Customer Recommendations

Hi Graham, I don't think I can thank you enough for yesterday. It was the most stupendous day I've ever had.I couldn't get to sleep last night and work today was so hard as my head was still in the clouds.
I was truly chuffed with the first one I caught by the third I was thanking the stars when the rod wrapped round again for the 12.12.

If you ever need anyone convincing what a great experience a day with you is just point them in my direction.

A million thank you's

Bob

Graham. You are a genius! I put all of your advice into practice on the Loddon today and was rewarded with a lovely 9.2lb fish. It even gave me two dinks before a lovely wrap around just as predicted! The only let down was the fight which was very timid compared to the 9.12 from the Kennet on Monday. Thanks again.

Steve

Hi Graham, thanks for a wonderful day. Dad and I really appreciated the effort you put in considering the extreme weather conditions. We learnt a great deal from the technique you have clearly mastered and it has moved our barbel fishing onto a new level. Thanks for the photos of our fish they are fantastic.

David

What a day! Thank you for the tip - peg xx on St Pats has come up trumps for me. 3pm - 8lb barbel and then 4pm - 14lb! Barbel - my scales aren't the best but it was just on the 14lb mark. I was absolutely gob smacked - what a fight - see attached photos. Thanks again for your help these last couple of months, couldn't have done it without your tuition - see you in July.

Andre

Hi Graham, Now that we've hit the close-season just wanted to say thanks for the all the help and advice this year. It was great to have that day out in July and then catch up with you again over the season on the riverbank. I've had a great time this season. Got to see lots of the Kennet and the Loddon, met loads of nice people. Thanks again.

Simon

Hi Graham, I thought I'd drop you a quick line to say how I've been getting on since you enlightened myself and Simon with your techniques of barbel fishing back in July. The main prompt to send you this is my new p.b and first double caught this weekend from the Kennet. At 12lb 6oz I'm totally chuffed! I thought I'd attach the photo of another great fish caught on your deadly method! Thanks again & tight lines!

Graham (ex carp angler)

Just thought I would let you know how the Barbel hunting is going after our day out, Of course I am only telling you as it has been going GREAT. Averaging about 5 fish per trip, although only had one double, have had quite a few at 8lb & 9lb. best wishes.

Colin

Hi Graham. Thank you for a wonderful day out on the Loddon. With the temperature on 37deg, I knew we would struggle, but with your guidance and expertise we pulled it off, PB chub,& PB Barbel 4 fish out and 1 lost was a remarkable result, as others would have blanked. I will be in touch for a winter bash on the Kennet, to try for a big double. Once again a big thank you.

Ray

Hi Graham, Thanks. It really was a special day out for me and I have to say you were great company.

Lots of new experiences for me which I'll continue to reflect on and look at ways of taking it all on board as I go through the season. There's three others that I fish with now and then and I'm sure they would benefit from a day with you, I will encourage them to do so and perhaps we could make it a paired up day or I could at least be on the fishery at or around the same time. I'd certainly like to have another day with you sometime, perhaps on the Thames, as discussed. Fished your method on one rod Saturday night (middle Severn) and had 4 times as many fish on that rod as the other one - Stay in touch. Thanks again!

Mike

Hi Graham
Hope your well. I would just like to thank you for a memorable day last Tuesday, Wayne and I really enjoyed it, even though I didn’t catch much, fishing is more than that. Thanks again Graham, those Loddon barbel will live long in the memory.

All the best Keith & Wayne

Customer Recommendations 2005/6

Of all the guided days we have had, I have to say that Tony and I enjoyed the day with you the most. Fabulous sport with our barbel tally for the day of magnificent Loddon fish at 13.1 / 11.1 / 10.14 / 10.12 plus 3 others being out of this world. Sincere thanks and see you next season.

Ed.

Hi Graham, What a day! 4 Loddon barbel with fish of 12.10, 12.00, 9.14 and 9.6 is more than I could have possibly dreamed of. An Experience never to be forgotten. More power to your guiding. THANK YOU.

Darren

Our first ever barbel fishing expedition and a first barbel and double for us both! Amazing. My barbel was the second largest freshwater fish in this country ever, the 13lb Carp being the largest. Don’t they fight hard. Thanks for a great days fishing.

