BARBEL FISHING - River Loddon (Video 113)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Can I firstly say to all of you viewers a humble thank you for taking the time to watch my videos and post comments/questions, as the channel is now nearing 4000 subscribers I just wanted to emphasize how much it means to me, so thank you.
You join me on the banks of the River Loddon for a spot of barbel fishing, hopeful that a barbus might make the centre pin spring into life. With some very odd weather conditions, going from tranquil to rather blustery and then back to calm. Thankfully the river was in a kindly mood and rewarded this rotund angler.
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Beautiful Barbel Mark and a really absorbing video. Re-ignited my lust for Barbel fishing again. My best is a 12lb 1oz off the Middle Severn. Would love to fish the Loddon.
Thank you Peter, they are in lovely condition a 12 is a good fish on the middle Severn, I had a ten off there this season and witnessed a thirteen caught.
Stunning barbel Mark, love watching your videos, you have such a uplifting and joyful manner, truly Crabtree style it reminds me of, thank you for taking us along with you, cheers craig
Why thank you Craig, I do like that style of filming personally and the likes of the Passion for angling tv series is one such program that I used to love, sadly there is too few programs like it on tv these days, talent shows and reality tv have become the norm, so much for the worse in my eyes.
Mark.. you have such a great soul to yo fella. Never fail to make me smile dude.
Thanks Gareth, never happier than when I'm fishing and able to film it to share across to you chaps via youtube.
Mark, thank you for a wonderful collection of videos. I find them very inspiring and educational.
Hello there Patrick and thank you too for taking the time to drop by and post a comment, you're very welcome it's always nice to hear that the videos are providing enjoyment.
Mark, as ever, you here once again manage to splice an informative fishing video with an insight to your approach and feelings about your time on the river-bank. Quite wonderful and brilliantly done. Great stuff mate, see you soon.
Thank you Ian and my ethos is much similar to yours,whatever the outcome it is successful just to be fishing, in your own words "we said we would go fishing and we did"
Great double Mark , love the wildlife it goes hand in hand with fishing, well done Mark.
Thank you Graham,you're right it very much does go hand in hand and a big component that gives us anglers so much pleasure.
Well done Mark, the London has been really kind to you of late. Another superb double, brilliant!
Thanks Harry, it was nice to eventually slip the net under this fish as it was trying to take me towards the tree on a couple of occasions.
Again, thanks for sharing Mark and well done!
You're very welcome Thomas.I notice you have a new live baiting video on your channel, that will prove interesting to watch, as I am hoping to get out and do some predator fishing once winter is here.
Good to hear the self depreciating ( genuine ) sense of humour
lovely spot of angling that mark, always something special about using a center pin, really enjoying using them barbel fishing myself.
Thanks Dom, that I agree on and the best alarm call going when it begins to crackle.
Great fishing again Mark,another stunning Barbel.
Thanks Gary, it was a really bronze fish, must admit I was rather happy.
Most enjoyable Mark keep em coming.
Thank you Ben, I will try to do so.
Thank you for your time making these Mark. Very interesting films made with a great passion for the countryside. I really enjoy watching them.
Thank you too Phil for watching them, I get a great enjoyment from making and sharing them with all of you and it is humbling to know that they are enjoyed.
Amazing video Mark. One of your best - mixture of atmosphere, art and great angling!
Thank you William, that is very much heartening as that is something I wished to convey throughout this particular video, I am glad it came across.
Any fantastic instalment of your fishing exploits.... I enjoyed it that much I watched it twice ....👏👏
Cheers Barrie, watched it twice! Now that is praise indeed, glad you enjoyed it my friend.
As usual Mark an excellent video and an excellent Barbel. Well done mate.
Many thanks Miff, cheers I was pretty chuffed with catching it.
Another great video as always,really motivational and nice to not have products shoved in your face all the time,your really lucky to live near such a great stretch of river
Thanks Kevin, that is one thing I try not to do, is push products during videos, if a product gets mentioned it is because it is good or cheap and decent.
Fantastic and inspiring as ever Mark, keep up the good work.
Hello there Mike! Thank you very much mate.
Mark Erdwin Hello mate, hope you're well. That vid was just what I needed to kick my barbel butt into gear lol. Spent most of the day walking the river with a long rake and my chest waders, found a couple of lovely new spots and trickled a few tasty morsels in for Mr Barbus :)
Nice one Mark, what a roll you are on. Enjoy it, reflects the work you've put in. Cheers.
Thanks Gareth, it would be nice for it to continue on my next trip, although it would not be quite the same without some head scratching moments.
Well done bud. Another lovely video and a cracking fish caught by your good self, regards Stuart
Thank you Stuart, it was nice to be able to share an insight into the river and surroundings.
