TEAM UNITED KINGDOM
DARREN DAVIES
My name is Darren Davies and I am 47 years old, living in Cardiff, UK
My thirst for adventure has taken me and my son, who I am happy to say is now a keen fisherman, to Europe in search of new places to catch barbel. We thoroughly enjoyed this, and now we travel to France several times a year and this year to Belgium for fishing. My favorite tactic on most rivers is the feeder, using a mix of groundbait and pellets with boilies or pellets as hook bait. The Wild River Barbel range covers my fishing needs for the whole year, with a variety of hookbaits, feed pellets and groundbait, and I'm looking forward to catching even more barbel this year.
My fishing is all about fun and enjoyment, which I think is most important when you are doing something you love.
DALE THOMAS
My name is Dale Thomas, and I've been barbel fishing since I caught my first one on the River Wye in the early 90s. What started as a passion quickly grew into a lifelong dedication to river fishing.
Over the years, I spent many seasons on the River Trent before shifting my focus to the Lower/Tidal River Severn, closer to home. These large rivers formed the foundation of my experience, but in recent years, I've also sought out the challenge on smaller waters like the River Lugg. This requires a completely different approach, and confidence in your bait plays a crucial role.
I enjoy fishing with classic tackle and often use a split cane rod in combination with a centrepin reel. For me, this way of fishing represents the pure experience of angling.
When it comes to bait, I deliberately choose boilies and pellets with a long-lasting scent release underwater. Flavours such as Chorizo and Krill & Squid are among my absolute favourites, while Cheese & Liver and Garlic & Spice are particularly effective in the colder months, both for barbel and chub.