Really enjoyed that as always - your ability to catch big, special fish from small rivers is incredible (and it’s fantastic you’re willing to share your tips and tricks, plus your enjoyment, with others) 👏
Thank you very much John, appreciate that and I'm always very transparent regarding blanks and tough Trips, although some like to say captures are just "moments in time" those moments are there to be found still.
@markerd5378 100%. Further south in the Lee Valley the crayfish are too much mate. You cannot fish a deadbait on the bottom ( unless its a leather skinned eel section all softer baits get shredded )
Superb result, Mark, and a lovely barbel to show for your effort. River looking in perfect nick, colour-wise, with the extra water. Don't worry about the check - I tend to leave mine on, rather than fiddle around with the lever in the throes of a battle. Very nice!!
Cheers Richard and yes i would say colour wise it was on for a bite. Also glad to hear you leave your check on, as I do get the odd negative comment from time to time regarding doing so. Much like yourself it can be fiddly to reach on some pins especially in the heat of the moment. Wishing you a Mery Christmas too!
Excellent barbel, and you clearly got your tactics spot on. Your confidence in that little 1.25lb rod was commendable, a lot of people would have gone heavier in such a snaggy swim. I blanked today in pitches that required crampons and rope. Everything was wrong, big moon, clear sky, clear river, but we never learn.
Thank you Borderlands. I always say sometimes we have to go fishing no matter what because our heart tells us to do so and if we are going to go then we go regardless and give it our best which you did. You're right we don't learn but sometimes we learn something else about ourselves in doing so. Wishing you a good Christmas and if you spend some of it fishing some good trips mate.
Thanks Kevin they really do have a superb action and retail around £48. Very forgiving parabolic action and personally I hate feeling like I'm using a broom stick when fishing, much prefers nice through action rod when I can. Many thanks for watching the video.
@@sullysullivan9320 Thanks Sully, yes my language did end up colourful 😂. That fish was stressing me out, I was nearly the one who was all played out by the end of the scrap haha. Cheers man and I'd like to wish you a good Christmas 🍻🎄
Hello Mark , Really enjoyed that one . As you said, a cracking scrap and what a stunning fish ! Are all those swirly things on the film insects ? !! Cheers fella 👍
A great battle with the 10lb 1oz barbel Mark. I’d be frightened fishing with only a small amount of light, rising river and that fish tugging me into the water. Not you though! Well done Mark. Another great video.
Thanks Robert, I can be pretty stubborn minded at times if I'm being honest😅, although sometimes you need to know your safety limits on a rapidly rising river. I was chuffed to have had this fish. Cheers for watching and I hope it being a night fishing trip didn't detract too much.
@@paulslack4303 😂 I know the same thought went through my head before I said it, my mind was saying to me "Mark you best clarify it's pudding and not thrush related" 🤣
WOW! Mark what a fantastic video, one of your best so far. I really enjoyed that you were explaining your method and the reasoning for using it. Marks philosophy of baiting for barbel, sounds like the title of a book. That was one hairy scrap with that beautiful barbel and that bank looked very scary in the dark. Well done. Thanks again Mark for sharing a wonderful trip, Peter.
@pete-d3b Thank you very much Pete and glad I was able to convey how I go about my fishing during this video and that barbel did put up a heck of a fight to be fair. You're not wrong about the river bank, you do have to tread carefully. Glad to hear that you enjoy the videos too. Wishing you and your loved ones a cracking Christmas 🎄🙏❤️
Thanks Mark. You're absolutely right and you need to know your waterways, but even then there is still a certain cut off point where you need to call it and sometimes simply retreat. Thanks for watching the video. I think I may have waffled on a bit too long but wanted to share my tactics. Always a hard balance to strike.
Mark well done on yet another brilliant upload mate. Sound advice re safety on the bank especially on venues riddled with Crayfish as they burrow out underneath your feet hence bank collapse and erosion. Thanks for highlighting that for other anglers, and have a great Christmas mate.
Cheers mate and totally agree the absolutely destory bankside, creating a near honey comb effect. Thanks for the festive message, the same to yourself and loved ones, have a very Merry Xmas!
