Hi Folks

Is anyone else struggling like me?

The river Kennet has been well tough since the season started, I have been going out 2 or 3 evenings per week and so far I have caught 3 barbel, 2 were only small but I did have a double 2oz under 11lb. Most of my sessions have been blanks though and most people have been blanking on the usually productive venues I fish.

No one seems to know what is going on, various theories are the weather has been unsettled and the spring was cold, The fish were late spawning, the river has poached by some of our Eastern European friends during the closed season when the banks were deserted, some say maybe lots of fish were washed out into the Thames during last years big floods, the river hasn't fished great since then. Who knows, I hope it gets better soon.

There was an 18lb taken from the Kennet 2 weeks into the season which is huge fish from the river at this time of the year, there are pictures of it in both this weeks AT and AM, its full of spawn.

How are you UK420 barbel fishers getting on this season so far?

Its been tough mate. Normality, I think, will be back upon us now we've had this week of cooling rain.

I think the fish have had other things on their mind up until the last week or so. I know a few very competent anglers who were struggling after the barbel because the barbel just havnt been feeding, BUT I defo think the rain this week has turned the fish off spawning and got them on the feed.

I had probably had about 10 barbel blanks up untill Tuesday just gone when I had a 7lb 6oz barbs during the rain on a rising river. Wednesday I had a 6lb 6, Thursday the mate with me had a 9lb 1 and then last night I had one dead on 10lb from a falling river. The ever reliable Halibut pellet catching me fish where as the boilies I was catching them on in the winter wouldnt get me a touch, strange hmm.

Quite literally we've been banging our heads against the wall regards barbel, fishing for fish that just aint catchable.

One of those multiple Kennet catches is coming your way soon mate!

tough for me on the kennet as well.
had 4 sessions so far and landed 10 barbel but all apart from a 8 15 have been small.
looking at the weather its going down at night to very low summer temps and this must have effect on the fishing.
also think too much bait going in doesnt help as well as the kennet gets alot of pressure and the barbel must be fed up with eating.
all of the action i have had so far has been after 6pm and into the dark.
will keep at it and it can only get better(i hope).

ukbl

Oh well at least its not just been me having a tough time of it. I am confidant it will switch on soon.

We fished the river on Thursday evening, it was in flood and looked great, tried halibuts and big lumps of garlic flavoued meat but we both blanked as did everyone else on the venue, frustraiting as hell.

10 Fish Ukbudlover, you are doing ok mate.

Here is a pic of the double I caught a few weeks back, its looked much bigger than it was, it was spawned out and very skinny, that will be a big fish in the winter

10lb 14.oz