The Barbel Show: A personal view

That's it, another year over. 


The MC's view


After a few trials and tribulations, including a double booking of our usual speakers room by the hotel, which saw us shifting to a new suite, this years Show is over. 
A special thanks should go to Rich Frampton, despite also being landed with a not so promising date, he managed to retain most of his hair and produce for us one, if not the best show we have ever had, in my humble opinion.
A full trade room for most of the day saw many of our invited traders already booking to be at next years show. 
First off the introduction by Steve Pope, he advised the audience that unfortunately due to ill health, both Fred Crouch and Peter Wheat would be unable to attend. Steve read a note from Fred. 
There was also mention of Dave Mason and his condition following a stroke some months ago.
All were missed and wished well by many attendees throughout the weekend.


We had some very fine presentations the first being from Phil Smith, he talked for around an hour of his exploits searching out catfish from such diverse locations as Kazakhstan, Spain and the lakes of the UK. Moving onto zander, both of course as he pointed out originally imported to the Woburn lakes in the 1800's.
Finally his latest venture the sturgeon.
Cracking photographs of some massive fish and locations covering a good few years. 


There was a good 15 minutes or so of a presentation by the MD of Pallatrax, Simon Pomeroy, not so much a hard sell, but what came across as an honest view of modern baits and his company's latest developments using dried naturals like snails and flies.
Worth a try I think, although I didn't get much chance of buying in the traderoom. 
Pallatrax have booked to come back next year.


After a break for coffee we moved on to the award winning  Avon Roach Project update, presented quite amusingly and at times movingly by Budgie Price and Trevor Harrop.
They updated the audience from the very first days of the project, right up to the release of some of their "children" into a somewhat denuded of silver fish, Hampshire Avon.  
The culprits for the damage to fish stocks is firmly placed in the beaks of the cormorant population, the non-native birds from mainland Europe  subspecies phalacrocorax carbo sinensis, a freshwater cormorant.  
Not affected by over fishing of our seas, as so many "expert" will tell you.
A long applause followed the presentation and questions, a well received presentation.
A Hugh Miles film is available to view on the project website 
http://www.avonroachproject.co.uk/avon-roach-project-roach-picture-gallery.html

Lunch followed,and for me the MC, not long enough to gather my senses, but onward and upward a presentation by John Wilson due at 2o'clock.


BUT, just as I was to announce John's presentation, a surprise heavy knock, knock, knock on the fire doors adjacent to the stage, the door opened and we saw Dave Mason being wheeled into the room, just a few days after a brain operation following his earlier stroke. 
He received cheers and a long standing ovation.
What a surprise that was, and good to see he was in great form. I offered him a microphone and he said...very clearly...no I can't speak !!
His appearance  was a lump in the throat moment for many in the audience I must say. 
Dave was given a surprise bucket, or should I say a surprise bucket of cash, all collected in the trade hall by Jerry Gleeson and Paddy Winfindale from members and friends alike. A tidy sum for a laptop, or something similar, so that Dave can get back into action. 


Back to John Wilson, his hour long presentation related to his mahseer fishing, some great slide show photographs over a 150 of them, and commentary of his experiences over  many years of visiting and fishing the rivers of India, it was a well received presentation and question and answer session.Probably the best received talk to the packed room from the star attraction..
I have to say John was an exceptionally good guest, he talked constantly to attendees both on the Saturday evening and all through the Sunday about his views and experiences...
So good that I was able, to talk him into, both over dinner and the next afternoon, to giving  a chapter for the proposed Barbel Society book based on barbel fishing and his use of the multiplier reel.


A break for tea and straight into a presentation by Dave Harrell, champion match fisher.
Dave talked through his methods and the equipment used to float fish for barbel.
Before his talk hardly a mention of barbel fishing, which I suppose when you think about it, most has been said.
This presentation would I am sure have been something new to many of the audience, float fishing with lines from 6lb to 12lb bs on the Wye and the Severn.
 It certainly opened my eyes, I can picture the perfect swim on the Society's Sutton on Trent fishery to try his method out.
I had to cut the questions just a bit short, as time was running out and we had the Gordon Scott Award to deal with, I'll leave that for the "official" review of the Show. But I'm sure word has got round already of the worthy recipients name.
Time to close, thanks were given to all the audience on what was a special family weekend with the Royal Jubilee celebrations, the speakers, the traders, the light and sound people and especially to Rich,  well done mate.


Then to the raffle, clearing up and home.


From my angle I think it ran, nervously at times but  pretty smoothly!


FjB