Thank you very much for the continued support Paul, it's nice to be back making and putting some regular videos out for all of you. Wishing you a very good festive period nate🎉
Fantastic fish mark,great fish,great scrap and lovely condition. How big do crayfish get before the fish no longer eat them?. Your right about the bloody rain,moved from London to hereford 2 years ago and the amount of rain in the west country is unbelievable. Keep the videos coming brother much appreciated. Best wishes mate.
Cheers Richard. You'd be surprised how large the crayfish fish will take, I've landed perch with large claws poking out of their rear passage and chub that have coughed up extremely large crayfish remains when landed.
She was a heck of a scrapper Frank, if you are ever over in England some time, you would be welcome to join me on a fishing trip,the offer is always there mate. Merry Christmas to you too and your loved ones.
Awesome barbel Mark! Have you thought about wearing a life jacket? I always wear one when the river is up. Could save your life if you fall in. All the best and have a lovely Christmas.
Thanks John and a great suggestion regarding the life vest really, I may have to give that some serious thought. Have a lovely Christmas yourself too and if you've got any fishing planned I hope you have some good ones👍🙏
Thanks mate it was a hard scrapping barbus, to the point I ended up with an attack of the dry mouth and colourful language lol😂. Wishing you a good Christmas and if you're on the bank during it some good trips! ❤
What a fish Mark and on a centrepin on a flooded river in the dark WoW . Epic fishing fella and no wonder the language matched the fight/bite . Brilliant Autumn/Winter double. Steve M
Thabks Steve. Yes my language was a little colourful😂. I do apologise but my ledger weight had got jammed further up my line, a mixture of debris and the rig stop further up. Many thanks for watching the video mate.
@@markerd5378 your language was tame compared to most in that situation fella, excellent I think your safe with Ofcom fella lol . Buzzing for a spring Tinca session if you have any planned Mark , brings back all the John Wilson Go Fishing memories but on steroids as you've managed to catch a few HUGE ones . Steve M
The Nene up my way has been up,over the banks and in surrounding fields for the last week or so and this is the third time this year !!! Inbetween floods,I've been doing a spot of chubbing and have had some success but any plans for barbel or river pike fishing have really gone kerplunk !!! Great to see barbel being caught on the pin....all the best 👍👍👍
Thabks Nick and believe me the Las thing I want is another washed out winter of flooded fishing. I'd love a real normal winter, with frosts and settled weather. We can dream eh!
Yes I'm a huge fan of it Richard as it contains a multitude of different grain and seed for fish to sift through. Regarding smell I almost always use Haiths Red band Brand, this has a high level of aniseed smell to it. But you don't have to use that brand as when the seed fermented you get quite a nice sugar release anyway. But if I'm picking then I'd say more often than not I use Haiths red band bird seed. You could of course add your own aniseed oil to another brand when steaming it. I rarely use any or very little hemp these days, if you see it in a video it's because I had some old hemp over. Otherwise it's pigeon conditioner bird seed all the way.
Thanks Mark, I spent today liquidising and riddling bread ready for some future river float fishing trips as well as some chunkier mixes for the chub. Hope you're doing well and keeping healthy.
@markerd5378 cheers mark yeah doing fine been out a few times on a very small river after chub had a few but not as big as your getting i need to look at your videos on cheese paste making. You may of heard of the river its the river Rib
You’d think that with all the predator fish in your rivers and such over there that they would keep those pesky crawfish ( or crawdads as we call them) out of sight and out of mind, you know Mark? I’m sure some of those fish over there will eat crawfish, I know Carp will, at least the Carp over here will eat them, I’ve caught pretty nice Carp on Crawfish, crawdads, whatever you want to call them. But , you all are not allowed to use crawfish as bait, are you? What a bummer, that would keep their numbers down somewhat if they were legal to use as bait, surely a lot of people would use them as bait then, right?? Oh, okay, I understand what you mean about the crayfish now 👍👍!
