Tees Barbel (8)

Date fished 25/07/2026

6:45am until 2:45pm

persistence

/pəˈsɪst(ə)n(t)s/

Persistence is the quality of continuing to do something even when it is hard, and it means keeping going, lasting a long time, or saving computer data.

Not sure about the "saving computer data" stuff, but I am certainly saving a few blogs! 

I arrived and walked to the area I wanted to fish. There was another angler in a nearby peg so I asked him if it was OK if I fished upstream of him. He said yes, so I started. 

Link ledger meat for an hour produced nothing. Not wanting to roll meat out of my swim and disrupt the other angler, I moved off down stream. 

I played around in a few new areas, not really settling and only got snagged lots and got a wet foot! I had the waders but was carrying them by now. 

A warm wind soon turned into dark skies and water started falling, I think its called rain. Its been a while!

Still feeling discombobulated   I went back to where I started. The angler was just leaving and he offered me the swim. I said thanks and we chatted as he packed up. 

Not wanting to wade anymore  I decided to sit on the bank and ledger paste wrapped pellet in the flow on the far side. It's where the barbel live!!

I ended with six of these, I think dace.

The second one was big and I would of weighed it had it not jumped off my hand when I unhooked it. They would be amazing to catch on the float trotting, but on the barbel rod they were just reeled in. 

I was glad of the blank savers and the kindness of the other angler. I enjoyed my day, but the quest goes on!! 

Tees barbel (7)

Date fished 12/7/2026

4.40am until 8am

Yes, I watched the football. Yes, all of it. 

2.5 hours sleep and a 3.15am alarm. I must love my fishing!? 

It was always going to be an early start. In this heat, I wanted my discomfort to be more than that of the fish.  

After some minutes sleeping, not that much more than the match itself, I dragged my arse out of bed and headed towards the river Tees. No beers for the match helped, but it wasn't until I put the Argentina V Switzerland game on 5 Live and started to drink my cup of tea, that I felt ready. 

I picked a fast flowing swim and rolled some meat. People make it look easier than it is. A few runs through and I was not convinced. 

I cast the same weight to the slack water and put the rod down. Instantly it pulled round. Not the barbel I craved but a nice chub of about two and a half pounds. Released without even leaving the water! 

I decided to change to paste wrapped pellet next, it served me well on the Nidd. Constant taps, pulls. The lot. I just couldn't connect. I assumed crayfish, however when I finally connected, it was dace. I managed two.

I had seen a kingfisher, heron, eel and otter and it was not even breakfast time for many. 

After a few more biteless rolls, I walked around an island and saw a big chub lethargically heading towards a tree for shade. It's back out the water, I could of just netted him. 

I took this as a sign that I should go find my own shade, it is likely going to be snory and sofa induced. 

Does anyone know if mobile speed cameras always get you??

Asking for a friend. Ffs 🤬

Nidd nutter!

Date fished 27/06/2026

6am until 1pm

With the current hot weather, Ellis and I decided to fish early morning. I had caught barbel from two rivers from the Leeds book in two trips, could I make it a hatrick!?

Minimal kit as we were walking a little bit, plus it was a short session. Oozing meat my main bait, but I did grab some 6mm marine halibut pellets and matching paste as I left (at 4am). Either to be suspended under a twin 2SSG shot on a link ledger. 

We arrived at the Nidd, wow, it looked great. Swims cut in, loads of water in a small area due to river bends. It is my new fave stretch to fish!!

My rod

I won't bore you with the photography, I took loads  but this was my best picture. The fishing was quiet!! 

The river is small, like a stream in places. Deep holes, shallow glides and full of streamer weed. Perfect fish habitat but on a warm day, I just wanted to find shade. Eventually I did and a well placed cast was met with knocks. In hindsight it was probably crayfish but at the time I got interested. 

Ellis tried with worms too, in the hope a big stripey would be hungry. Plenty of fish were topping, assume perch chasing too but not our baits. 

My swim

We leapfrogged swims towards where we thought we had parked. We were wrong, the loop and river flow swapping but bank side staying the same had confused me! Am even confused now, not sure I am correct but I know what I mean. Anyway, I sat with pellets and waited. The rod pulled and I missed the bite. Gutted!!

What's funny though was Ellis was doing the same as me. Photography!!

Ellis's rod

I moved further downstream and came to peg 48. I cast in the middle of a narrow stretch, not near cover but just in a bit I thought I could leave it while I sat. The least fishy part of river in the least fishy swim I had been in all morning.

My rod twitched, I picked it up and it slammed around. I was in. The fish, assumed chub swam downstream, then swam upstream towards and under a bush. I manged to get it out and had it in the open water. I saw my chub, it had whiskers! It made for the snag again, but this time I steered it around and quickly in the net. 

My barbel from a third river in three trips. I called Ellis. We rested the fish well and took it out for a quick pic. No weighing, estimated 5lb. After another long rest, it swam powerfully away under the bush upstream. 

Ellis cast in the hot zone!! There were fish topping, splashing about but no more were caught. 

