Barbel in Braintree?

[fruitloopy]

My brother in-law would dearly love to catch a river barbel (still water barbel is just WRONG!).

 

He lives in Braintree, Essex and not being familiar with local rivers and such I dont know what to recommend.

 

Any ideas?

[Peter M]

Yes here is an idea. go on holiday to the river severn or river wye. Barbel in essex rivers are like rocking horse poo, you will never find them. my advice go to a river that has lots in maybe look here http://www.barbelsociety.co.uk/home.asp

[jedibond]

I thought the Roding had a few in it ?

[Peter M]

the roding did have some barbel and they got established but a bad pollution incident a few years ago killed loads and while other fish were re stocked barbel were not. i am going to target the roding this autum so if i catch one i will let you know. the other local place is fishers green on the river lea but this has gone down hill since, yes you guessed it, a pollution incidnet that killed loads. its a crying shame.

[watatoad]

the roding did have some barbel and they got established but a bad pollution incident a few years ago killed loads and while other fish were re stocked barbel were not. i am going to target the roding this autum so if i catch one i will let you know. the other local place is fishers green on the river lea but this has gone down hill since, yes you guessed it, a pollution incidnet that killed loads. its a crying shame.

 

There are also some in the Suffolk Stour just a bit up country, but hard to find best head for real Barbel rivers, as you have already been advised the Barbel Society must be your first point of call, then a long weekend on a Barbel river.