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Barbel have been stocked in the River Hull on several occasions. The first introduction was in 1935 and these came from Lord Bolton’s water on the Ure. The second stocking that I know of took place in 1961 (possibly 63) when fish were introduced below the weir at Hempholme by Stan Metcalfe (Yorkshire Ouse & Hull River Authority bailiff). These fish came from the Swale. Stan was very friendly with a farmer called Alan Brame who owns a stretch of West Beck, and the farmer had allowed Stan to sort out a retirement cottage next to the river. I understand that Stan used the slip a few fish into the West Beck at this point with a view to his retirement. He put some of these barbel into West Beck. This was before Ken Ryder bought the land above Alan Brame. I think Ryder moved up there in the early 1970’s and then built a weir. I believe the barbel had by then moved up from Alan Brame’s stretch and Ken’s weir cut them off. Some of them are still there now. I’ve often seen them and the EA have electo-fished them during various surveys. I’ve only ever fished for them once, but a pal of mine Phil has hooked a few and landed a handful. Best from memory I think was about 6lb. Think the EA had them to an estimated (they don’t weigh fish they measure them on surveys) to about 8-9lb. The survivors must be getting on for 50 years old! Another chap I know, Roy Shaw, used to photograph them spawning at the mouth of Goodless Drain on the West Beck, but I don’t believe the EA in their surveys ever came across anything other than the original stock fish. The growth of the barbel in the West Beck was slower than it had been in the Swale. The water is quite cold up in the West Beck because it hasn’t had time to warm up since coming out of the springs. I think Phil once found a couple in November one year and put his landing net under one of them and pulled it out. Think that one weighed about 7-8lb.
The next stocking was 1966. 64 barbel between 1lb and 6lb from upper Swale put into tidal reaches at Wilfholme.
Next stocking is 1969. Swale fish again, this time obtained from Langton Bridge. 200 fish with an average size of 2-3lb. Again introduced at Wilfholme. I’m told that a handful were also slipped into Barmston Drain which is next to the River Hull at Wilfholme. Some of these fish were caught shortly after introduction at Wilfholme. I called in at Wilfholme at this time after being told and saw a small shoal of about 6 fish swimming about. For the next few years there were some catches of barbel made at Hempholme early in the season. I think the best I heard of at that time (early 70’s) was about 6lb. I went up to Hempholme weir one year in May around this time and saw a handful of barbel.
The latest stocking (July 1999) was of 4,000 Calverton barbel stocked into Aike Beck and Watton Beck (on tidal reaches). These were 5-6inch fish. This was carried out by the EA.
I’ve heard of odd barbel caught from tidal reaches over the years but would not know where to begin. I’ve never been told of any barbel being found above Wansford Bridge on the West Beck. Below this point the fishing is trout preserves held by West Beck Preservation Society and their fishing extends on both banks. I’ve heard that various people have seen these barbel and that a chap called Steve Jacques (I believe now emigrated to Australia) from Anlaby has told people he say one once that looked over 10lb. I never have.
I’m sute the bigger fish will be in the tidal reaches below Hempholme, as most of the coarse fish grow bigger below Hempholme as the water is warmer than the West Beck. But where is anyone’s guess. I honestly don’t know if it’s a viable proposition. I’m sure there will be some doubles down there somewhere, but you could spend the rest of your life and end up with just a handful of fish (or nothing!). Spend next season on the Trent and you’ll certainly catch far more. If you want to try and climb Mount Everest good luck to you.

Big Mike,
No I haven't heard about that stocking but I could ask my friends at the EA. Their records of earlier stockings (from their predecessors are a shambles) but since they took over from the Water Authorities are fairly comprehensive. I spoke to Ken Wiles (who runs a couple of tackle shops in the Hull area and writes a fishing column in the local paper) and he tells me that he knows of a 6-pounder coming out from just upstream of Tickton Bridge (same area as the 8-pounder mentioned earlier in this thread. Also he knows of some small barbel (12oz) fish that have been caught in this area this year. These were all the same sized fish and are probably the fish from the recent stockingof 4,000 fish in July 1999. He also mention a guy who goes in his shop who is after the Hull barbel. Maybe someone here? Somewhere in the lower Hull there will be a cracking barbel or two - but where?
Kevin

I honestly wouldn't know where to try on the tidal Hull. I guess if I were a lot younger I'd get a boat moored on the river and with a mate spend the close season exploring. I'd look for bends with clean chalk/sand or possible gravel bottoms. I'd talk to some of the well known match lads about the lower reaches where they do a fair bit of fishing. I'd talk to Alan Mullinger of the EA to see if he could contribute anything - they may have done some echo soundings with sophisticated side scanning equipment which I believe is capable (sometimes?) of differentiating between species. Apart from that you could set a couple of hundred night lines and see what that turns up (only joking).
I don't remember the time with Willie Eyre but I've looked at Snakeholme and it's an absolute discrace. The trout farm has deposited so much shit that the river's dried up. They also take all of the water. They've had to move their outlet lower down. And the EA and their spineless predecessors have let them get away with it. I wonder what's going to happen with the boat lobby up their who are trying to get the lock viable. Maybe they will sort the problem out?
Kevin

I think Alan works out of an office at Tickton but you'll probably have to contact him via the Environment Agency at Leeds or York. You could ask them to pass a message on or write to him c/o the EA. Alternatively speak to one of the fishery guys in the Leeds office and they may be able to help and pull out any survey work reports on the Hull.
The weir at Hempholme looks okay but I'd check it out in the close season first to see if any barbel show up. If they are not there in May/June then I'd doubt any would turn up later in the year. My impression of barbel is that they run up the gravel weir areas to spawn then gradually drop downsteam to other spots. The do this on the Derwent and also the Nidd.
Kevin