Until a few weeks ago I had never even seen Berkshires River Kennet let alone fish it, but an invite from fellow Barbel Society member Chas Kellet was about to alter that.

The Kennet

To be honest I spent more time during my first visit walking the various sections of the river than I actually did fishing. I did manage one small Barbel just over 5lb, but was more then looking forward to my next visit.

Two weeks later I was back far better armed than my first visit, both in venue knowledge as well as required tackle and bait. The river like most this season had started slowly with only odd Barbel being caught, with plenty of anglers going home without catching. I decided a simple approach was required with the idea being to attract some fish into the swim but not over feed them.

Using groundbait for Barbel fishing has never been a popular method in the past but has gradually caught on these days, the idea being to introduce minimum feed but maximum flavour.  I have been using groundbait for Barbel for about 5 seasons now and find it works well and can be a deadly method when used correctly. On bigger rivers like the Trent and Severn whenever possible I introduce the groundbait through a feeder, but on rivers like the Kennet when a stealthy approach is required I like to use PVA funnel web to introduce the groundbait.

So armed with a funnel web kit and a bag of Sonu Baits Hemp and Hali crush, I made up several PVA bags using a ramming stick to pack the dampened Hemp and Hali into the PVA. Once the bag hits the Bottom the idea is as the PVA melts and because the groundbait is packed in tight it will expand rapidly and the lighter particles will immediately create a flavour trail down the river, with the heavier particles remaining around the hookbait. Hemp and Hali Crush is perfect for the Job with the flavour trail consisting of hemp particles with an overtone of Halibut pellet, and the larger particles of broken pellet remaining in place around the hookbait.

The plan was to fish this in conjunction with a small pellet on the hook, Sonu Pellet ‘O’s predrilled in 8mm size, fitted the bill well, and when the rod was nearly pulled off the rest about 20 minutes into the first cast of the day, I knew my plan had worked as a large Barbel took line from my tightly adjusted clutch.  The fish stayed deep and worked its way upstream but soon lay in the folds of my net.

 Only my second ever Kennet Barbel but by the looks of it a possible double, once in the sling and on the scales it was a close call with the needle of the Avon’s bang on 10lb, you’ll do for me!  Over the next couple of hours I managed 2 more Barbel and a chub just over 4lb so went home well happy.

During the next 2 days I managed 3 more Barbel nothing to equal the first cast double, but none the less satisfactory as most other anglers on the venue had  not even managed a Barbel. The minimum feed, maximum flavour method had worked well, I use it much more in the winter, when the fish feed only in short spells and it is easy to over feed, but with the Kennet Barbel not really hungry it had produced a few fish when others were struggling.

A double from the Kennet