The Barbel Society

The Barbel Society is a national organisation full of like-minded people who are dedicated to the continued well-being of our friend the barbel and its habitat.

Membership Benefits

thebarbelsociety

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*** NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE *** We are pleased to s

*** NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE ***

We are pleased to share the news this evening that our new website has launched!

Membership for 25/26 is now open, both for renewals and new membership: just use the appropriate links. Please note that this is for membership to join the Society: Fishery tickets will be administered from early May- we will keep you posted! N.B please check spam folders when the link to reset your password is sent.

The website will become an information hub for membership, latest news, details on our annual 'Barbel Show', (8th June 2025 @Notts County Football Club) merchandise offers, Fish In's and any other points of interest.

The committee would like to thank Simon 'Asbo' Asbury in his tireless efforts to get this over the line: the lad has forfeited cherished bank time to help develop the website- we owe you lots of Guinness mate!!!

#barbelsociety #barbel #barbelfishing #fishing #angling #new #joinnow

It'll soon be summer! Whatever you do as a stop ga

It'll soon be summer! Whatever you do as a stop gap in the three month interim good luck. Tench and bream, carp or perhaps just keeping the lady at home happy with copious amounts of DIY!? Dry banks, nettle rash and hoards of mozzies will be descending on your chosen river before you know it.....
On a side note, we all have, as adult anglers and clubs, a collective responsibility to blood youngsters into our sport. There seems to be a huge imbalance of age in angling. Make next season count. Get 'em out there with you. Yes they can be a pain in the arse, but they will remember it. They may like it they may not.....but at least you tried ✌️ The Barbel Society fully supports this and will continue to offer 'fish in's' on our waters for young members. Here is Maxwell Burdett out on the bank with his Dad @gilesb_riverangler with a Normanton lump. Halcyon days indeed.

#fatherandson #barbelsociety #barbel #angling #fishing #riverfishing #rivertrent #barbelfishing

Sunday 8th June 2025 @nottscountyfc That's the d

Sunday 8th June 2025 @nottscountyfc

That's the date and venue for this year's 'Barbel Show'........please speak with the good lady at home! We want to see you there..... 👌😎

Andrew Tredgett of @kingsweirfishery fame & James Crosby, the proud captor of the pending British record barbel......They'll be with us at the show to give an insight into that incredible evening and how events played out. Come on, we've all been there as anglers......shaking like a leaf when you've a good 'un resting up; mind racing, possibly needing a nicotine fix, not being able to think straight with utter excitement......

Share those moments with both of these fine lads! Andy Tredgett doesn't seem to age 😂 he's been around for an eternity, and continues to help support the Barbel Society ✌️The lad, along with wife Loretta live and breathe the fishery, it's in the bloodstream. Andy has, with pure relentlessness, built up a barbel dynasty in the water below KW, and he'll be on hand (with a beer) to give an insight into his place that would probably only be bettered by being a member! It's gonna be good!

We'll update you on other highlights for the day including other speakers, trade stalls, merchandise and all the usual shizzle! For now please save the date in your diaries!

#barbelshow2025 #barbelsociety #barbel #30years #ncfc #kingsweir #recordbarbel #fishing #angling #diarydate #dontmissthis

The Trent is hitting some right 'ol form as we dra

The Trent is hitting some right 'ol form as we draw to a close: Barbel Society member @paulhamer64 has just slipped this beast back into one of our Tidal Trent fisheries. Paul is a proper, all weather barbel nut. Not a lot stops him getting out when he's got the bit between his teeth. A quality, sunset picture to boot. Well done matey 😎👍

#barbel #barbelsociety #rivertrent #sunset #angling #fishing #swanshotangling

Lee Swords, @kingfishersword aka Swordsy: a barbel

Lee Swords, @kingfishersword aka Swordsy: a barbel fishing trailblazer; innovator; Wednesday fan and eternal nemesis to radical vegans and the uber woke. The boy eats meat on the bone for breakfast...... He'd give Lizzo a run for her money in a steak eating contest. Lee has penned thousands of words for us and spoken ten thousand more at our annual shows down the years. His dedication to putting barbel fishing on the map, particularly on his beloved Trent is without question. Influential in popularising techniques used today; the boy was out there putting the graft in, 'carbelling' his nuts off when others were under gunned for what the Trent threw at them. Lee is a creative soul - draws wickedly witty cartoons and his fabled 'Shit Poetry' puts a smile on our face when the chips are down! (Have a read).......
The Barbel Society would like to thank Lee for his part in our cause down the years. As you can see from the images, Lee loves to widen the horizon of his angling fix these days: aside from hunting crafty chevins, he looks forward to an annual trip to the Extremadura region in Spain. Lee has many tales, some untold......we hope to host you again mate at our annual shows........we can all take solace that when the inevitable apocalypse hits, Swordsy will captain the ship, we will drink plenty of rum together as a band of angling brothers before we sink to the bottom of the ocean!
It's nice and warm out there.....go and bag a kipper!

