THE start of the new coarse fishing river season has started and for those of you who have had your rods stashed away for the past 12 weeks, the best of luck for the new campaign.

For once, the weather has been kind (I’ve known frosts on June 16 before now), so there should have been some good catches.

Over the last few weeks I have been in a number of tackle shops and there is a bit of a buzz in the air, with anglers looking forward to getting back onto the rivers. I think that I would miss that if they ever do away with the close season.

My own gear is all sorted and I can’t wait to get back into the action.

I shall be targeting barbel as usual, using 12lb Pro Tough mainline and Grand Max Soft Plus fluorocarbon hooklinks attached to smallish hooks.

Maggot will be used on one rod and I’ll be trying different baits and rigs on the other.

This year I shall divide my fishing between the Kennet and Warwickshire Avon, but will also travel down to Marsh Farm in search of some crucians for a bit of a change.

l Local carper Andrew Shellard can do no wrong at the moment, as he slipped his net under another pristine mirror carp weighing 39.8.0.

Over the last few weeks, Andrew has been banking some real monsters to over 40lb from an Oxfordshire pit.

This time, he spent only three hours on the water before the ‘30’ took a 14mm Carp Company Cranberry and Caviar boilie presented over some freebies.

l A few weeks ago, I reported on Alan Holmes, who landed a 16lb barbel from the Oxford Canal just over the border at Fenny Compton.

I spoke to him the other day and discovered that he is still on his narrowboat and has also been in the Horton Hospital at Banbury for an operation on his hand.

Alan told me that most of his fish come out on bread as he doesn’t use maggots and he certainly catches a lot of fish.

Besides the usual silver fish, he has had carp up to 18lb.

l IF you have any news, views or photos, you can contact me on 01865 or email andrew@webber01865.fsnet co.uk