Nice Barbel Mark can't wait for the weekend now ;)
Thank you and you're not wrong about that.
Brilliant as always. Love your vids. 😉
Many thanks Robert.
Another very fine catch Mark !!!
Thank you Steve.
Brilliant Mark loving your videos again they just get better and better, I apologize that I've not been commenting on each video I've watched as I've been watching them on my tv which has the you tube app but sadly doesn't allow me to comment or like, but I can assure you I thoroughly enjoy all your videos and many many thanks for all the time and effort you put into sharing your fishing trips and tips with all of us ;)
Hello Mick, that is very kind of you and great to hear that you are enjoying the videos/vlogs. I think this was one of my favourite videos to edit and piece together, due to the mixture of lighting,changeable weather conditions, not quite sure where that wind came from but it was threatening to knock the tripod over and vanished almost as quickly as it came. Don't worry about not being able to comment due to your youtube app, it is just nice to have you as a viewer.
another cracking fish mark, you seem to be on a roll at the moment👍
Thanks Mark, it feels nice to be catching a few mate.
Another fantastic video Mark
Many thanks mate, always good to know you enjoy them.
nice barbel vlog m8 always a buzz when that reel goes tearing off ✌🎣🎣
Cheers Mick glad you enjoyed it, certainly does get the heart racing as the pin kicks into life.
Fantastic video thanks for sharing 👍
You're always welcome sme.
Another cracking video mate as usual loving everyone of them
Thank you so much Peter.
awesome fish loved the video
Thanks Makaveli :)
Lovely barbel Mark, and a great video as always!
Cheers mate and in reply to you regarding the Arun, no I have never fished that particular river at all.
Mark Erdwin it's an absolutely beautiful river in places. Very pacey, and tidal for most of it, but lovely fishing and scenery!
Great video Mark, as I have commented before if playing it is the next best to actually being on the bank myself, then please carry on making these superb professional trips.Bird sounds included....marvellous.
Retired 65
Patrick you're right the preamble is very much one of the key ingredients. Thank you regarding the bird impersonation too.
What a beautiful river that is, watching your films Mark made me get back in to fishing for these again, the Severn is my local.
Excellent filming my friend, really catches the mood also. Cheers Terry
Hello there Terry, thank you, it is probably one of the rivers which is closest to my heart, due to the seasons of fishing as a youngster and learning as much about myself and my personality from it as the watercraft needed. It is so nice to hear that the videos have got you back out fishing for barbel on the Severn,to hear that makes me smile more than catching a fish.
You certainly mastered the watercraft Mark, a most essential skill, excellent my friend.
Beautiful camera work love that river
Thanks Arfa, it was nice to be able to get some good footage for you guys.
Another Brilliant vlog from the moody River Loddon , wish we had rivers so natural looking here in Los Angeles makes me jealous 😂
Thanks Rafa, one day when you eventually fly over I hope for you to enjoy the heart beat of this waterway and perhaps capture one of its barbel.
Mark Erdwin even a small barbel would be welcomed ,I would be honored to share a swim with you 👍
Love your channel Mark. Proper fishing mate!
Another goodun Mark, sorry you could not make the bloggers bash but these things happen, looking forward to the next video keep well.
Thanks Ray, it was nice to be able to share this video with you guys, I really wasn't feeling up for the match unfortunately.
Keep up making these vids mate, i love watching them- makes me feel im there with you.
Randy, it is really is nice to know, as the shared atmosphere during these videos is something that I try to capture if I can and to hear that I have perhaps accomplished it on this video is great to hear, so thank you.
I have to admit.. i dont actually enjoy fishing. Certainly not as much as my family. However, i cant help but watch your videos when they watch. Very good!! Your eyes are sooooo blue!!! :D
Thank you Charlotte, it is always a good sign when someone whom doesn't fish enjoys the videos. Thank you for the kind comment about my blue eyes you will be making me blush, but that is probably one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.
Another nice video mate ,well done (jozef van horck)
Hello there Jozef, thank you mate.
Cracking vid again mark nice one hopefully i will get a bend in the rod Sunday
Cheers Anthony, well done on your recent barbel mate and good luck for this weekend.
Cheers mark having better luck this season on the kennet
Stunning Barbel. Don't get them in rivers near Ely ( You never know though) . So I might have to travel a bit further if I want my first Barbel.
Another great video Mark and a cracking fish. I had a tussle with a size 6 fortunately my brother was on hand to help unfortunately I wasn't graced with a brace of barbel!!
Thanks Rob, not much fun is it, I did consider walking down to the guys upstream and ask for help, but then thought to myself "they might think I have hooked a pb chub,myself" .
