Mark - I've walked the WAC stretch of the old Lea a couple of times, and never seen any sign of barbel myself - but I know the bailiff (Andy) socially aswell as piscatorally (if that's a word!), and he's had a few out, and seen a lot more... Me and Jeff have only been members for a year ourselves, and didn't do much fishing last season - things tended to get in the way (alcohol, females, you know how it is!) But I know from personal experience there are barbel both upstream and downstream of the WAC stretch, so I have no reason to doubt that they're in Ware aswell.
BTW - my previous entry SHOULD have read ''...kept taking worms we put out for the CHUB...'' (alcohol again... <s>)
You got anywhere in mind for opening day yet, Mark? I know you're ''8 minutes from Hunsdon'', but in which direction, if you don't mind me asking? (I'm in Hoddesdon, btw) It's just that me and Jeff are going to be in Ware for the first morning, not on a WAC water, but a gorgeous little stretch that (as far as I know) never gets fished, but has a lot of ''potential'' (we've seen plenty of carp (not big - only to about 15lb or so), tench, bream and perch in there)... but you have to be slightly unorthodox in how you fish it! If you're stuck for something to do first knockings, and fancy a bit of company, e-mail me at
musclemuseum@aol.com
and you'd be welcome to come join us - just be prepared to leave your bivvy, umbrella... even rod rests! at home. (And if you DO e-mail me, put your name in the subject title somewhere - I have ''e-mail virus paranoia'' and tend to delete, without opening, any e-mails from people I don't know)
Later...