Gathering our bearings, we realised we had walked away from the cars, but we wanted to fish some more, so we crossed the field and we fished some great looking swims. In truth, all the swims look great on this stretch. I am going to struggle to fish anywhere else!!

Our remaining drinking water was back at the car, so we headed that way. 

We left as it heated up, atmospherically not metaphorically, but we had decided to fish today whilst being mindful of fishcare. Nobody told them Nidd nutters though!!

Earl of Northumberland

Date fished 16th of course!! 

7.10am until 2.10pm

Forgetting a few hours after work for the elusive Tees barbel on a September evening, I had not fished with Ellis since 17th June 2025!!

Putting that right this week, we started on the Swale. I have joined Leeds, a large and great club. Today we tried their Topcliffe flavour.

Coming from Northumberland, this is why I felt at home

Ellis arrived early and secured a double swim. Today was another social with rods. In hindsight, I could of left the rods at home as they didn't catch today. However  I thoroughly enjoyed the day on a great new stretch! 

I walked it just before we left, and that definitely had me thinking about another trip, soon! 

We ledgered every bait we had, varied everything but to no avail. We even swapped for a worm in the margins as something was constantly harassing something. Ellis caught the culprit, a nice perch. 

I will need to review the boundaries as some other swim parameters seemed 'muddled'.

Some barbel were caught on the stretch today, it was full of anglers. Great to see on opening day! 

Let's not leave it until nearly a year until the next trip please Ellis!!

Rupe's chub

This post is not about Rupe putting on weight, or indeed going to the gym or making some kind of protein milkshake concoction in my special beer glass. It's about him trying to catch a chub as I guaranteed him I could help him....

Its been a few trips in the making, starting some years ago (sept 2021) when we went to the Swale with my dad. Rupe caught a crayfish that day and declared that was a fish - Fishin' Impossible: Tired out

Then all subsequent Swale trips that were masked by grayling, trout or pike were actually chub trips too! There have been 4 blanks on the chub front. 

Fishin' Impossible: Junior anglers

Fishin' Impossible: Minn-ho ho ho

Fishin' Impossible: Dork hat

Fishin' Impossible: Catching salad

12/7/2025 - 90 mins

A hot day and evening meant we could not be arsed with driving to the Swale. 

Trying to buy a local day ticket was 'awkward' but we managed to visit the Tyne. 

Rupe fished meat and bread flake alternating for an hour and a half in the evening. It was certainly pleasant sat in the shade as the paddle boarders went up and down. No chub though!

A trip to the Swale end of July and it happened - 27/7 - 7am until 1pm

Well, it would of if it wasn't for dad to muck it up.  

We fished the Swale again, all three of us. Two rods. Meat and worm - the worm just got attacked by small stuff and the meat just sat. Eventually some local advice arrived and put us on the potential for a pull. Rupe crept into position and cast mid river, the flow took the bait under the tree and we waited. It wasn't long and the rod began to twitch, I was so excited I shouted at Rupe to strike. He obliged, but far too early and the chub was gone. I mean, it might have been a barbel - who knows. 

We kept on but nothing came back, another blank on the chub front, but a minnow, called Gary (obvs) got impaled on our hook. He went back strongly though. I swear, I will get Rupe to catch his chub this calendar year!

1/11/2025

7am until 10am

I woke Rupe up by switching his bedroom light on. We had agreed a gentle shake does not work and he usually goes back to sleep. Cup of tea, homemade sausage muffin and we were off. Wanting to put everything 'down by my feet' said rupe, I let him pack the car. 

We had not left Hexham and he was fiddling with the radio. November must mean one thing. Heart Xmas! Over an hour of nonsense, but we did get a spaceman and a fairytale! 

Travelling light it was a quick scamper to the river. It was high but fishable and looked good. We started in the swim we ended in last time and started to fish. The cheesepaste we made last night was ledgered on the crease towards the over hanging willows. 

Nothing here, we moved on. 

The sun was warm but blinding. we moved on. 

We came to my usual spot. I helped my dad and Tom catch their first Swale chubs from a particular peg. I tackled up a 7ft rod and shepherded Rupe to the swim. He has fished it before, but would today be different? 

"I've got one dad!" I heard, as I checked the photos on my phone. 

I scrambled down behind him, with a near useless net and scooped up his prize. For a first ever Chub, it looked a beauty! 

At 5lb exactly, we were both over the moon. We rested it and watched it slowly swim down and through the weed. 

Was there time for me to try in the first swim again, if I could only pry the rod out his hands!!??

Not a chance! 

Tees barbel (6)

Date fished 19/10/2025

7.30am until 11.40am

I envy the anglers that do a proper quest, I am just not cut out for it. I have enjoyed the barbel quest and will put it on the back burner for now. Unless conditions seem perfect on Wednesday!! 

The river looked spot on, but my fishing trip was ruined before I got to the wet stuff. 

I walked to the peg I wanted to fish, realised I had dropped my landing net. I left some gear and walked back. I saw a couple of dog walkers, they said it was on the ground in the car park. I got back and it was gone. Someone had borrowed it. 

