The Big Fish column by Ian Welch

There are times when it all comes right for river anglers and last weekend was one of those times with what are likely to be the best barbel fishing conditions of the season.

Rivers swollen to bursting point with coloured water, the barometer plummeting and overnight temperatures remaining in double figures meant it was an all too rare combination of conditions for January and prime time to be out on the bank.

The smaller rivers were in the best shape and although the volume of water pushing through meant that not all areas were easily accessible and not all swims fishable there were plenty of glides which were absolutely perfect.

Stuart Baker was one of a number of anglers who took advantage of the opportunity and made an effort to get out for three trips during the course of the weekend, starting with an after-work session on Friday evening on the Loddon.

Presenting a large chunk of meat on a size 6 hook to 10 lb line and a free running 3oz lead Stu wandered a section near Twyford dropping the bait into a number of likely swims for half an hour before moving on if he got no indications.

A couple of plucks on the line in the third swim of asking encouraged Stu to make a second cast and within minutes he was playing a barbel which he finally beat after an arm-aching 10-minute fight.

The fish weighed in at an excellent 11lb 2oz but was dwarfed by the one he took from the river the following day.

Unsurprisingly Stu went back to the same section and after spending most of the day working the river with a variety of baits without a bite he finally got a good pull in a featureless area and after a short but powerful fight netted a barbel of 13lb 13oz.

Conditions on the Kennet were equally as good as on the Loddon and there were fish to be caught on most sections of the river with barbel to 16lb reported.

For local rods there were successes on a number of beats including a fish of 11lb 4oz to Dave Hutchins, who fished at Lower Benyons with a pellet bait on a size 8 hook to 15lb braid and 12lb line. Dave hooked the fish in an area of slack water just off the main push of the current and beat it after a two-minute fight.

The canalised sections of Kennet often come into their own during times of floodwater and it was just such an area which produced a nice fish for Burnham's Phil Bateman who spent a session legering a large halibut pellet wrapped in paste in conjunction with a PVA bag of pellets.

Phil connected with a solid bite late in the afternoon and connected with what he described as 'a steam train!'

Thankfully Phil was able to control the fish after a couple of minutes and despite slow progress drawing it upstream in the strong current eventually got it to the net and weighed it in at 10lb 12oz.

Despite ideal conditions it was not all easy going for anglers out on the rivers last week and there were plenty who returned home biteless and scratching their heads at the lack of success.

The problem, as always in such conditions, is that barbel are very quick to respond to a positive change in water temperature and unless you are on the river as soon as they start to feed and during the initial feast period you can miss out.

Conditions might appear perfect but if the barbel have been feeding hard for two days prior to your visit and are full to bursting when you arrive you will not catch. Food for thought when you plan that next session perhaps.

To report catches call 07780 755138 or email ian@bigfishtrail.com