Thanks for watching Doug❤Yes perch, chub carp and barbel will eat them, but due to how many eggs each female crayfish carries it's a never ending up tick of crayfish increases, which then increases bankside erosion and juvenile fish destruction so that less and less new fish stocks come through. I wish we could legally use them as bait Doug. We were supposed to be working on something to cause their population ls to die off, but personally I think due to the big business involved with them being a food source not as much is being done as should be. Be that via clubs trapping or allowing their members to trap or by DEFRA that's our department for environment rural agriculture doing something about it. I won't hold my breath. Some larger clubs in my locality have silently said some rivers have gone too far with crayfish and that they've become too endemic to dent with trapping, which I don't fully agree with and suspect said larger clubs secretly want them to stay so that they can bolster their large barbel being caught as the crayfish boost their fish sizes, which in my opinion is a very short sighted outlook if so. Ah politics and double standards. standards..
This channel deserves so much more viewers the other fishing channels ain't got nothing on this the fish you produce are insane to me
Thanks Jack, very much appreciated ❤
Really enjoyed that as always - your ability to catch big, special fish from small rivers is incredible (and it’s fantastic you’re willing to share your tips and tricks, plus your enjoyment, with others) 👏
Thank you very much John, appreciate that and I'm always very transparent regarding blanks and tough Trips, although some like to say captures are just "moments in time" those moments are there to be found still.
Always enjoy your videos....many thanks....and hope you have a great Christmas🎉and happy new year...🙏👍👌
Cheers mate and the same to yourself, have a Merry and healthy Christmas 🎉
Hi Mark great video another quality fish, tricky conditions but earning a just reward. Tight lines
Thank you Nigel 👍💪. If you've got any plans to go fishing during the festive period I wish you a good trip and a merry Christmas ❤
Love the check. 👌
These particular pins do have a very nice check I must say. Cheers for watching 👍🙏
Perfect as always mate
Thank you ❤
Well done Mark your efforts ( home made groundbait and hookbaits ) certainly deserved that reward! 🎣👍
Thanks Kemal it certainly makes up for the tougher trips and there a sense of reward when tinkering about with your own mixes.
@markerd5378 100%. Further south in the Lee Valley the crayfish are too much mate. You cannot fish a deadbait on the bottom ( unless its a leather skinned eel section all softer baits get shredded )
You're like a magician Mark. instead of stunning tricks, you produce stunning fish out of the hat, brilliant video mate, thanks for that!
Thanks Snerper, sometimes it's a rabbit out of a hat and sometimes a carrot 😂. Happy Christmas to you mate.
That was one good old scrap. Great video as usual. Thanks. 😊
Cheers Neil and cheers for watching mate. Have a good Christmas too 🎅
Invaluable advice from a superb barbel angler. Keep them coming Mark!
Thanks King. There will be more videos, just editing some right now. Have a good Christmas mate 🎉
Superb result, Mark, and a lovely barbel to show for your effort. River looking in perfect nick, colour-wise, with the extra water. Don't worry about the check - I tend to leave mine on, rather than fiddle around with the lever in the throes of a battle. Very nice!!
Cheers Richard and yes i would say colour wise it was on for a bite. Also glad to hear you leave your check on, as I do get the odd negative comment from time to time regarding doing so. Much like yourself it can be fiddly to reach on some pins especially in the heat of the moment. Wishing you a Mery Christmas too!
Excellent barbel, and you clearly got your tactics spot on. Your confidence in that little 1.25lb rod was commendable, a lot of people would have gone heavier in such a snaggy swim. I blanked today in pitches that required crampons and rope. Everything was wrong, big moon, clear sky, clear river, but we never learn.
Thank you Borderlands. I always say sometimes we have to go fishing no matter what because our heart tells us to do so and if we are going to go then we go regardless and give it our best which you did. You're right we don't learn but sometimes we learn something else about ourselves in doing so. Wishing you a good Christmas and if you spend some of it fishing some good trips mate.
@@markerd5378 Very true, and happy Christmas.
Great vid, well done , that 1.25 got great action. 🎅 🎄🎣
Thanks Kevin they really do have a superb action and retail around £48. Very forgiving parabolic action and personally I hate feeling like I'm using a broom stick when fishing, much prefers nice through action rod when I can. Many thanks for watching the video.
Great fishing as always Mark. Superbly conditioned barbel 👍
Thanks and excuse the colourful language Steve. I'll no doubt see you down the Bw also at some point this winter.
