River Ouse larger barbel stocking 2024

This shows stocking several stretches of the River Great Ouse in January 2024 with mainly 8 - 10 inch barbel. These are larger than the ones stocked in the spring, shown in my previous video. Several clubs contributed and 765 fish were purchased from Epperstone Park Hatcheries at £7.60p each. Some freebies were added. The process was organised by Sam Richardson, who also took part in the stocking along with Ian Barnes and other representatives from the clubs. Clubs and associations contributing were Luton Angling Club, Olney and Clifton Fishing Association, Milton Keynes Angling Association, Newport Pagnell Anglin Club, Biggleswade and Hitchin AA, Northampton Nene AC and Weston Underwood AC.
The River Ouse has suffered from predation by otters, cormorants and other creatures such as mink, eating of fish eggs by the invasive signal crayfish and silting up and solidification of spawning grounds (see my cleaning spawning beds video). The once thriving barbel population, as was in the 1980’s, 90’s and early 00’s, has dwindled down to a fraction of what it was. The barbel are starting to come back now and are showing from previous stockings. We are trying to redress the balance by introducing stock fish.
The Upper Great Ouse was once home to the British Record barbel and as these fish can live to be over twenty years old, it takes a long time for the improvements from these stockings to show. Male barbel don’t grow above 8lbs in weight, so it is hoped quite a few of these younger males will survive to mate with the large female barbel that inhabit some of the stretches of the river.
My channel also shows general videos about fishing the River Ouse and other rivers and lakes.