I walked back to my gear and started to fish. Conscious that landing anything bigger than a minnow would be challenging, really I hoped I didn't catch a barbel. 

Float fishing or rolling small cubes of meat was employed half heartedly for a few hours. 

Neither produced, and when I lost both new quick change olivettes, given to me by Ellis. I declared game over. 

Not trying to be negative. The highlight of the trip was my mates messaging me on my drive home. 

There is more to life than fishing, you made me smile!!

The afternoon will be spent making online purchases. 😍

Tees barbel (5)

Date fished 24/9/2025

3pm until 7.30pm

I wondered if an evening session would increase my chances. Ellis said "it would, 500%"

Unsure of his maths, we gave it a go. 

A different swim fished. I collected a bag full of rubbish from the previous users.

It looked perfect. The river was dropping and had a good pace going into over hanging willows. One rod with pellets and feeder was cast there and a sleeper rod in the nearside slack with meat for any cruising chub. Ellis joined me after work and had a ledger rod near mine on the far bank. 

After one of his casts, I asked where he was. He said 5 yards from the tree. I declared, OK, I will cast this three yards from it. I promptly deposited my rig exactly where his was!! We didn't get tangled and didn't catch any barbel. 

It was great to catch up, we hadn't fished together since June. He has been doing lots of fishing around the country and had barbel to over 8lb! 

His luck didn't rub off on me, and he was left cursing the blank saver when he wound in the last cast and there was actually a small fish on the end. It had registered a bite a while before but didnt do anything else. He didnt see it properly before it dropped off, but I hope it wasnt a small barbel. If it was, we would of carried on for something bigger!! 

We even managed to avoid the massive dog poo as we walked back to the cars in the dark. The quest continues....

Tees barbel (3)

Date fished 7/9/2025

6am until 10am

I am enjoying the Tees barbel challenge. I chatted with an angler as I walked back to the car, he told me he caught a Tees barbel from the swim he was in a few weeks ago. It's an area, I have never even considered!!! 

I was back in the same swim as the previous trip. This time travelling even lighter as I was planning on wading mid river to present a moving bait in and below the faster water. 

I only had meat and spicy sausage for the hair. 

Third trundle down, the line went slack. I struck and the culprit pulled back. Head shaking and zig zagging around the current and I soon saw the lips! A while ago, I would of weighed this, but today it was just slipped back. 

I changed the line and pace of the rolling meat. I was using the korum touch ledger and at times (not always) I controlled the bait downstream. Parts were so fast, I had no control.

During one of the pacier trotting down, I noted the line was spooling really fast. I closed the bail arm and struck. I was correct, something had intercepted the rolling meat. 

A different fish from the first, however I think the same as last session. A noticeable scar on its flank, maybe from a heron or similar.  

The upstream wind was warm and strong, my rolling took a more static approach as I found dips and places the meat would sit. A few times it came back with corners missing. Something was having a nibble. Not the two pincers buggers, but some whiskered beauty, whom I am always pleased to catch.

I will take this as a sign that I am getting closer to the Tees barbel. 

"Tam prope, quantum longe"

Tees barbel (1)

Date fished 3/8/2025

6.55am until 12.25pm

I have not posted in a while, but have been fishing. I have not given up blogging but am writing a sequence of blogs to document Rupe trying to catch his first chub. I will publish, when he does. Hopefully soon. 

Today, conditions looked good for an early morning barbel. Rain, warm, overcast. I headed to the Tees. 

I found a swim with fast water upstream that flowed into a deeper section on the far bank before shallowing up again and creating another set of rapids. Below these rapids would of been good too, but other anglers were in there. 

My groundbait of breadcrumb, crushed tortilla chips and sweetcorn looked and smelt appetising! 

I cast a few feeders quite quickly to get some bait down, meat was on the hook. 

The rod was constantly tapping, fish were certainly in the area. I changed the hookbait to corn, worms, pellets and back to meat. All got interest, none ripped off as I wanted! 

A strange bite got me striking. I felt no fish on  but the hooklink had snapped. Not sure what happened, but I remained on the blank. 

As I watched two kingfisher, an angler or walker appeared on the far bank. "Good swim this" he announced. 

I smiled and told him I was blanking. He had never seen a kingfisher, so I informed him these two were putting on a show. 

Getting back to the fishing, I was on meat again. The rod pulled round and the baitrunner sung. Not much resistance, but it was a fish. Shame to catch such a nice dace on the barbel rod and 12lb line, but I gave a little smile. 

The sun came out and I thought it was no longer good barbel conditions. I headed upstream and trotted maggots for a little while. A nice grayling, a small dace and a zillion minnows all coming in this short time. I walked some more of the stretch, which apart from the litter looked great. I picked up what I could, paying attention to get glass bottles and beer cans and headed to the bin. 

I was going to write my barbel blog just like I am writing Rupe's chub story, but if that was the case you would think I had disappeared. I will keep the number going so we can see how many times I genuinely try, although I will often bring old faithful float rod.