Steve Pope's Barbel Fishing Adventures

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Steve Pope's Barbel Fishing Adventures Guided Days on the River Severn.

15/06/2025

I know there are plenty of people chomping at the bit to get down to the river tomorrow, I’m not one of those 😀

Being as it’s my birthday and a sort of significant one, 75, I have other priorities.

There’s plenty of time and I really will only be concentrating on one venue so absolutely no need to rush 😀

Good luck to everyone who looks in on here, hope the barbel are responding on your rivers, have a good time 👍👍

11/06/2025

Let me expand upon something, this topic came up in a question put to me on Sunday.

What is the spiritual aspect of fishing for barbel?

I call it fishing with soul as opposed to the more mechanical, cold and for me soulless techniques that have come to the fore in recent times.

It’s all about connecting with the river, the fish and ultimately yourself.
It happens naturally when you’re in the zone.

Fishing with a pin, with rods low, sitting next to them on edge waiting for the telltale signs, it’s almost a sixth sense.
You can also feel it when you’re holding the rod, rolling a bait and basically touch legering.

It borders on the magical and is the reason many have fished for barbel all their lives.

What it isn’t is sitting in a bivvy with three rods pointing to the sky on a scaffold contraption waiting for the alarm to sound- that’s beach fishing!!😀

I know it’s a popular way to fish but it’s cold and soulless and if that’s your only way you will truly miss out on the essence of what “ barbel fishing “ is actually about.

Just a thought to consider with a new season almost upon us ……

Fishing with soul - try it 😀😀

11/06/2025

After the weekend which was very much barbel related I’m winding down and thinking about my approach for the new season.

My ultimate goal is to catch a 15lb barbel from the upper reaches of the Severn, I’m talking well into Wales.

It’s not an obsession, if I succeed I’ll be ecstatic but I won’t lose any sleep if I don’t 😀

My effort is likely to be consigned to short sessions because I’m very much of a mind to believing if the barbel are about I will catch, that isn’t arrogance it’s just born out of experience.

These fish are not pressured but are low in number and for the most part they might be 100 yards away!

But that’s my personal quest and it’s what I want, quantity doesn’t interest me, hopefully just a take every now and then.

I will be lost in a wonderful environment, sharing space with the ghosts from the past, Wales does that to you, and hopefully the sound of my centrepin will echo through the valley enough times to allow me to share those special moments on here !

Good luck to you all 😀

A brilliant day yesterday, I enjoyed every minute even though there were times when my head was in a complete spin 😀I ha...
09/06/2025

A brilliant day yesterday, I enjoyed every minute even though there were times when my head was in a complete spin 😀

I had a relatively easy morning, just had to say a few words to get things started and then I really enjoyed the Kings Weir presentation, it’s a place that forms part of my own fishing story.
It was a pleasure chatting to James, the new record holder, a nice guy especially so coming from Shrewsbury which is one of my favourite places 😀

The afternoon was a different matter and for two hours I was in a different zone!

Feargal arrived and what a great guy, I had a few minutes to welcome him as he grabbed a bite to eat before finding a front row seat to listen to Giles and me do our thing.

Once I get into a groove time has no meaning and an hour simply flew by!
Giles had prepared some great questions and I managed to keep my brain in check thus avoiding an Eric Morecambe ( Andre Previn moment) 😀😉

As soon as that was over we went straight into Feargal’s slot and I did a complete turnaround from being interviewed to being the interviewer 😀😀

That’s not easy at my age!!

Feargal was simply awesome, a force of nature and with a fantastic knowledge, passion and turn of phrase.
I’m certain all of us were inspired and galvanised into doing whatever we can to help and ultimately save our rivers.

It was a real honour to present Feargal with our Fred Crouch Award, no one has done more to highlight and bring pressure on those who blight our environment, Fred would have approved.

And then it was over and I headed back home to the Welsh hill’s and hopefully a nice quiet week 😀

A big thank you to everyone who came along and to those who helped make it a great day and of course to our Barbel Society team who put it all together and worked so hard on the day 🙏🙏

Just a few days away and the butterflies start to kick in😀Done this so many times before but I’m beginning to feel my ag...
03/06/2025

Just a few days away and the butterflies start to kick in😀

Done this so many times before but I’m beginning to feel my age and I’ve a lot to do!

Having Feargal on the bill is a big deal, I’m expecting a lot of people to turn up to listen to what he has to say.

Thirty years we’ve been doing this, that’s a long time, been a huge part of my life.

So many people, lots of good friends and a head full of memories.

Just hope I remember everything I have to do😀😀

See you there 👍🎣👍

02/06/2025

Not long now till the Barbel Show.

At that stage where I start to think deeply about what I’m going to say, at my age you have to cover all angles 😀😀

Spoken to Feargal today and he’s really excited about it, we are in for a real treat because this guy can speak and he has lots to say!

Can’t wait.

Hope to see you there.

19/05/2025

The Show is certainly befitting of our 30th anniversary.

With a variety of speakers there should be something for everyone.

Kings Weir on the River Lea is now the number one fishery in the country and Andrew will be telling us how that came about.
This is particularly interesting because of the connection with Fred Crouch who was a key figure in the Society.
James will be talking about the record breaking barbel he has caught - Not to be missed.

Nigel, Antony and Jay will be giving us the lowdown on their bait and the fish that have been caught.

I’ll be chatting with Giles about the past thirty years of the Society, my fishing and all the people I’ve met on what has been a great journey.

And of course Feargal Sharkey who once sang above teenage kicks but now devotes his time and energy to fighting for our rivers, he is the figurehead in the campaign against those who pollute our rivers, he is passionate and articulate and will be an absolute must to see.

There will be awards, there will be a raffle, there will be a wide variety of stands in the trade hall including some of the biggest names like Cadence and Dynamite.

If that’s not enough Ade Busby will be launching his book and it’s a good one.
Ade is a lovely guy who was a major player when the Gt Ouse was in its prime.

Bring your partner and youngsters, they will be most welcome and they will enjoy the day.

See you there.

19/05/2025

This morning around 11am I took a call from my Barbel Society colleague Stu, ten minutes later I’m on the phone to someone with one of the most distinctive voices in the country.

The upshot being that Feargal Sharkey will be at our show in a few weeks time.

I’m very excited about this, Feargal is the figurehead in the river pollution campaign and it’s a real honour that he wants to speak to us.

More information will be coming out shortly but this is a big deal and I’m expecting a packed hall to hear what Feargal has to say and how we can generate more support.

A good heart, a very good day 👍

Updated poster!!!It’s all coming together now.Looking forward to this immensely.Hope to see you there, old friends who’v...
16/05/2025

Updated poster!!!

It’s all coming together now.

Looking forward to this immensely.

Hope to see you there, old friends who’ve been on the complete thirty year journey and new ones who are the future.

👍🎣👍

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