Terry and Barry

Dear Graham. Having come all the way from Ireland to try and catch a barbel we were ecstatic with our first fish each. They certainly are powerful fish! Nials 12.1 looked awesome. We’ll certainly be over again next year. Hope you enjoyed the Irish whiskey as sincere thanks for a great time.

John

It’s a fair way from Essex but was it worth it! 4 Kennet barbel in the last hour and a new p.b. at 9lb.11. I learnt so much about feeding habits; location and how to set up the perfect rig that even on the tough River Lee I know I will be doing the business in the future. A great day out, thanks Graham.

Arthur

Dear Graham, Thank you very much for a great day. I would like to book another date with you, 22nd September would be great by then I will be able to whip you on the under arm casting!! I learnt so much from you and really appreciated your skill, time and patience. Looking forward to September just email me to confirm this is a firm booking and I will then send you a deposit.
Kind regards,

Steve

Graham, Fished the mole at Dorking last evening from 8.00-9.45. 2 barbel 9.5+10.2.All down to the help and confidence you gave me. Many thanks mate.

Richard.

Well Graham, praise where it's due, after our success with you I then went and caught my first ever Thames barbel at 7lb 6 after five or more years of trying off and on at just about mid-day. Fought really hard and Tim helped me land it. Getting more confidence now with a combination of this technique and the braid so hope to catch another over there before too long! Hope you've had a good weekend and can't thank you enough for putting us on the path to successful barbel fishing. All the very best

Keith.

What can I say, looks even more awesome than I remember. Seems bigger than last seasons 11lb 10oz but long and lean I guess, what a truly fantastic looking fish! Looks better to me than anything AT had to offer this week! I'd certainly win a prize for the biggest inane grin; I haven't quite mastered the moody contemplative look yet have I? Cheers again for great couple of days with your instruction and those superb fish as a bonus.

Chris.

Graham, thanks for the photo's and thanks for a smashing day. My day on the Avon. We went to Somerly by Ashley Farm - Two, yes two, PB's. Chub 6lb and, wait for it, Barbel 12lbs 7ozs. I'll send the photo when I have computerised it. It's the first time in 30 years that I have out coarse fished my mate, all thanks to you.What can I say except thanks again.

John.

Hi Graham, Just wanted to say a huge thanks for the great day's fishing we had yesterday. I know that both Graham and I really enjoyed our time on the riverbank and learnt loads. Despite the rather dull weather and the sketchy bites, I really enjoyed all the tuition, the chat, and the benefit of your considerable experience in catching Barbel.

The fact that we both caught PB fish over 8lb was an enormous bonus on top of a really fun day. Graham has also asked me to pass on his thanks to you!!

Customer Recommendations 2004/05

Three fish in less than an hour – I was ecstatic! Stayed put in this swim because the rain was absolutely pelting down – no more bites. I guess the fish had had enough of me by then. An hour later tried the weir casting into the spot you showed me. Rod tip went round on my first cast. I hung on, as you recommended, preventing the fish getting the other side of the seal’s head and I had the fish in the net pretty quickly. Massive beautiful fish of 11lbs 7ozs! Returned home at midday a very happy man!!! 5 fish in less than 24hrs landed a good double and smashed my PB!!

I can’t thank you enough. I definitely could not have achieved this without all your good advice. Even the underarm casting is much better in terms of both distance and accuracy.

Guy

Many thanks for the day - it was absolutely superb. Great fishing. Use me for a reference if you need.

Paul

Hi Graham

Ended up with six barbel (two doubles) and a bonus five and a half pound chub. Cracking day!

Ian

Just achieved a PB yesterday with a perfect fish of 12-2 from the Kennet. Sorry to blow my own trumpet, and this is probably nothing special for some of the more experienced guys, but a few weeks ago I was struggling to even catch a cold, let alone a barbel. Since spending a day with Graham I have gone from strength to strength with two PB & doubles in a month and only one blank in 15 trips! Mind you don’t tell Graham or his head will get even bigger than it already is!

