Formal communications within the club are by means of our magazine 'BARBUS' and a Newsletter which are published at two monthly intervals. 'BARBUS' is produced entirely from within the club and it is a condition of membership that all members contribute at least once per calendar year. Articles vary from tales of captures, new ideas, humorous experiences, etc., to ones on barbel behaviour and the general enjoyment of barbel fishing. The small selection offered here for public viewing is taken from the last eight years of print and offers a good example of what is required from each member. We hope you enjoy them. 

WHAT CHANCE A SEVERN MONSTER  By Stuart Watkins - 2006   It’s now almost a decade since Howard caught his former British record fish from the lower reaches of the Severn. I recently read an article by Steve Stayner in one... READ MORE	MOON PHASE MADNESS By Andy Humphries - 2006   There has been a lot of debate on fishing forums about whether you can rely on the phase of the moon to help predict good days to catch barbel or if it’s all a load of... READ MORE	PURE CONJECTURE & IDLE SPECULATION By John Costello - 2006   Sometimes I wonder if I spend too long analysing why I have had a good day, or equally, why a poor day in apparently ideal conditions. There are so many variables to consider that much... READ MORE
ADVANCED TACTICS ON THE AVON By Jon Wolfe - 2005   I have just got back from this years fish-in, held on the Hampshire Avon, the spiritual home of barbel angling. It really is a special place, and although the rivers’ low... READ MORE	MR CYNICAL By Roger Whincup - 2005   The inspiration for this article came mainly from the excellent article that appeared in Barbus 98 by Trevor King. Trevor went on to explain his theory, thinking and... READ MORE	NAIL IT TO THE FLOOR By Steve Withers - 2005   We are fortunate in our area that the nature of the Hants Avon and Dorset Stour lend themselves to fish spotting and observation. Without doubt, being able to stalk fish and...   READ MORE
CONQUER AND DIVIDE By Mick Wood - 2004 In recent years I have written a couple of articles in the BCC club magazine ‘Barbus’ based upon my experiences whilst stalking barbel in Yorkshire ’s River Wharfe... READ MORE	PELLET PHENOMENA By Mark Cleaver - 2004 How do they do it? Why do they do it? What pleasure do those little fishes derive from devouring something that resembles a brown piece of concrete? Maybe that’s the... READ MORE	CHICKEN SKIN LUNATIC By Trevor King - 2004 Friday afternoon. Not been a good day. Only nine days of the season left. Bloody cold. No chance of it getting much warmer by all accounts either. Cycling into town, over the Tesco’s... READ MORE
KNEE TREMBLER  By Steve Chell - 2003   After a slow month on the Dove with only two fish in four weeks it was time for a change. Saturday morning, October 3rd saw me up bright and early. The Friday... READ MORE	OLD FRIEND  By Jon Wolfe - 2003   Recaptures are so much a part of modem day barbel fishing that I am sure that we are all familiar with the subject. Indeed the inability to recognise individual fish can... READ MORE	CHANGES  By Steve Kimpton - 2003 During the close season, my thoughts on the annual weeks fishing holiday in August on the River Wye at the Red Lion Hotel with members of my Region and other friends were... READ MORE
CAT AND MOUSE GAMES By John Costello - 2002 It wasn't until around 1995 that I started to barbel fish throughout the winter months. Prior to this my barbel fishing tended to finish late October, early November... READ MORE	SOLUNAR TABLES By Andy Humphries - 2002 Does the phase of the moon affect how barbel feed? Sea anglers use tide timetables to plot the best times to fish but surely not barbel anglers. At a BCC meeting a few years... READ MORE	HUNCH OR HABIT By Huw James - 2002 Every year, like many of us, I would search through the angling press and carp mags for the latest “all sing all dancing bait”. The logic is simple,  barbel are part of the carp family, essentially... READ MORE
BIG BAITS By Martin Cullen - 2001   Over the years, I have found that catching barbel has never been a major problem but catching the bigger barbel could be very hit or miss. I frequently fish with a friend... READ MORE	CLOSE QUARTERS By Stuart Wortley - 2001   The rivers I fish regularly don’t offer the opportunity to be able to watch the barbel’s reaction to my bait and end tackle. Sure, some stretches of the Teme and occasionally... READ MORE	TRUNDLING By Pete Tesch - 2001   At the beginning of this season it was decided by Steve Smith and myself to concentrate on a particular stretch of the Kennet, to see what results could be obtained. The venue...READ MORE
PUTTING IN THE EFFORT By Steve Chell - 2000   There was no doubting that it was cold. The snow arrived on Saturday evening in deepest Wiltshire. The M4 was closed and lots of minor roads were impassable. For two... READ MORE	THE SEVERN, JUST A LITTLE STREAM By John Costello - 2000   At the start of each season, I keep making myself promises that I should do more fishing on different rivers. The Wye, Bristol Avon, Thames, Lugg, Warwickshire Avon... READ MORE	WHY THE WYE By Brian Ridley - 2000   The River Wye is one of the last untapped rivers in the country and is one that could surprise us all. Although the river is roughly about a 200 mile round trip from where I live, I have... READ MORE
A CHANCE ENCOUNTER By Peter Hornfeck - 1999    Following my recent membership of the Barbel Catchers Club I have, by way of an introduction, decided to write about a chance meeting some twenty-five years ago with the... READ MORE	NIDD MONSTER By Jon Wolfe - 1999   The Barbel catchers club record for the River Nidd stood at 7lb 11oz for many years - 15 to be exact. Note the use of the word stood i.e., past tense, that is because last season... READ MORE	BAITS By Steve Withers - 1999   There have been several comments of late regarding the quality of articles being submitted to Barbus, particularly the lack of any 'technical' thought provoking issues to stimulate some... READ MORE