THE summer fishing season is in full swing bringing its usual problems for anglers – but also this year some good news.

Although the rivers are low and gin clear, fishermen visiting London AA’s fishery at Britford have been catching more barbel than usual with some into double figures. For several years now barbel have been moving steadily upstream from their traditional haunts in the lower and middle reaches of the Avon with the odd one or two showing up in match anglers’ catches around Salisbury.

Over the past week or so several have been landed from the main carrier stretch at Britford. Steve Jones caught a few last week with one weighing-in at 11lb 4oz and the other at 6lb 12oz. He also caught several decent-sized chub, both barbel and chub being tempted on either pepperoni or luncheon meat. But, the secret is to fish evenings and into dusk. With the river low and clear, day-time fishing is hard with anglers catching some dace and grayling and the odd chub. During the evenings, though, sport picks up as the light starts to fade. To avoid minnows, many anglers are using hemp or tares.

Salisbury Angling Club’s annual July club match on their Steeple Langford fishery was switched this year to a lake belonging to Tisbury Angling Club because of the problems at the Steeple Langford lakes earlier this year when there was a number of fish deaths due to a toxic algae bloom. The lakes are getting back to normal but to avoid any chance of introducing too much food into the water, the match was moved to Longhouse Lake, between Dinton and Teffont.

Carp were in feeding mode and some good weights were had, particularly Dave George, who won with 121lb 6oz, Dave Docherty, runner-up with 86lb 6oz and Malc Pepperill in third spot with 75lb.

Match weights continue to be good at Witherington Farm Fishery with the best over the last week or so at 140lb. Pleasure anglers are also finding sport good with tench, bream, and the odd carp, although no really big carp have been reported.

Problems following the escape of young trout from hatcheries into the Avon around the Fordingbridge area are still causing concern and there are reports of a second incident more recently. Anglers are asked to dispose of any trout caught and not return them to the river. Hundreds are being caught each day causing difficulties for anglers targeting dace, barbel and other coarse fish. Despite the unwanted appearance of these farmed trout, some good bags of quality dace are being caught along with big barbel – two of the best at 13lb 12oz and 13lb 10oz.