Kennet - Benyons

[Guest shaca]

I'm about to fish the Upper Benyons for the first time. I understand Barbel and Chub are the main quarry - but any clues on how to fish there, what baits to use and what the Kennet is like would be most helpful

 

Cheers

 

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Shacea

[Guest lyn]

I have never fished it but know a lot of people that do & most of them use high protein baits.

 

I hope that helps.

 

lyn

[Guest shaca]

Thanks Lyn

that's a cracking start on my quest for the monsters below...

[Guest Barbus maximus]

I fished it a few times last season and took barbel to 11:14 I also have a number of colleagues who fish it very regularly. The maggot or hemp and caster feeder is difficult to beat in the summer but without doubt the top bait last season was a halibut pellet fished over a bed of 50:50 hemp and mini trout pellets.

 

lyn, who do you know who fishes Upper Benyons ? We may have mutual friends.

 

[This message has been edited by Barbus maximus (edited 11 June 2001).]

[Guest Chris Plumb]

Hi Shaca and welcome to AN.

 

Well UB's; the choice is yours really, yes it's renowned for its barbel and chub but I've also had some good tench on sweetcorn from the stretch above Ufton Bridge.

 

As for baits well there's the maggot feeder or hemp&caster approach as favoured by the match boys. Or the pellet/paste approach by the specimen hunters. Campbells meat balls is also popular.

 

Evening is definitely the time to be on the water so make full use of the 1 hour after sunset ruling (see the back of your RDAA book). But beware the club, I hear, are really planning a crackdown on people nightfishing the venue - your likely to lose your permit if you get caught.

 

Hope that helps...

 

 

Chris

[Guest Graham E]

I have rejoined RDAA after a break of 15 years so will be rediscovering the Kennet.

Bare in mind all the rports I read say the Crayfish are a real menace so beware of statics.

A freelining approach seems a good idea.

 

Try Wigmore Lane by the Oil Refinery, walk upstream along the River and fish downstream from the weir. Early in the season the barbel are VERY partial to a minnow bounced over the shallows using a swan shot. Best day doing this 12 barbus / 4 rubadub.

[Guest Barbus maximus]

Originally posted by Graham E:

Try Wigmore Lane by the Oil Refinery, walk upstream along the River and fish downstream from the weir.

 

Yes, a terrific swim but it is Lower Benyons GrahamE, not Upper!