Some great younger year-class barbel there - and multi fish sessions too, on the Thames, which must be a rarity? Good pva and back lead tactics, similar to what I use on the Dove. Where does the upper Thames become the middle Thames? I've only fished it once, much lower down on the lower river (Windsor racecourse). Lovely (and well deserved) bigger fish at the end. Thinking all the groundbait was attracting shoals of smaller fish, thus not giving the bigger ones the opportunity to get their heads down. Maybe.
@@RichardParsons65 thanks. It’s usually one or two barbel a session (if I’m lucky) so the fishing during this particular week of filming was unusually productive. It was after a period of flooding and this swim does provide a bit of slacker water during floods for them so I think these fish had just spent a bit of time there and I fished the area after the flooding but before they had started to leave the area after the river had calmed down. The river Thames society consider the source in Gloucestershire down to Mapledurham Lock and Watermill on the outskirts of Reading as the upper Thames. More info at www.riverthamessociety.org.uk/
Great angling Paul. I would be delighted with any of those little flappers, still never found a Thames Barbel. It's certainly a good sign that there are so many smaller fish being caught.
Thanks Matt. As you’ll no doubt have noticed, most of my Thames barbel come after dark but the biggest trick is locating them. Once you’ve found them they aren’t all that hard to catch I think.
@@mrpaulcake Yes, I've never really targeted the Barbel in earnest, they've always been a bit daunting, but I live in hope that one might turn up during my chub fishing. It's great to see so many young barbel though, so maybe next year I'll give it a proper go. Always great to see your videos. I'm especially looking forward to the next one on your winter chub fishing, i know you've had at least one special fish. Good luck for the rest of the winter, fingers crossed for better conditions than last year.
@@matthewharding6245 sadly didn't get any video of that big chub I had the other day. Thought I was recording but instead ended up with a photo of a fence and trees. Annoying as video would have shown off the real size of that chub in a way that the photos don't. You had a few tanks last season from what I recall so I look forward to drooling over more of the same from you this winter.
Not often do I bait quite so positively with those “depth charges” but when it’s mild and I think they will be feeding hard it’s a great method to kickstart a swim.
I get that it was dark but it is a shame there was no video of you casting, getting a bite, playing or landing the fish just to add some action. Must have been a very pleasing session though.
I do agree that it's lacking in action but especially in the dark the action is hard to capture and not great to look at as all you see is the isotope moving anyway. I don't really like using head torches or lights unless I really have to so as not to spook fish or affect my vision in the dark.
Some great younger year-class barbel there - and multi fish sessions too, on the Thames, which must be a rarity? Good pva and back lead tactics, similar to what I use on the Dove. Where does the upper Thames become the middle Thames? I've only fished it once, much lower down on the lower river (Windsor racecourse).
Lovely (and well deserved) bigger fish at the end. Thinking all the groundbait was attracting shoals of smaller fish, thus not giving the bigger ones the opportunity to get their heads down. Maybe.
@@RichardParsons65 thanks. It’s usually one or two barbel a session (if I’m lucky) so the fishing during this particular week of filming was unusually productive. It was after a period of flooding and this swim does provide a bit of slacker water during floods for them so I think these fish had just spent a bit of time there and I fished the area after the flooding but before they had started to leave the area after the river had calmed down. The river Thames society consider the source in Gloucestershire down to Mapledurham Lock and Watermill on the outskirts of Reading as the upper Thames. More info at www.riverthamessociety.org.uk/
Great angling Paul. I would be delighted with any of those little flappers, still never found a Thames Barbel. It's certainly a good sign that there are so many smaller fish being caught.
Thanks Matt. As you’ll no doubt have noticed, most of my Thames barbel come after dark but the biggest trick is locating them. Once you’ve found them they aren’t all that hard to catch I think.
@@mrpaulcake Yes, I've never really targeted the Barbel in earnest, they've always been a bit daunting, but I live in hope that one might turn up during my chub fishing. It's great to see so many young barbel though, so maybe next year I'll give it a proper go. Always great to see your videos. I'm especially looking forward to the next one on your winter chub fishing, i know you've had at least one special fish. Good luck for the rest of the winter, fingers crossed for better conditions than last year.
@@matthewharding6245 sadly didn't get any video of that big chub I had the other day. Thought I was recording but instead ended up with a photo of a fence and trees. Annoying as video would have shown off the real size of that chub in a way that the photos don't. You had a few tanks last season from what I recall so I look forward to drooling over more of the same from you this winter.
Just Wow!!! I've been waiting for this vid for a long time. I do love the full moon myself as long as the mist doesn't appear.
Not often do I bait quite so positively with those “depth charges” but when it’s mild and I think they will be feeding hard it’s a great method to kickstart a swim.
@mrpaulcake I'll be using the Depth Charge next summer for sure.
I get that it was dark but it is a shame there was no video of you casting, getting a bite, playing or landing the fish just to add some action. Must have been a very pleasing session though.
I do agree that it's lacking in action but especially in the dark the action is hard to capture and not great to look at as all you see is the isotope moving anyway. I don't really like using head torches or lights unless I really have to so as not to spook fish or affect my vision in the dark.