Barbel on the Kennet at Brimpton?

[ahop0911]

Hi

 

I'm just back to fishing after 20 years and trying to catch up with all the new baits and techniques.

 

I've joined Newbury Angling and tried out the Brimpton stretch of the Kennet yesterday for the first time as I'd been told by someone I met that it was quite good for Barbel and Chub. I don't think the conditions were particularly good (very cold, bright and sunny) but I don't get many chances to fish so have to take them all!

 

I tried trotting bread crust and legering a boilie/halibut pellet with a small PVA bag. Not a sniff!

 

Anyone out there got any experience of this stretch and could offer some advice please?

 

Thanks

Alistair

[Chris Plumb]

Water Temps on the Kennet was 42ºF on Saturday and with severe frosts Saturday night (-4.1ºC). Sunday's values would have been even lower - definitely not barbel conditions!! Brimpton can be pretty productive barbel wise - though I'd have headed upstream (Speen) for the chub with conditions as they were yesterday.....

 

 

C.

[ahop0911]

Thanks Chris - why Speen? Is that the best place for Chub in cold weather?

[Chris Plumb]

Thanks Chris - why Speen? Is that the best place for Chub in cold weather?

 

More a case of it being a fairly reliable chub venue - and chub being one of the few species still willing to feed when its frosty....

 

 

C.

[ahop0911]

OK, thanks, I'll make Speen a priority for my next trip then

 

Cheers

[The Flying Tench]

I'm also a member of NAA. Don't some people claim that barbel in the winter only feed at night? Not for me. brrrrrrrr! Brimpton has a good reputation for barbel, but I think you need to know the right swims. I fished there 3 times this autumn and only had one barbel - but then I'm a very amateur barbel angler - but then you may be too.

 

A tough time to come back to angling in the winter. As Chris says, chub are great in the cold. So are perch (not quite so cold) and dace, trout and grayling; though of course for perch the light levels must be low. But Speen Moor is good for all those - well, chub dace and perch, with some trout - not sure about grayling.

 

Forgive me if I'm teaching my grandmother' - and I hope you enjoy the NAA waters! I tried to send you a PM (personal message) re where to start at Speen Moors (Speen Moors is an extensive venue with main river and various smaller carries and a couple of little weirpools), but it wouldn't send cos you're a new member. It may be more fun to work it out on your own, but you're welcome to email me.

Edited December 10, 2008 by The Flying Tench

[ahop0911]

Forgive me if I'm teaching my grandmother' - and I hope you enjoy the NAA waters!

 

Thanks for the info (eg perch like low light levels is news to me) and I'm sure that you're grandmother knows more than me