Barbel questions

[arbocop]

As for size, this Teme "tiger" weighed exactly 7lb 8oz and the net is 24" at the widest

 

 

Similar size and weight to mine - top left.

[Chris Plumb]

As you know Chris, I fish not far from you and I get barbel with similar tactics - but I would hardly describe it as barbel taking with abandon!

 

I usually end up with a big bag of chub and trout - not that there's anything wrong with that. I never managed a barbel until July last year. More practice this year methinks! My biggest on the trotting gear came in November. That's the one on my on my avatar.

 

On the subject of spawning, the barbel were spawning on a particlalr swim on the stretch I fish on the 18th June last year. There were at least five thrashing around - including one of at least 10lb. I steered well clear.

 

Is anyone getting slightly excited by the way! I was in Thatcham at the weekend and stopped at Thatcham station to oggle the river. It looked lovely. Pity I don't have access to that stretch, I go a little upstream.

 

OK maybe slight hyperbole - but you certainly can get them taking freely toward the end of a session if you've kept the bait trickling in. I've sometimes had 4-6 barbel in consecutive casts/trots.....

 

 

C.

[Anderoo]

I would love to target these fish with trotting tactics, but I just don't think there are enough of them to make it worthwhile. I've done an awful lot of trotting at these tributaries over the years and never hooked a barbel, despite catching lots of chub, trout, dace, perch, a few roach and my old nemesis the minnow. I've also done a lot of quivertipping for chub, and that hasn't produced any barbel either! But I have done very little quivertipping in summer after dark.

 

I think the few barbel that do still exist are very shy and also very nomadic. Fishing after dark with quivertip gear should be the most likely way to catch one. I think I'll be doing a lot of daytime baiting and watching, trying to spot one, then fishing that area when the sun dips.

 

I know it's theoretically possible to catch one, I just need to be confident in my tactics and ability to fish the right spots. I will just dive in straight away and get some momentum up, but I think taking up a few kind offers to fish other more productive small rivers in the company of more experienced anglers will help me get my eye in.

[AddictedToScopex]

I was watching barbel yesterday and took a few photographs through my sunglasses - this is the difference polarising lenses make:

 

 

That place looks great. I Wish i knew of streams and rivers like that in/near Preston. The ribble doesnt look to weedy a lot of the time and many parts are either just stones or deeps near me.

[Steve Walker]

Preston? I wonder if there is any good barbel stalking on the Dane?

[arbocop]

Preston? I wonder if there is any good barbel stalking on the Dane?

 

Most of it is too turbid for decent stalking I would have thought. Mind you, it may be my memory that's turbid, I haven't fished the Dane for over 20 years. The Bollin might be a potential prospect.

 

Neither are near Preston though!

[arbocop]

OK maybe slight hyperbole - but you certainly can get them taking freely toward the end of a session if you've kept the bait trickling in. I've sometimes had 4-6 barbel in consecutive casts/trots.....

 

I don't think it is an exaggeration, you've managed it so it must be possible - I'm just saying that when I try it it never happens. Sometimes, I think I'm only capable of catching chub most of the time . I am determined to do it this season though - more than one barbel in one trotting session.

 

Mind you if I beat last seasons best chub it will be nearer 7lb than 6lb and I'll be laughing so much and won't care how many barbel I get!

[Steve Walker]

Most of it is too turbid for decent stalking I would have thought. Mind you, it may be my memory that's turbid, I haven't fished the Dane for over 20 years. The Bollin might be a potential prospect.

 

I remember parts of the Dane being clear when the river was low in summer. Mind you, it's a while since I fished anywhere up there, the last (and only) time I fished the Bollin the only thing you could stalk were free range sanitary towels

 

Neither are near Preston though!

 

About an hour's drive, I'd say, not really that far in my book - hell of a lot nearer to him than my Wiltshire river anyway!

[Anderoo]

I've just realised it the 15th of June - which means that after work tomorrow, it's barbel fishing time!

 

Last question for you all - when fishing a small, snaggy river, what BS hooklength would you use?

[Steve Walker]

I usually use 6-8lb DoubleStrength on my small river.