#barbel #barbelsociety #barbelfishing #rivertrent #innovator #lizzo #meat #shitpoetry #fishing #angling

Fresh from our recent post regarding our Sutton-on

Fresh from our recent post regarding our Sutton-on Trent fishery, here we have Barbel Society and Sutton regular face @davejennings1317. Dave sets himself apart from most sane anglers; he's at it when most are at home sipping Horlicks. Recent weather has lulled us into thinking spring is nigh; those of a green fingered persuasion will tell you that night time temps can kill your hard work stone dead. With a carpet of frost laid upon the banks around him, Dave got stuck into a credible six fish haul, five of which surpassed double digits. This fin perfect fighting machine was top of the bill. Great angling, there's no time like now to go and bag a proper lump. Good luck and tight lines for all that follow our page. ✌️😎👌👍💥

#barbel #barbelsociety #sutton #fishing #angling #dedication #springisnigh #frost #horlicks #riverfishing

A gathering of like minded lads up on the banks of

A gathering of like minded lads up on the banks of the Middle Severn at Buildwas today. The sun was laid upon them, for our latest 'Fish in'......it felt as though, finally, spring was in the air.....a frosty start made way to a glorious early March day. Angling friendships were forged, and a few fish were caught. Memories made..... you can't ask for much more. Well done boy's 🌱🙂👍😎👏✌️

Our Sutton fishery is unique. Some great anglers h

Our Sutton fishery is unique. Some great anglers have graced the banks down the years here; to the uninitiated it appears intimidating and inhospitable. In part this is true; you are exposed to God's elements, the wind can weather your skin and soul to the state of Jurassic rock. If you want to get away from the day job, and the strain of every day life this place is for you. Under the surface the ecosystem thrives. Huge barbel flank side by side with record sized Zeds, carp and shoals of silver fish abound. Deep holes, gravel runs, and a large sandy beach that is exposed during low water levels. The evening and morning vista will make you feel like it's good to be alive. A short distance away, in the village of Sutton lies the infamous Lord Nelson pub, where angling brothers gather, to share tales of success and failure. It's this communion that transcends angling. Many life long friends have been made within the Society.

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"

@juddatkins10 our resident Sutton and Normanton bailiff with some Sutton stunners 👏🙌😎👌

#barbelsociety #barbel #rivertrent #swanshotangling #barbelfishing #fishingwithmates

' A nod to James' We would like to congratulate o

' A nod to James'

We would like to congratulate our good mate @james_denison_angling on the completion of yet another river that he has ticked off from his 40 rivers challenge. If you weren't in the loop James has laid down a personal gauntlet of amassing 40 double figure barbel from 40 different rivers across the length and breadth of our fine land. Last June James regaled our members at the annual show in Nottingham, giving details on both his approach and dedication. James is a hardworking family man, who makes the utmost success of the time that he has at his disposal. As Churchill famously quoted "He who fails to plan is planning to fail"........He chooses his barbel bank time wisely. Going through the pain barrier, stranded cars, motorway traffic, huge fuel bills: it's all worth it when it comes good. True satisfaction comes when we work and achieve against the odds and that's what the boy is doing!!!! 28/40 now complete with this 15lb 6oz Dorset Stour barbel. An iconic river and an iconic capture. A nice subplot for James is the fact that this specimen means he now has 4 of the 28 doubles at over 15lb........
Congratulations brother you deserve high praise Indeed. We hope to share a beer again at the show in June 🤞👌😎✌️

#barbel #barbelsociety #28/40 #barbelfishing #dedication #dorsetstour

" The Master of Ceremonies" Our Normanton ticket

" The Master of Ceremonies"

Our Normanton ticket on the Tidal Trent, downstream from Sutton.....an under rated gem. Wild, remote, and away from the crowds. Put the graft in; a wonderful location to wheel away the hours. Awaken from your morning slumber to orange hues and the inimitable squark of oyster catchers. Home to huge fish! You won't find chaff here, only wheat.....👌 Our resident bailiff @juddatkins10 cradling some of the sport on offer. His knowledge of the BS stretches are second to none; a tireless worker for our cause, Judd waves the Trent flag with vigour.... Remember, to fish our stretches of river you need to be a signed up member of the Barbel Society....come and meet some top lads! 👌

#barbel #barbelsociety #normantonontrent #barbelfishing #bigbarbel #oystercatcher #tidaltrent #rivertrent #fishing #angling

There's a tad more of winter to navigate yet, but

There's a tad more of winter to navigate yet, but beyond the horizon of spring evocative thoughts of clammy, sultry evenings roving the river begin to permeate through the barbel anglers brain. If you're of the low and clear persuasion, then be patient, it will come......👌 Our man Chris Roberts with a bar of Ivel gold from yesteryear. A boy who took a healthy slice of the cake offered up and then ate the bloody lot......🙂✌️📷😎🌞💥

#gold #riverivel #barbelsociety #barbel #barbelfishing
#angling #fishing #riverfishing #lowandclear #summer

Good friend Kev Marriner is the purest of anglers.

Good friend Kev Marriner is the purest of anglers. His approach revolves predominantly around fineness and the most natural presentation of his chosen bait that he can muster. The catch, seen here, an Upper Lea barbel was a significant and sentimental one: not only was the fish from a challenging stretch of water but fooled on his own hand-crafted float. Try convincing Kev about the virtues of a fixed spool reel? He's never even seen one! 😂✌️📷😎👌

#barbel #barbelsociety #riverfishing #rivergold #riverlea #fishing #centrepin #handcrafted #matshot #angling

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