Sorry Kev,it wasnt intended that people fishing heavy leads(as in boatcasting)were dummies,it WAS however meant that under no circumstances would I do it,its my own choice,I dont enjoy it,simples,that is why I would not fish the Trent and Severn in certain places and conditions,hope that is now understood,everybody can do that if they wish,it doesnt worry me at all...
I get that it's your choice not to fish in places where the barbel need gear at the heavy end of the spectrum. Personally, I used to like to fish for them, in this region, on the Dove, the Derwent and the Soar, with an an Avon rod etc. But the barbel fishing has pretty well dried up, apart from on the Trent, so that's where I, and others, go. I don't go for the long-stay carbelling approach. There are places where you can catch them on the float. Equally, there are places where you catch on a light bomb or a small feeder on the crease or in the edge - but you still need the rod and line to extract them. I'd like to have an Upper Lea-type option, but if you want to have some decent options reasonably local, you end up including hit and hold fishing with heavy gear as part of the mix because many of the places where barbel live are like that.