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Hi Richy, think the section Ferryhill has is on the north bank if I remember rightly. Think you'll find barbel on that section not sure what access is like though. I know there are some well made pegs on that side but not sure if it is where the barbel are.
Off for a trek out this evening, anyone know what the river is looking like today. Thought it might have dropped to a nice level after the recent rain and am determined to break my duck.

Think there is some reasonable fishing on your own doorstep mate. Near the cricket ground at CLS is a day ticket water or Ferens Park down in Durham City also holds barbel and is free water. Check out the Wear forum, unfortunately all the places I fish are club waters and am not in the best position to advice you on where to park. There is a free stretch at Broken Scar and a lot of the regular lads on here will be more than glad to help you.

Hi John, I used to fish the Chester Moor stretch when I had a Hartlepool ticket and know that the game anglers seem to look down on us mere coarse anglers. Don't know why and suppose it is more of a problem with CLS club if all the committee are game anglers. Not our fault if they can't catch fish and how does the riparian know how many fish are being caught on bait or lures? Even if I caught a salmon I'd return it anyway and probably the same for trout. I only buy a rod license for coarse and truot anyway. Still I bet the club are happy to take your membership dues each year, best of luck with your struggle mate.

On a more pleasant note I have finally broke my duck.
Caught three barbel and a chub, also lost an absolute freight train of a take. Caught my first about 8pm, a beauty of 9.5lb. About 20mins later had a real strong take dragging the rod off the rests with baitrunner screaming, it headed for what I found out was a snag on the inside bank and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Snagged up and lost it though I did manage to get free by walking down the bank about 10yards and applying pressure. Thought the swim might have died after that but decided to give it a bit longer and 20mins later a 3lb chub dragged my rod off the rests, thought it was a barbel from the strength of the take. Later caught a 6.5lb barbel and that fought a lot harder than the first, had a few scars on it's right side near the back fins like it had been bitten in the past and a split dorsal fin. Finished off with a 7lb barbel at 9.45, this one went for the snag that I lost the fish on and it was a hell of a battle to keep it away from it. Need to check my reel out tonight as the drag was working properly even though I had set it up last night as I had changed my spool, nearly lost it on the initial run as the drag didn't kick in and I had the anti reverse set on the reel but managed to flick it off in time. The last one was real long fight and it took the fish 10minutes to recover. Snagged my landing net and ripped a hole in it but can't complain after a night like that.
Big thanks to JA75 for his help and to everyone on here for their advice,this site has provided me a wealth of info on tactics, swim spotting and tackle set ups. It has been great to see the results from applying this info and am itching to get back out and do battle with the king of the river.