Upper Medway

[Wakou]

I have been invited for a traditional-style day out, fishing the Medway above Maidstone, near Farleigh. Any tips or suggestions?
I am considering a feeder-rod with luncheon meat and float-rod fishing with hemp, tares, caster or maggot?
Is there much chance of Barbel? Do I need a beefier rod and stronger than say, 5lb line?

[Barbelbonce]

What does the invitor advise......? They(!) should know!
Mike

[Wakou]

Well, Mike @barbelbonce. I had noticed that the forum was not getting a lot of traffic lately, and I had not contributed much, and I thought that this question would be a good way for us to share experience and expertise, etc. Indeed, I thought that that was what the forum was for? Being told to ask elsewhere is not very encouraging.

[CrayCane]

I wouldn't expect many barbel that far down the river. I think the majority of them come from the upper river above Tonbridge.
Could be a few carp in that area though.
Pete

[Olly]

A strange reply by the questioner! I suspect the invitee would be told by the inviter what to bring - like bait - rods - etc.
Only anglers who know the area would be correct rather than asking anglers to surmise.

[RBTraditional]

There are a few barbel throughout the Medway although Farlieigh would usually be considered by locals as middle reaches of the river. The areas where barbel are fished for with a fair chance of finding them are above Tonbridge on both the Penshurst angling Society waters and Tunbridge Wells Society waters which are in the main more suited to the species…

[Mr B]

Be interested to see how you get on..thin on the ground were your fishing I understand.
i was talking to an angler last year who said he caught a nice one at the weir at Yalding ..
and another at Teston Bridge but...putting long hours in over quite a few seasons.
Mr B

[Wakou]

Thank you all! It was a lovely spot, but a "suddenly" very hot day, which perhaps made the bigger fishes a little reluctant. There were 12 or so of us, no-one had to call the Angling Times! (or even wet a landing net!) However, I was happy with some little perch, some gonks and the smallest fish I have ever captured (bleak?)
Not helped by my choosing to take three rods I had never used before. None of which were entirely suitable, one of which was unusable!