Haha!
Lovely double Mark. Good angling
Loved that video nice new camera lens bet you were chuffed with the results, it looked better on the river shots and on yourself holding the beautiful moonlit barbell, loved the black snail boilies and glug it seems to work wonders for you especially for the barbell, I caught my first Ivel Chub today 4lb 2oz, I'm still hard on the barbell trail, look forward to your next video tight lines and wet knees!!
Thanks Graham, it is actually the same lens, but I went to a higher bit rate on the camera and shot with a very flat profile, so I would have more dynamic range to work with during editing and think that has helped a lot with this video, granted the grading of the footage took a good few hours, but I think it is worth it for a nicer finish to share with you chaps. Yes I can assure you regarding those boilies they have been one of the best I have used and no I am not sponsored by them to say that. They are a very reliable bait. Very well done on your Ivel Chub that is a nice one to open your account with too. I am sure there will be some more caught by yourself, keep plugging away with the barbel mate, it is not an easy river, but there is still a few about.
Really nice video and clearly a very calm and considerate angler. Very refreshing! Have subscribed so looking forward to seeing more. ESP some river carp maybe
Hey thanks for subscribing and cheers for the very kind comment, I would like to get back out for some small river carp fishing, but will have to see as I am hoping to do some perch fishing at some point too.
@@francolinobasco just a suggestion Mark about the river carp, think it would appeal to a lot of still water anglers as their season get a little quieter right now. Plus a bit of a challenge for you. Good luck in all future pursuits and look forward to watching along.
Beautiful big Barbel there really well done. How often do you go fishing?
Thanks cns, generally I try to go once a week, although at the moment I have been once in the last 27 days, (ouch). You don't need to fish regularly to catch good fish, as having an awareness of location and understanding helps in that regard.
True like you've said before its about the watercraft. I have a question... in the winter which fish do you find feed the most? can you say for both rivers and lakes? though i'm guessing you dont fish lakes like i do.
Thats what i want to do now, fish once a week. The next fishery im off to should be next Saturday, its a lake with a lot of Crucians and Golden Orfe in and is only one acre in size, looking forward to it.
On rivers in winter if i was picking a selection of fish to feed, then it would be: perch,roach,chub,pike,grayling,zander. However I would also include barbel in that list too. As for lakes generally if I am fishing them, I usually fish them during the close season spring time and also summer if tench fishing. I do like lakes, however they have to tick a couple of boxes first, need to have a certain type of atmosphere about them and be peaceful, which unfortunately is not always so easy to come by. If I was going to suggest lake species for winter time, then I would suggest rudd,roach,perch,pike and bream. Depends on the lake in question and whether it is low stock or a commercial where fish will be actively feeding and competing for food with more regularity.
Thanks for that. From what i've read it seems i would have no problem catching Golden Orfe in the winter off the bottom...well, at the lake i'm going to this Saturday as its what the people who run it say. However i'm not 100% sure if i'm going to fish it as the weather forecast seems to be going downhill temperature wise for the weekend. Its really well stocked and only one acre in size but i dont know how much the fish will be affected feeding wise with the considerable tip in temperature. My last session i had a number of problems, no bites for the first 2 or so hours and finished with just 2 Roach, in all honesty if i can catch one more with 3 for the day on Saturday then thats an improvement so i guess its still worth a go. Its also only about 5 mins drive from my house and in the winter time is limited with the lack of daylight.
Top Video Mark, did you notice the barbel bleeding from its vent? Lovely fish, top angling.
Thanks Graeme, glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the query regarding the vent excretion I can assure you the faecal liquid was certainly not blood, this fish had prior passed a motion on my landing mat, which was a mixture of black snail,paste/boilie and bird seed, (not the first time I have had this with barbel) I can understand why you would assume it to be blood and I can promise that was not the case.
Yes!!!
Thanks Liam, how are things on the fishing front with yourself?
Another great video Mark. Your passion for angling is very apparent and genuine and that comes across in all of your videos. Out of interest, what breaking strain line do you use on your centrepin when barbel fishing? Keep up the good work mate.
Thank you Marc, glad you enjoyed the video. I am using 12lb shimano invistec monofilament on this particular centre pin.
Another nice video and capture. Always enjoy watching with my cup of tea. Can you please give me some advice on using birdseed - how to prepare and which type to use? Thanks Mark
Hello there Mark and thank you, a cup of tea and a video is a wise choice, I am much the same when watching videos on youtube (usually fishing ones). Yes certainly happy to help I have popped a web link to a preparation guide directly in this comment.
www.haiths.com/haiths-baits/red-band-pigeon-conditioner-/
Hi Mark, Many thanks. Much appreciated. I'll follow the link. Best wishes,
You're welcome Mark.
