Barbel in East Anglia

[bamboo440]

Hi All,

I am itching to catch a Barbel, I live in Suffolk so as far as i can see the nearest options are the Ouse and the Wensum. The Wensum doesn't appear particularly accessible, with only 1 day ticket stretch I have come across (just past Lenwade). That leaves the Ouse, how far up the river do the Barbel frequent? Into Cambridgeshire? Is this anymore accessible for the day ticket angler?

Any pointers much appreciated,

Thanks

[kfsand]

Hi there,
You may be aware there are some Barbel in the Suffolk Stour? But they are not prolific. As for the Ouse there are pockets of Barbel all the way up to St Ives but i do not hear of fish being caught on a regular basis this far down river.

Have a look at www.bighitaa.co.uk and it will point you in the right direction.

Kev

[BoldBear]

How expensive is it to join a club on the Wensum?; if it is not silly money then that's where I would start.

You need somewhere where you can fish into the evening until an hour or so into the dark, where there are lots of Barbel features such as sweeping bends, changes in depths, gravel runs between streamer weed, overhanging vegetation etc.

I have never fished the Wensum but heres a link showing some of the Barbel caught from this great looking river, however it seems a little strange that there are no pictures taken since 2009 but that may be just co-incidence.

< Barbel from the Wensum >

As for the Gt Ouse the best parts seem to be further up stream nearer bedford although as kfsand has already said they are sometimes caught as far downsteam as St. Ives if you can find them.

< Barbel from the Gt Ouse >

< Barbel from the Suffolk Stour >