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Firstly: Thanks Martin for another fantastic day out on Madness. The weather Gods were smiling too. Flat calm and sunshine. Martin had the 2 Blondes very close together and in a strong tide he was " Cream crackered " They looked a lot bigger than mine on the way up but turned out to be a bit smaller.

So, last few days I've been in the Wye valley. Staying at Symmonds Yat, I had taken a good friend away for his 40th. A surprise, all he new a week ago was he needed Barbel gear. Suffice to say, he was certain we were heading to the Seven. Until we turned left after crossing it near Gloucester. We had a B&B on the river, it was ok, nothing special but was a pub, so could be worse! First day was arriving and sussing out the surroundings, going to the local tackle shop and booking some beats for the next 2 days. We had a fish from 21:00 till 22:00 on the first night (Thursday) but not much more than my rod being pulled from the rest and the fish evading me! With the low water we were advised the fishing was hard, but this only dulled our excitement a little, after all, we had an adventure on our hands! After a relaxed start friday we headed to the mile of river we shared with another couple of guys for the day. Packing up to go for a pub lunch (we knew evening would be best) my rod doubled over with my PB 8:15 barbel, beauty! After lunch we moved swim, (not knowing the river / how it fished / where was best) we struggled through the hot afternoon. I had a couple more barble and lost a chub. Nothing for nick who was still staying positive. I persuaded him we should move swims for the last hour, so we went back to where will had my earlier fish. I nearly instantly had a perfect Chub or 4:12 and then another within minutes. Poor old Nick. The it was his turn, he had a super take and a barbel was shortly followed by another. Great, he had deserved a flourish at the end. Day 2 (Sat), we had chosen another stretch of river. Stunning setting again, this time the gorge of Symmonds Yat. But what does Saturday mean, more yakkers, swimmers, boaters, lilo ers, SUP-ers and the odd person floating past on an inflatable slice of pizza! All this traffic was entertaining and the only way we could get info on the football score!! Roles were reversed today. Having found a good looking spot, to be honest, it all looked good. We chose a run where it was a pain to get to, I had a rope and we lowered ourselves down holding it. Prominent seats setup in the river meant the various floaters could see ups early and avoid our lines. Worked a treat! Nick fluffs his first cast, how we laughed, it went only a couple of meters, bang, fish on! And it started like that, he caught 5 barble and I couldn't buy a bite. He had a few eels in there too (haha!). So, I went off and got dinner (steaks, disposal BBQ and some ice-cream beers, coffee, and other essentials), apparently I missed nothing, result. My time had come, I got back once the sun was off the water with 4 barble in quick succession! The it was his turn to struggle, yes I was loving it! We ended the 2 days with 9 barbel each, he did get the biggest at 9:8 but I was the chub king. Average stamp was 6/7lb seriously great fishing, can't imagine what it would be like in 'good' conditions! Might not be boating, so apologies! Tight lines Rob Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

I have Chris

good news just a wire joint pulled on the capstan, easy fix after work as it cools down a bit.

Never seen a blonde with nipples there before Martin!!! 😂😂😂

The only fish worth reporting on Madness today were blonde rays Jim = 19lb 12oz I think, Jim will confirm Martin 16lb12 + 16lb both came up backward which made them bloomin hard work

Ah the " good old days " up in Coventry ! Coventry Canal, Hawksbury canal, Wyken slough. Oh how I remember getting up early to go and catch Shopping Trolleys I never forget how lucky I am to be in Poole.

I used to fish the Kennet for barbel too when I worked in Reading, that was my thing for many years. Fished also over the RDAC waters including the sections you mentioned and the section the Red Spinners have. For shear quality it was the Backstream for me (used for matches on weekends), so many doubles. Had to be a bit careful down there mind in the evening, had my car done over there once and often didn't feel too safe. I caught a 'golden' barbel down there once, it was about 8lb, was very light in colour and had a red/yellow tail. My friend and I developed a special bait which we mixed up overselves, it was brilliant, we would go an a stretch and throw in a few pounds of it at likely spots and then fish it a few days later, once they were on it, they stayed on it you could catch them in the middle of the day and in the winter, it was hard to keep quiet what we were using, I would have a some luncheon meat on show to try and put people off but sometimes they would just hang around so I stopped fishing and talked or used meat while waiting for them to move off. There's photo's of all my catches including the golden barbel. Sad to hear the Kennet is not what it was. Glad you are have a great time on the Wye Rob, it's a beautiful river along that part and I loved my barbel fishing. I just don't have the time to do it and sea fish as well and to be honest I was ready for a new challenge and sea fishing certainly is that.

Ian Simpson Pollack 7lb 8 yesterday I had a 9lb 4 cod yesterday and a 7lb 8 pollack on Sat

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Good to hear you guys fondly recalling your barbel fishing antics of the past. Tbh Steve, this might have rekindled my passion for course fishing. I think it could certainly be the option for a blown out day on the sea! R

It's OK Jerry I know where he lives. I can just see his wife's face when she spots them in his Garden.

No real big stuff on our trip best of it was: Terry: 10lb 9oz Pollock Alun: 10lb 2oz Pollock and 5lb Cod Stuie: 15oz Red Gurnard, 7lb 3oz Pollock Steve: 3lb 8oz Ballan Wrasse, 7lb 3oz Cod. We also had scad, whiting, bass, poor cod, pout, mackerel and a brittle star all on lures!

Best fish on Fisheagle. Myself Small Eyed 9lbs. Coddy Red Gurnard 1lb. Dave Lynes Cuckoo 14ozs. Fishing was slow and hard given the tides. In all, 6 Congers, all straps. 7 Rays, all small. Three types of Gurnard and a nice inshore Smoothound of 10 lbs to Dave who also had a lovely coloured Ballan over 2lbs. A small Turbot of around 2.5 lbs. to myself. Other than that, Dogs, a few Mackerel, a few bits and bobs and various mini species.

Yes it was calpac, the over hanging tree by the pill box was near the Aquarium swim, made famous by a mate of mine who knocked out many 30 to 40 chub a session with the odd barbel mixed in. I used to opt for the long walk to the end of the venue, praying I was the only one down their. Many large bags of good roach to casters. Great times, now full of Amercian cray fish eating the fish eggs and the otters causing lots of trouble. The Kennet is now in a bad way. See what you gone and done Rob making us oldies remember the good old days.

I used to go by a fallen tree that was between the "pill box" and the bridge over the river, the other side was CALPAC water if I remember rightly........long time ago now! I was a member of Twickenham Piscatorials who were affiliated to RDAC, some good pike along there too ! Memories eh ?

Your joking thats exactly where it was on the last bend at the end of the venue.

There was some really good barbel fishing on the Kennet years ago Mal, I used to fish the Padworth stretch of the Benyons Estate, used to leave 2am in the morning from West Moors just to get a swim !!!

Awesome my favourite fishing, Barbel being as good as Bass. My best 9.8lb on 3lb line size 18 hook trotting on the Kennet many years ago, but still gives me a thrill. 😊

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Bad B——R Rob do not chuck them in the hedge😡😀

Yeah, chuck em in a hedge Jim, don't be throwing cake money away! R