Barbel are a species that can be caught pretty much throughout the year, and eve during winter there will be definite windows of opportunity when conditions are just right, and they’ll have a feed-up.
A reasonably mild spell when the water temperature creeps up fractionally is often enough to get them interested. Combine that with coloured water after downpours and you have the perfect recipe for action.
IN OUR BUYERS GUIDE WE HAVE THE BEST BARBEL RODS.
Keep it strong but simple
Resist the temptation to overcomplicate your rig and stick to a straightforward running feeder set-up. This will reduce tangles and give you confidence that your rig is always fishing effectively. Use a Korum Camo Bolt and Run Kit running on 15lb mainline to a 2ft-3ft hooklength of 12lb mono or fluorocarbon, and a strong size 10 hook leaves little things to chance.
THINKING ABOUT STARTING BARBEL FISHING? THEN OUR BEGINNERS GUIDE TO BARBEL FISHINGIS BEST PLACE TO START.
Work with a cage
Your rig must always remain anchored to the bottom and not get washed around your swim by the flow, or you’ll get snagged up. A 3oz-5oz feeder often suffices, with a caged version best for the baits that will come into play. A rod such as 12ft, 2.5lb tc Korum Big Water has more than enough power to launch heavy feeders without any risk of breakages.
IN THIS ARTICLE WE GIVE AN INSIGHT INTO HOW TO FISH THE RIVER TRENT FOR BARBEL.
Use a strong smelling hookbait
It’s important to keep it simple and select just one or two offerings before executing your plan. I like to hair-rig one or two SonuBaits Hemp & Halibut, or Hemp & Spicy Sausage Barbel & Carp Hookbait Pellets, and then glug them in a pungent liquid. This will create a strong scent trail, drawing fish in that are sat outside the swim.
CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE WHERE WE LIST THE BEST BARBEL BAITS.
Prime the swim
Heavy flows will wash a lot of your loosefeed away quite quickly, so it is important to keep topping the area up with a feeder. A mixture of flavoured 4mm and 6mm pellets, broken boilies and hemp creates an attractive banquet, the liquid from the latter ingredient making it all slightly stodgy so that it packs into the cage with ease.
IN ORDER TO TAME THESE POWERFUL FISH, YOU'LL NEED THE BEST BARBEL FISHING REELS.
