Trying a new method (to me anyway)

[Rusty]

I’m going barbelling tonight, planning to fish the Kennet into dark using a static bait. It’ll be the first time I’ve done this so I want to keep things simple, tactics will be a running ledger with a hair rigged halibut pellet (not planning to use a bolt rig), feed will be freebee pellets lobbed in. Crayfish will be a problem so it has to be hard baits.

 

I have some 16mm pellets in the shed, they’re about six months old and have been open for that time. They still smell vile but my neighbour reckons it’s a false economy to use them, he also thinks I should up the size (they seem pretty big to me). I’ve got stuff to do today so I was trying to avoid a visit to the tackle shop but if he’s right then I’ll find time to replace them.

 

What do you think?

[Ken L]

I think I'd want to cook up enough hemp or a good bed in at least two swims.

I've never had to contend with crays and have never fished pellet in the UK but I wouldn't have thought a pellet would represent much of a challenge for them.

I'd seriously consider static boilies or trundled meat as alternatives.

[lutra]

I don't think you will have much of a problem with them Rusty, they seem to last ages if you keep them dry and ive caught barbel on all sizes from micros to gobstopers (3mm-30mm).

[wunwetfoot]

I’m going barbelling tonight, planning to fish the Kennet into dark using a static bait. It’ll be the first time I’ve done this so I want to keep things simple, tactics will be a running ledger with a hair rigged halibut pellet (not planning to use a bolt rig), feed will be freebee pellets lobbed in. Crayfish will be a problem so it has to be hard baits.

 

I have some 16mm pellets in the shed, they’re about six months old and have been open for that time. They still smell vile but my neighbour reckons it’s a false economy to use them, he also thinks I should up the size (they seem pretty big to me). I’ve got stuff to do today so I was trying to avoid a visit to the tackle shop but if he’s right then I’ll find time to replace them.

 

What do you think?

Hi Rusty, a lot will depend upon which part of the Kennet you'll be fishing but I think your old pellets will be okay. Almost everyone fishes for the Barbel and they will have seen loads of pellets. Your pellets might just have the edge being smaller and will smell/taste "washed out" (and therefore, safer) to the fish. The bed of hemp is always a good ploy in conjunction with "halibuts". Whatever you do stay clear of the meat baits! You WILL be plagued by crays! Good luck, the BIG Barbel usually show and are caught at night!

[lutra]

ps. If you do want a bigger bait, you can always put more than one on a hair.

 

All this talk of pellets and barbel has got me head ticking. Think i might trot some 6 or 8 mils later.

[Chris Plumb]

Rusty - they should be fine - I usually use 14mm - and don't usually bother with too many freebies or hemp...

 

 

C.

 

ps - where you going?

Edited August 4, 2012 by Chris Plumb

[JV44]

Good luck mate hope you get one ,Beware of the Rainsford weir wolf after dark

[chavender]

don't threat about the pellets ,i've some 16 & 20mm thats getting on for three years old , i just keep them in containers in cool dry places ,and whiffier the better i'd say smell = flavour = attraction ,although i have no sense of smell so they all smell great too me .

[Tigger]

I used some 2 yr old 14 mill halibut pellets a couple of weeks back that had been in my bag with the top of the bag folded over loosely. They still caught me several barbel to 8.8 lb's chub, trout eels etc so I'd just try em. Worst that can happen is a blank....unless that wolf scoops you up .

[JV44]

I used some 2 yr old 14 mill halibut pellets a couple of weeks back that had been in my bag with the top of the bag folded over loosely. They still caught me several barbel to 8.8 lb's chub, trout eels etc so I'd just try em. Worst that can happen is a blank....unless that wolf scoops you up .

 

Ian he is bored blanking and hungry,esp as i toild him what i am about to have for supper .......agree about the pellets used ones years old and they caught fish ok