By recasting a feeder packed with fishmeal groundbait and a mix of pellets every 20-30 minutes, you can quickly build up a stream of enticing particles which will drift downstream and draw in barbel from far and wide.
Match the size of the feeder to the pace of flow so that it just holds bottom comfortably, and be sure to use a hooklink of at least 2ft, but don’t be afraid to increase this to 4ft or so if the fish start to back off the feeder after one or two have been caught. Experimenting with hookbaits is also time well spent, and can bring remarkably quick results.
The tackle you need
✔ 30g-120g cage feeder
✔ Quick-change swivels (2)
✔ 10lb-12lb mainline
✔ 6lb-10lb hooklink
✔ Size 10-12 hook
Top tips
Banded or drilled 8mm-12mm halibut pellets are favoured as hookbaits by most but, when bites dry up, switching to alternatives, such as Elips pellets, can re-ignite a session. Two Elips pellets glued back-to-back on the hair make a brilliant ‘change bait’ on busy venues.
Use a mix of small pellets in the feeder, plugged at either end with damp fishmeal groundbait.
Attach the feeder and hooklink with quick-change swivels.
