RIG GUIDE | BARBEL PELLET FEEDER RIG

Pellets are without a doubt the most popular barbel bait, catching a huge number of fish across the UK throughout the year. But they are not necessarily the easiest of baits to hook or feed, being hard and sinking slowly.

This simple rig has evolved to make fishing these baits easy, keeping the feed pellets next to the hookbait and using a feeder to introduce a trail of bait.

Barbel are strong fighters and will tire themselves out, especially in the summer months, so it is important to land them quickly, hence the need for strong hooks and line.

Try to match the weight of the feeder to the strength of the current. You do not want the feeder to move once it has reached the riverbed, although use the lightest the feeder you can to make less disturbance.

If you are new to barbel fishing then this is the ideal rig. It makes one of the best barbel baits very easy to introduce exactly where you want. Get hold of a few pre-drilled 10mm pellets to use on the hair and, for feed, choose 3mm-4mm pellets and ensure that these can escape easily through the holes on the feeder.

HOW TO TIE A BARBEL PELLET RIG

1. Carefully enlarge the holes in the feeder so that the 4mm feed pellets can exit easily. Use a knife or a pair of scissors

2. Thread the feeder and the buffer bead on to the mainline. This should be stronger than the hooklength to break if the rig is snagged

3. Tie the rig swivel on to the end of the mainline using a four-turn grinner knot and pull the buffer bead over the end of the swivel

4. Tie a small overhand loop in the end of an 80cm length of the Zig Link to start the hooklength

5. Use a 10-turn knotless knot to tie on the hook. The hair should be long enough to leave a 5mm gap between bait and the bend of the hook

6. Thread a Rig Sleeve on to the hooklength. Tie the hooklength to the rig swivel using a four-turn grinner knot and pull it over the swivel The hooklength should be about 60cm