Jesus mate , big fish
Great to see you out there and catching. What a cracking fish!!
Can you tell us, your bird seed, do you cook it or prepare it at all as you would hemp seed, or is it just straight from the bag?
Thanks for a great video and hope the purple patch continues.
Many thanks
Gavin..
Thanks Gavin, I was very happy with the condition it was in, quite a bronze fish. You are correct it is prepared much like hempseed. Let me give you a web link to a preparation guide if I can.
www.haiths.com/haiths-baits/red-band-pigeon-conditioner-/
Thanks for the link Mark, I'll give them a go
Tight lines mate
You're welcome Gavin.
Hi Mark
Excellent video as always. I'm sure your used to people saying this by know.
It's such a pleasure to watch a beautifully put together film which catches the essence of river fishing. Wish I had such a lovely river near me, as the Avon near me has been decimated by otters over the past few years.
Just a quick question what make is your centerpin?. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the kind words James, it's always nice to receive feedback and know that the videos are being enjoyed. Yes sadly we are suffering from barbel stock depletion due to otter predation much like yourself and at times feels very much a case of making hay whilst the sun still shines.
Yes these are worrying times and the future is in clear. Let's hope mother nature finds a way to balance it's self out. In regards your centerpin can I enquire what make it is?
We can hope for a balance to arise James. Yes certainly, the pin is a Marco Cortesi, they are classified as a budget pin but very popular and smooth running for their price and available from sports direct or dragon carp for £30, albeit in black.
Super vid as always Mark. Roughly, what % of your barbel (in recent years) would you say you have been caught in day compared to dusk, compared to dark ? Has this ratio changed over the years, with increased fishing pressure ?
Thanks Tim, I would say that that does vary, also if I am fishing say evening sessions then it is usually the case that the majority are caught at night, however if I look back a few seasons ago (three or four seasons back if memory serves me) I would say that a high percentage of fish were caught during daylight or late evening (summer time evenings),however that season I also fished more during daylight hours as such. Do I think increased fishing pressure has changed the river? Yes perhaps a little due to anglers gravitating toward certain areas, but I would also say I am seeing the barbel adapting their feeding habits based on predation too.
You don't do much by half do you, size of that. Awesome Barbel
Thanks Trefor, it was a nicely proportioned barbel, bit of a scrap too.
Barbed hooks , a no no for me,had many barbel over the years and loose hardly any
I once unhooked a barbel from said barbed hook and the fish reacted to such a degree I've never used one since.
You have had first hand the pain , give barbless a go ,the fish , your flesh and clothing will benefit and you have the knowledge that you are doing the minimal damage the your quarry .
Not a critic, I enjoy your stuff mark
Hello there Steve, well there certainly is a good case for it after that incident and not at all mate I am not easily offended, especially not when people put forward a constructive comment as you have done.
Cracking fish there mate! What scales do you use for your fishing? I am struggling to get a set I trust, not sure I wanna b spending £50-£60 on a big set of Reuben's but I will if needs b!! Cheers
Many thanks Ranks, I use the following, they are not cheap but can be picked up cheaper from time to time on ebay. Salter Brecknell Electro Samson Digital Scales. Personally I use to use many seasons back the Reuben digital sports scales and won't ever go back as they used to drain my batteries when switched off.
Mark Erdwin, thanks for your reply. I will have a look at the scales you have mentioned. Keep up the vids and the cracking fish
You're welcome Ranks and thank you I will try to keep the videos coming.
What type of bird seed do you feed,? Thumbs up
Thank you Bernie, I generally feed Haiths Red Band, or Bamfords TK. Both contain aniseed too.
"Heart attack" comment tickled me 😂😂😂 Absolute stunner of a barbel Mark well done buddy! May I ask, what centre pin reel is that you're using Mark during this session? Keep em coming. Cheers!
Thanks Neal, haha I had to say something,I had a serious amount of pent up tension as it tried to head to the weed beds and that tree. I'm glad you enjoyed the video too mate, the barbel was in brilliant condition, better than I was by the end of the scrap.
Also just realised I never replied regarding what centre pin it is, so sorry about that Neal. The pin is a Marco Cortesi centre pin. They cost around £30 and can still be purchased from Dragon Carp or sports Direct, in black as I don't believe the silver is sold any more.
Mark Erdwin I understand it’s a busy channel. Excellent thanks for this info. I’ve only watched this vid once whilst keeping tabs on my 4 year old so perhaps missed any mentions of kit used ha! Appreciate the response 👍🏼🎣
What bird seed mix do u use have tried contact re face book no look though