@ Yes Mark. I've yet to get down there but I will hopefully start next week 👍
What a scrap that was and another beautiful fish. I think we all understand the language as you were playing the fish mate 🤣. Nice one Mark 👍
@@sullysullivan9320 Thanks Sully, yes my language did end up colourful 😂. That fish was stressing me out, I was nearly the one who was all played out by the end of the scrap haha. Cheers man and I'd like to wish you a good Christmas 🍻🎄
@markerd5378 I was sat on the edge of my seat and it wasn't even me playing the fish 🤣. Thank you and a merry Christmas to you and yours mate 👍
Cracking fish Mark 👍🏻 looks bigger than 10.1 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Cheers Peter, she was fighting fit, almost too much so for me lol. Wishing you a good Christmas mate.
And a very merry Christmas to you and yours Mark take care matey 👍🏻
Lovely video Marcus, and a fine specimen to boot! Here's to many more brother 💙
Cheers Fred, hope you and the family have a good Christmas.
Absoulutely amazing 😮
Thank you 🙂
Superb scrap and lovely fish Mark.
Thank you Richard. Merry Christmas to you and yours too.
What a Cracking fish absolutely stunning making these trips All the more rewarding when you have to work so diligently Bravo my Great Friend.
Thanks Manikin and you're not wrong there, it's the tougher trips that make the rewards all that sweeter when they come.
Wow what a Fish
Cheers Mac 👍. It was a good scrap.
Lovely fish, amazing colours in the night lights. 👍🙉
Thanks Dave 👍☺️
Great stuff Mark. Always good when the crays leave you in peace. Keep the videos coming!
Thanks Neil, yes it's nice to get some respite from the cray twins 😂. More videos are on the way ❤ Thanks for watching
Hello Mark ,
Really enjoyed that one . As you said, a cracking scrap and what a stunning fish !
Are all those swirly things on the film insects ? !!
Cheers fella 👍
Thanks Tony and no the swirly stuff was mist and particles of damp air.
A great battle with the 10lb 1oz barbel Mark. I’d be frightened fishing with only a small amount of light, rising river and that fish tugging me into the water. Not you though! Well done Mark. Another great video.
Thanks Robert, I can be pretty stubborn minded at times if I'm being honest😅, although sometimes you need to know your safety limits on a rapidly rising river. I was chuffed to have had this fish. Cheers for watching and I hope it being a night fishing trip didn't detract too much.
Wow another good little session & Mark their power on another level & great scrap that,tight lines
Thanks Lee and it was some scrap, a right power house.
Glad you added pudding to that sentence lol,great stuff as always mark👍🎣
@@paulslack4303 😂 I know the same thought went through my head before I said it, my mind was saying to me "Mark you best clarify it's pudding and not thrush related" 🤣
Bloody superb fish Mark ❤
Thank you Merciless ❤
WOW! Mark what a fantastic video, one of your best so far.
I really enjoyed that you were explaining your method and the reasoning for using it. Marks philosophy of baiting for barbel,
sounds like the title of a book.
That was one hairy scrap with that beautiful barbel and that bank looked very scary in the dark. Well done.
Thanks again Mark for sharing a wonderful trip, Peter.
@pete-d3b Thank you very much Pete and glad I was able to convey how I go about my fishing during this video and that barbel did put up a heck of a fight to be fair. You're not wrong about the river bank, you do have to tread carefully. Glad to hear that you enjoy the videos too. Wishing you and your loved ones a cracking Christmas 🎄🙏❤️
@@markerd5378 love your waffling Mark, its part of your video style, never stop it. Have a great Christmas mate
Loved it Mark. What a prize that fish was. Not sure i would want to fish a rising river at night but you did good.
Thanks Mark. You're absolutely right and you need to know your waterways, but even then there is still a certain cut off point where you need to call it and sometimes simply retreat. Thanks for watching the video. I think I may have waffled on a bit too long but wanted to share my tactics. Always a hard balance to strike.
Nice one Mark.Well deserved mate.
Thanks mate 🙏❤️
Holy Moly, what a Barbel 👍👍🤙🏻🤙🏻
Mark well done on yet another brilliant upload mate.
Sound advice re safety on the bank especially on venues riddled with Crayfish as they burrow out underneath your feet hence bank collapse and erosion. Thanks for highlighting that for other anglers, and have a great Christmas mate.
