Barbus barbus…Ruler of the river or Prince of the pool?
Part 2

One of the nastier sides of the modern angling scene involves fish stealing. The two main sought after species are carp and barbel. Now please don't misunderstand me, and I am not trying to justify it even by a tiny percentage, but when carp are taken they are usually put into a similar type of environment.

But with the barbel, it invariably involves being taken from a fresh, fast flowing river and then being transferred to a pond. There is no consideration of the needs of the fish whatsoever. It is simply providing the angler with the convenience of catching barbel without having to venture out on the river. In fact, barbel theft is so rife from the Teme, that BAA (Birmingham Anglers Association) started regular patrols to prevent this criminal act.

So critical is the environment that barbel find themselves in, as far as being conducive to their welfare, that even rivers, when disturbed significantly, have an affect upon the fish. For example, stretches of the Lee and Teme, when bankside work involved the removal of vegetation meant a serious decline in the barbel inhabiting that stretch. What happened, is that the fish moved to a part of the river that suited them. This option is not available for stillwater barbel.

I've made reference in this article (part 1) to the Barbel Society. I asked their Chairman, Steve Pope to supply a quote specifically for this item, which you can read below. Steve proved very helpful as I researched, sending me an article by Dr Paul Garner that appeared in 'The Barbel Fisher' (number 10) dealing with stillwater barbel. Paul certainly deals more scientifically with the subject than I have chosen to do here. But for those who are interested in delving deeper, I would recommend the article.

So what did Steve Pope have to say? ...'Barbel fishing is undoubtedly one of the great angling experience; catch your first barbel from a beautiful fast flowing river and you will surely understand what I mean. I suppose I could give you many reasons, some factual, some philosophical as to why I believe so passionately that barbel should not be in stillwaters; but I won't do that here.

Instead I will put to you that barbel fishing is about so much more than merely catching the fish; It truly encompasses all that we as anglers cherish and hold dear. The escape to wild waters, flowing waters, waters that are alive, waters that quite simply have a soul. Rivers.

This then is where the Prince of the River resides, the most majestic and sporting of fishes, our friend the barbel. No one should have to travel too far these days to find a river that holds barbel, so go on and get down to the riverbank and catch one, a wild and powerful creature - not a commodity. Swim wild, swim free'

I also spoke with Dr Andy Orme, who amongst other things has run a predominantly barbel fishery on the River Teme. This is what he had to say...'I am completely opposed to the stocking of barbel into any stillwaters for three reasons:

1) Barbel are adapted to thrive in rivers and it is fundamentally cruel to force them to live in an environment to which they are not suited.
2) It reflects very badly on the sport of angling as a whole because it suggests that anglers are unconcerned about the welfare and health of their quarry.
3) The creation of a commercial market for barbel encourages unscrupulous people to steal them from rivers. It should be banned immediately'

So in conclusion, the articles explain why I am firmly against the stocking of barbel in stillwaters. You, as a fellow angler, must make your own mind up. Take on board both sides of the argument with an open mind, one that has not already been made up. Then consider the qualification of the individuals who have an opinion, before finally reaching your own conclusion.