in partnership with the EA and The Wild Trout Trust, providing funding to provide in stream cover for fish on this Thames tributary, in the form of large tree trunks, woody debris and live hanging willows. Hampshire Avon habitat works.Using funds raised in conjunction with the Avon Roach Project, the Society has removed redundant iron pilings from the river, and has several thousand pounds earmarked for further habitat improvements. Barbel Society Handling Code. With help from film maker Hugh Miles, the Society will be producing a DVD and downloadable resources to help educate anglers in the safe handling of barbel, which will be provided free to clubs, tackle shops and other outlets. All these activities require funding, which has been provided by the generosity of major tackle manufacturers, tackle shops, fishing clubs, Barbel Society members and the angling community.

Bidding in the Auction can and will start today, for a full list of lots so far, see here R & C Auction LOTS You need to be a member to bid for the Lots, or you can have a member bid on your behalf..a proxy bid You may wish to take advantage of the part year membership offer if you wish to take part personally in the auction which is on the private members forum. See the website for details. More lots are welcome, so if you have something that you will donateand you wish to support the R&C fund please PM me with the details __________________