The Tidal Trent Fish-in

Equipped with several bags of Dynamite pellets and Nutrabaits’ boilies I made my way down the river to one of my favourite pegs. Matt Brown and Adam Roberts (no relation to Bob), both members of our newly formed specialist group, The DVSG, came along and welcomed me.

We were certain that many others would turn up; and so it proved.

“…….both members of our newly formed specialist group, The DVSG, came along and welcomed me.”

Now the Tidal Trent is quite a bit different from most other barbel rivers in England. For a start it is big and deep. And you cannot see the fish. To locate the barbel on this river takes a combination of experience, a little common sense and a smattering of luck. But several of us were able to find suitable swims and catch barbel we did.

The weather was not ideal. Stinking hot and humid with clear skies, intermingled with early morning mist. How I wished for cool temperatures, overcast skies and stacks of rain, as most of my big barbel catches have been made during periods of unsettled weather.

First Trent barbel for Paul B

However we had to contend with two blazing hot days so any fish caught were going to be taken at night.

Now I must introduce Adam Roberts to you. Quite honestly I have met few young anglers with the enthusiasm and obvious fishing skills as Adam. He is as keen as mustard and I can see him catching some tremendous fish from a variety of waters in the future. Not only that, his enthusiasm rubs off on anyone he meets. He caught the biggest fish of the weekend, a fine 10lb 4oz barbel. He also managed to smash his rod!

Matt managed to live up to his reputation as an expert Trent bream angler, taking several good fish as well as a barbel or two. By midnight, I had managed to bank four barbel to 8lbs or so, as well as losing a whopper that rolled of the hook at the net.

Ron plays a barbel in the early morning

On the Saturday it became incredibly hot. I spent most of the time trying to keep cool by dunking my bush hat into the river and then wearing it wet – an old Aussie trick.

Most of the others in our party arrived on the Saturday, including Lee Swords, who by this time was so desperate to catch barbel he reminded me of a rampant dog after smelling a bitch on heat. Lee also managed to lose a good fish which he hooked in broad daylight.

Jim Hinchley and Trent barbel

Eventually the night closed in and fish came steadily to most of us. Bryon surprised us all by catching three big roach on pellets, including a two-pounder. I managed another three barbel as dawn broke on the Sunday. Then I hooked another big ‘un which somehow found a snag. After much heaving and handlining I was able to get the fish moving. This did feel like something sizable but as the fish came under the rod top, the line parted. I shouldn’t wonder however. The line took a real hammering.

And so ended our weekend.

Was it successful? You bet it was.

In fact most want a return match on this, England’s Number 1 barbel river.

Maybe in October this time.