Best regards
Gavin (the one with the silly grin on his face)

Graham,

Just wanted to pass on big thanks for a smashing day on Monday. New river, good company and a 9.8 – can’t be bad !
I shall keep in touch and let you know how I get on with your method on the Bristol Avon. With this warm wet front coming in you should have a good day yourself on Thursday.
All the best,

Stephen

Graham

Just a quick note of thanks for Friday.
What an injury time winner that turned out to be -11lb 10oz! It was a privilege to catch such a fantastic fish – kept me grinning all the way home. Can’t wait to see the pics. Cheers again

Chris

Graham, just a brief note to say thanks for the splendid days fishing 3 weeks ago & for the photo.
Perhaps next time it can be arranged that Steve can have a fish! 4-0 is a bit of a football score for a spent matchman.
All the best & keep up the good work.

Kind regards, Nick

Hi Graham,

Had a session on the Kennet today to put into practice what I learnt last week and
Started off a bit slow trying the same swim we went to without a touch, moved to the big tree at the end of the weir section and had 2 Barbel and a Chub, the largest went 8.10 and was caught almost under the rod tip. Moved to my swim in Blue section for the late afternoon/evening session and caught 4 more Barbel including a double which went 10.15.

Final tally 6 Barbel and a Chub, well pleased! It was really good to see the technique working; some of the fish came within minutes of casting out, so they had obviously homed in on the scent trail straight away
Many thanks for your help and advice,
all the best,

Steve.

Thanks Graham. Had a tremendous day yesterday.
Caught an 11-07 in the morning (my second biggest to date). My mate Mike caught a smallish one and a chub in the afternoon.
Just as we were thinking of packing up I had the 13-11 & half. Went really well & took ages to get in. Not a very long fish but very deep and broad and in excellent condition - hardly a mark on it - looked huge.
As I was returning it Mike's rod went - 11-03 !
Packed up and went for a pint - 2 happy chaps.
I'd only caught 2 doubles in 30 years, then 2 in one day - beating my PB by almost a pound ! We've caught 11 fish between us from that area, of which 6 have been doubles !
Wouldn't have happened without your help & advice Graham. We were saying in the pub that the day I had with you must have been the best money I ever spent - thanks a lot mate.

Mark

Hi Graham. Using your methods, ended up with six barbel (two doubles) and a bonus five and a half pound chub. Cracking day!

Looking forward to another day with you this Monday

Ian

Hi Graham,

There were no more bites after you left, but I had a brilliant day, one that I won't forget in a hurry, thanks very much for your guidance I've picked up some useful tips and seen a few swims to try. I'll certainly be back on the Loddon.

Attached picture of my FIRST Loddon double, hopefully there'll be more to come.

Kind regards, Steve

On behalf of Bradley and I a big thank you must go to Graham Elliott. He had spent all day with two other youngsters, managing to sneak one of them his first barbel in very difficult conditions.
When the junior day finished around 4pm Bradley and I decided to fish on as we were staying in our tent with the northern camping club at a site down the road.

Graham was just settling down to a couple of hours quiet fishing when he found out that Bradley had been fishless all day (not surprising fishing with me !) and never caught a barbel.
He did no more than invite Bradley to his swim, let him use his tackle, bait etc and offer a few words of advice and encouragement. I must add that it was a cold, miserable day and I am sure he would much rather have been down the pub.

Bradley had a few’ knocks, including one serious pull that would normally have resulted in a fish on, each one raising his hopes but ending in disappointment. After Graham's 4th 'last 10 mins we starting packing everything away ready to go and the rod wrapped round, lifting out of the rest, game on at last !!!
The end result was Bradley's first ever Barbel at 12lbs 11 oz’s and a stunning fish that he and I will always remember.

When Bradley thanked Graham for his help, Graham said that the best way he could show his appreciation was to help another youngster when he was older. What a true gentleman and a credit to the Barbel Society and angling in general !!!
Thank you again Graham.
I believe Graham does some guiding on the Kennet and if anybody wants any help in this direction you could not meet a nicer guy to spend the day with, catch some fish and learn lots.

Anyway, thanks to Graham and thanks to the BS junior team, without their help I would not have the happiest 9 year old in the world at home.

Mel