The Barbel Catchers Club is a small specimen group, dedicated to the pursuit of barbel across the rivers of Great Britain.  To members the barbel is the prince of the river, a fish which demands respect and stealth to catch, yet at times with the right approach this majestic fish can give its self up with regularity.

As a powerfully built creature, the barbel is renowned for it's sporting qualities.  The fight can be a tense heart stopping affair yet members achieve just as much satisfaction from seeing these majestic fish swim off strongly when released to fight another day, as they do from catching them.

The club comprises of dedicated anglers who share their enjoyment of the sport through regular contact at Regional Meetings, an AGM and a National Fish-in. The Club also produces a quarterly magazine Barbus through which news and articles are conveyed. It is a condition of membership that everyone should contribute at least once a year.

The club, now in its 45th year, has seen some of the country's most well known and respected specimen hunters as members through the years. The majority though simply enjoy the oportunity to share their passion of all things barbel away from all the limelight and public gaze that seems to follow current angling trends.

Above all members simply enjoy their fishing, enjoy and respect the river environment barbel thrive in and especially enjoy the friendship and good humour shared amoungst fellow members and regions.

While there are no formal limits on membership numbers the club keeps at a manageable size normally between 60 and 70 members which ensures it doesn't grow too big and risk the foundation of friendships up and down the country. For this reason some regions may have a waiting list in place for new membership applications. However some areas are actively seeking members, including the Wessex, Midcot, North West, and Chiltern Regions.

If you would like to be considered for membership get in touch via the Contact page and tell us a bit about your fishing and reasons for wishing to join the catchers.