Cheers mate and totally agree the absolutely destory bankside, creating a near honey comb effect. Thanks for the festive message, the same to yourself and loved ones, have a very Merry Xmas!
Excellent blog keep up the good work loved every minute of the video 😊
Thank you Kevin. There will be more videos en route 💯🙏
Great catch well done mark
Thank you Owen. Merry Christmas to you.
Nice work 👍👏❤️
Thanks Carl 🙏👍
Thank you, Mark and a Merry Christmas! Thanks for your videos this year, I absolutely love watching them! Cheers, Paul
Thank you very much for the continued support Paul, it's nice to be back making and putting some regular videos out for all of you. Wishing you a very good festive period nate🎉
😂🎉go on man thats what its about proper battle , love a loud reel as well makes it more intense😂
Thanks and haha yes that reels loud enough for sure 😂
Fantastic fish mark,great fish,great scrap and lovely condition.
How big do crayfish get before the fish no longer eat them?.
Your right about the bloody rain,moved from London to hereford 2 years ago and the amount of rain in the west country is unbelievable.
Keep the videos coming brother much appreciated.
Best wishes mate.
Cheers Richard. You'd be surprised how large the crayfish fish will take, I've landed perch with large claws poking out of their rear passage and chub that have coughed up extremely large crayfish remains when landed.
Wow, that was some fight Mark, well done. Have a good Christmas!
She was a heck of a scrapper Frank, if you are ever over in England some time, you would be welcome to join me on a fishing trip,the offer is always there mate. Merry Christmas to you too and your loved ones.
@@francolinobascoThanks a lot for the offer Mark, I really appreciate it - you never know if it will happen again (came over in 2014).
Mark I loved watching this video it was awesome top Man on the bank can't wait for your next one 👍
Thank you Glyn❤ I'm editing some new videos currently too. Wishing you a Merry Christmas in advance 🎉
Quality video as always mate. 💪🏻🙏👌👏
Thank you 🙌 Dan :)
Never fail to pull it out the weeds 🎣
Thanks, I was due one, well I felt I was after the tough Trips prior, but expectation always needed to be tempered. Have a good Christmas ❤
@ and you sir and keep up the great content 🎣
Awesome barbel Mark! Have you thought about wearing a life jacket? I always wear one when the river is up. Could save your life if you fall in. All the best and have a lovely Christmas.
Thanks John and a great suggestion regarding the life vest really, I may have to give that some serious thought. Have a lovely Christmas yourself too and if you've got any fishing planned I hope you have some good ones👍🙏
Well mark some fish that again mate you are the big fish magnet 💪🎣👊💯🏴
Cheers Karl I got lucky to be fair as sometimes it can be hit and miss as we both know mate. Many thanks for watching 🙏
@@francolinobasco👊
Brilliant result to a challenging trip, great angling Mark.
@@stephenmachin9344 Thank you Stephen 💪. Wishing you a healthy Christmas and if you do get out on the bank a healthy bend in the rod mate 🙏
And the same to you Mark all the best and tight lines.@@markerd5378
Great stuff mark 👏🏻 always enjoy your videos 👍🏻
Thank you Alex. Wishing you and family a good Christmas. There will be more videos on the way too 🙏
Great dedication as always 😊
Thanks Mark 🙏👍
stunning fish well done for persevering .
Brilliant Mark... I appreciate the finesse and commitment you bring. Always an inspiration 👌
Thank you Jonathan 🙏💯
just fantastic effort = reward well done mate
Thank you Mark it was a wet footed trip to say the very least!😂
Great vid absolutely beautiful fish! Thanks Mark my Friday evening is saved!😊
Thank you too Stuart. It was a little later than I had planned to upload it, but such is life mate.
Woww. Another cracking video 😊 top dangling
Thanks mate it was a hard scrapping barbus, to the point I ended up with an attack of the dry mouth and colourful language lol😂. Wishing you a good Christmas and if you're on the bank during it some good trips! ❤
@markerd5378 same to you also
What a fish Mark and on a centrepin on a flooded river in the dark WoW .
Epic fishing fella and no wonder the language matched the fight/bite . Brilliant Autumn/Winter double.
Steve M
Thabks Steve. Yes my language was a little colourful😂. I do apologise but my ledger weight had got jammed further up my line, a mixture of debris and the rig stop further up. Many thanks for watching the video mate.
