RIVER AVON

[rogerb]

Hi Everyone,
Are there any reports regarding the River catches at Abbots Salford not seen a lot to date, has anyone caught any Barbel this year and if so at what weight.
Roger B.

[mickschilling]

I spent a fair amount of time there last year with only a 5lb bream and a 5lb chub to show for it. Had some decent bags of small fish over on the tip though, peg 10 area. Otherwise it was pretty quiet. Hoping to get on there before the season ends...............

[Stu]

Roger,
I had a fairly good afternoon session on the Avon yesterday (as I will be busy all weekend and working Monday).

Fishing in the low numbers I had a nice net of chub and a solitary roach (which was around 1/2lb) chopping and changing between waggler & feeder fished bronze maggot and hemp. All the fish were in pristine condition and the biggest chub went 4lb 11oz - I thought it might just push 5lb. The smallest was around 2 1/2lb.

The river is in excellent condition with a nice flow, a touch of colour and yesterday there was an upstream breeze. So excellent waggler weather!!!

I lost a couple of chub too (pulled out of one close in as the bait had masked the hook) and was seen off by either a couple of barbel or carp. Thought I had tamed one having played it for 10 mins and it had gone downstream 50+ yards, only for the hook to pull again. Shame!

With such excellent fishing in such fantastic surroundings, it never ceases to amaze me how few people fish the river, and those that do mainly do so solely for the barbel. Four guys stopped for a chat yesterday, two of which I believe went on to fish the barbel pegs.

Incidentally, some of the platforms are in need of repair or are virtually non-existent. It looks like a difficult job to repair them (would we need a boat?) but if there are any plans to do so in the close season, let me know. This is a top venue and I do feel we need to keep it accessible.

Cheers,

[Stu]

Had a short session last Friday evening, fishing the river just as the light faded and had a cracking 12lb 5oz Barbel. It went off like a steam train and gave the new XT4000 baitrunner a good workout!!

And for those who are wondering, I didnt catch it on pellet!

[richcherr]

just done an 8am -1pm session on the Avon, peg was in the early 20's. fishing the tip with swimfeeder filled with maggot and hemp and a sleeper rod with boile and pva bag of pellets. managed a chublet and a minnow on the tip. plenty of features around the peg (reeds, overhanging trees etc.) but river still a little low and clear.

only just started fishing rivers. any tips for our stretch of the Avon (tactics, pegs etc.)?

cheers

rich c

[kingudgeon]

Got in my last river session this morning before the season ends, decieded against fishing for barbel as the river was low and clear so set up a waggler rod instead. I fished hemp and caster mid river for two hours feeding steadily with only two missed bites before the float finally slipped away and I struck into a fish. It was soon clear this was no roach and after a good scrap on light float tackle, up popped a 6lb4oz barbel! Result!

[mickschilling]

I fished the river one monday pm late feb and took an 8.5 barbel off peg 2 on the stick, perfect fish, really good condition

[kingudgeon]

You really can't beat catching quality fish like that on the float on a well balanced set up, especially on the river, proper fishing!