Barbel, Crayfish and the Kennet

[Rusty]

Morning all,

 

I managed a trip to the Kennet the other day trying for Barbel with ledgered 10mm halibut pellet. I was getting frequent bites, not rod benders but constant nibbles which would persist for a couple of minutes and then stop, I’d reel in to find bait gone.

 

At first it was quite encouraging but after two hours it got very frustrating (when the “crayfish” penny finally dropped) and I had no other bait so called it a day.

 

On the way back to the car I was talking to some experienced Barbelers who suggested that a bigger pellet would help with the crayfish problem. Apparently the Kennet is infested with the blighters.

 

What I’m not sure about is why that should be. Surely a 20mm pellet will be just as attractive to crayfish as a 10mm, does a bigger bait buy you more time and for that matter would Barbel muscle in to grab it or do the crayfish put them off?

 

And what about groundbait, doesn’t that just attract more pincer wielding pests?

 

I’m keen to try again because on my second cast of the day I hooked something which took off downstream never to be seen again.

[Chris Plumb]

Rusty - Signals in the Kennet are now just a fact of life - you can't escape them!!! FWIW - I tend to use slightly larger pellets than you at 14mm or very occasionally 18mm - and I can imagine a larger pellet buying you more time. However crayfish and barbel don't mix (the barbel will eat them!!!) My condfidence always sinks when I get crayfish attacking my bait as it almost certainly means that there are no barbel (or chub/perch for that matter) around. If however crayfish activity suddenly stops - then that often heralds a bite as the barbel have moved in!

 

 

C.

[JV44]

Rusty - Signals in the Kennet are now just a fact of life - you can't escape them!!! FWIW - I tend to use slightly larger pellets than you at 14mm or very occasionally 18mm - and I can imagine a larger pellet buying you more time. However crayfish and barbel don't mix (the barbel will eat them!!!) My condfidence always sinks when I get crayfish attacking my bait as it almost certainly means that there are no barbel (or chub/perch for that matter) around. If however crayfish activity suddenly stops - then that often heralds a bite as the barbel have moved in!

 

 

C.

Chris i had the same problem on the Thames at Clifton hampden at the weekend ,this area of the thames is infested with the litle blighters.

I have been using 21mm halibut pellets and sometimes even the 28 mm cat fish sized ones to as you say buy more bait in the water time,most of the time after the elusive river Carp at night.

There is no doubting that many fish have piled on the weight due to munching on the crays but i doubt they are eating the large adults so i cast a half mackrel just tied on to the line on another rod just downstream of where the carp/Barbel bait is going and it seems to divert the little buggers away from the pellets,The larger pellets are supposed to put the bream off but sadly the Bream are able to manage even these large baits even if doubled up.

What size crays do you think that Perch/Barbel/Chub can take? Steve.

[Chris Plumb]

Chris i had the same problem on the Thames at Clifton hampden at the weekend ,this area of the thames is infested with the litle blighters.

I have been using 21mm halibut pellets and sometimes even the 28 mm cat fish sized ones to as you say buy more bait in the water time,most of the time after the elusive river Carp at night.

There is no doubting that many fish have piled on the weight due to munching on the crays but i doubt they are eating the large adults so i cast a half mackrel just tied on to the line on another rod just downstream of where the carp/Barbel bait is going and it seems to divert the little buggers away from the pellets,The larger pellets are supposed to put the bream off but sadly the Bream are able to manage even these large baits even if doubled up.

What size crays do you think that Perch/Barbel/Chub can take? Steve.

 

I've heard of some Kennet anglers take tins of dogmeat - puncture a few holes and thread some string through it and lower it into the water just upstream of where they're fishing - again to attract the Signals away from their baits. I would imagine that a chub could manage a fair sized signal - I had one sick up a claw that was as big as my thumb last autumn - so that would probably equate to a full sized adult Signal. Also had a perch sick up a much small signal that was still alive!!!

 

 

C.

[Kappa]

Also had a perch sick up a much small signal that was still alive!!!

 

I've caught good perch and chub on crays before it was banned. Perch seem to go nuts for them. Chub take them the moment the hit the water!

 

I've heard that the fishing on the Kennet (TAA) is tough this year is that true?

 

Rich

[Chris Plumb]

I've heard that the fishing on the Kennet (TAA) is tough this year is that true?

 

Rich

 

Only been a couple of times on TAA - but did experience my 1st ever blank at PP. (Mainly due to nearly all the swims being taken - on a midweek evening too!)

 

 

C.

[Rusty]

I've heard that the fishing on the Kennet (TAA) is tough this year is that true?

 

Has been for me so far, I've fished Rainsford a few times this season and had no luck at all trotting maggot. Had more luck with ledgered baits, a 6lb bream being the best (and a PB) amongst mainly small trout and chub but that was all on the same day. I've blanked mostly.

 

I'm trying Padworth this weekend if I can find the entrance to the car park, I think the directions on TAA website are wrong. Back to trotting with my Okuma CP newly equipped with high performance ceramic bearings (yes I fell for the sales pitch ).

[Stretpegger]

I've caught good perch and chub on crays before it was banned. Perch seem to go nuts for them. Chub take them the moment the hit the water!

 

I've heard that the fishing on the Kennet (TAA) is tough this year is that true?

 

Rich

 

By contrast i have had my best barbel days at Rainsford this season but Padworth has been dire.

 

Re parking at Padworth, you just park just off the road after crossing the bridge coming from the A4 end.

[Rusty]

re parking at Padworth, you just park just off the road after crossing the bridge coming from the A4 end.

Is that parking for the RDAA stretch though Stretpegger? From the A4 there are three bridges, railway, swing and a normal river one further down. I parked up just after the swingbridge and asked a few RDAA members about the TAA stretch but they couldn't help. I did see an entrance to somewhere on the right just after the third bridge signposted Fisherman's Lodge but no mention of TAA so I didn't venture down what may have been a drive to somebody's quaintly named house.

 

I think that TAA could do more to help new members to be honest, a one off blitz of the website so that people know where they can and can't fish would be really useful (and not too difficult with google map surely). I've found out a lot more about the location of their venues by talking to the ever stressed proprietor of Thatcham Angling (bless 'im).

[Chris Plumb]

Is that parking for the RDAA stretch though Stretpegger? From the A4 there are three bridges, railway, swing and a normal river one further down. I parked up just after the swingbridge and asked a few RDAA members about the TAA stretch but they couldn't help. I did see an entrance to somewhere on the right just after the third bridge signposted Fisherman's Lodge but no mention of TAA so I didn't venture down what may have been a drive to somebody's quaintly named house.

 

I think that TAA could do more to help new members to be honest, a one off blitz of the website so that people know where they can and can't fish would be really useful (and not too difficult with google map surely). I've found out a lot more about the location of their venues by talking to the ever stressed proprietor of Thatcham Angling (bless 'im).

 

The TAA bit is on the SOUTH bank upstream of the bridge (the 3rd one on your description above). Cross over the bridge and park on the side of the road immediately after - take care not to block the entrance to the field - farmer might not be happy!!!

 

There is a map in your permit....

 

 

 

C.