@@markerd5378 your language was tame compared to most in that situation fella, excellent I think your safe with Ofcom fella lol .
Buzzing for a spring Tinca session if you have any planned Mark , brings back all the John Wilson Go Fishing memories but on steroids as you've managed to catch a few HUGE ones .
Steve M
The Nene up my way has been up,over the banks and in surrounding fields for the last week or so and this is the third time this year !!!
Inbetween floods,I've been doing a spot of chubbing and have had some success but any plans for barbel or river pike fishing have really gone kerplunk !!!
Great to see barbel being caught on the pin....all the best 👍👍👍
Thabks Nick and believe me the Las thing I want is another washed out winter of flooded fishing. I'd love a real normal winter, with frosts and settled weather. We can dream eh!
Great stuff mark
@@esppaul644 Thank you Paul and Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎅
Thanks Mark wishing you and your family a happy christmas
Happy Xmas, Mark. Hope family is all good. 🎄
Thank you ever so much, the same to yourself and your family. Healthy happy Christmas ❤
Love watching the vids 👍🏻🎣
@@Jd12812 Thanks Jd, much appreciated, merry Christmas to you 👍🙏
Hi mark
Great video,brilliant scrap under the tip,and a beautiful fish well done.
Do you use the esp trigger hook or the claw hammer mark🎣👍🏻
Thanks John ❤. I use the esp cryogen gripper hooks mate💪
Cheers mark🎣👍🏻
Your a big fan of birdseed mark,does it have strong scent of its own or do need to add hemp to the mix to bring the fish in the swim?
Yes I'm a huge fan of it Richard as it contains a multitude of different grain and seed for fish to sift through. Regarding smell I almost always use Haiths Red band Brand, this has a high level of aniseed smell to it. But you don't have to use that brand as when the seed fermented you get quite a nice sugar release anyway. But if I'm picking then I'd say more often than not I use Haiths red band bird seed. You could of course add your own aniseed oil to another brand when steaming it. I rarely use any or very little hemp these days, if you see it in a video it's because I had some old hemp over. Otherwise it's pigeon conditioner bird seed all the way.
Well done mark lo ely barbel
Thanks Mark, I spent today liquidising and riddling bread ready for some future river float fishing trips as well as some chunkier mixes for the chub. Hope you're doing well and keeping healthy.
@markerd5378 cheers mark yeah doing fine been out a few times on a very small river after chub had a few but not as big as your getting i need to look at your videos on cheese paste making. You may of heard of the river its the river Rib
First time I've heard you swear!!😂😂 worth it tho🎉
Haha Dave 😂. Cheers man 🙏
No more to say double bubble
Cheers Adam ❤
You’d think that with all the predator fish in your rivers and such over there that they would keep those pesky crawfish ( or crawdads as we call them) out of sight and out of mind, you know Mark? I’m sure some of those fish over there will eat crawfish, I know Carp will, at least the Carp over here will eat them, I’ve caught pretty nice Carp on Crawfish, crawdads, whatever you want to call them. But , you all are not allowed to use crawfish as bait, are you? What a bummer, that would keep their numbers down somewhat if they were legal to use as bait, surely a lot of people would use them as bait then, right?? Oh, okay, I understand what you mean about the crayfish now 👍👍!
Thanks for watching Doug❤Yes perch, chub carp and barbel will eat them, but due to how many eggs each female crayfish carries it's a never ending up tick of crayfish increases, which then increases bankside erosion and juvenile fish destruction so that less and less new fish stocks come through. I wish we could legally use them as bait Doug. We were supposed to be working on something to cause their population ls to die off, but personally I think due to the big business involved with them being a food source not as much is being done as should be. Be that via clubs trapping or allowing their members to trap or by DEFRA that's our department for environment rural agriculture doing something about it. I won't hold my breath. Some larger clubs in my locality have silently said some rivers have gone too far with crayfish and that they've become too endemic to dent with trapping, which I don't fully agree with and suspect said larger clubs secretly want them to stay so that they can bolster their large barbel being caught as the crayfish boost their fish sizes, which in my opinion is a very short sighted outlook if so. Ah politics and double standards. standards..