Barbel Fishing

Barbel largely live in Rivers with a good flow and water quality due to needing to spawn of Gravel beds.

It seems that once you have tried this style of fishing you are hungry to go back for more.

These hard fighting fish will test tackle to it’s limits and take you to some wonderful wild locations in pursuit of them.

Here is a selection of tasty treats to get there whiskers twitching and put a proper bend in your rod.

Where do Barbel live?

Barbel largely live in Rivers with a good flow and water quality due to needing to spawn over Gravel beds.
Rivers such as the Wye, Severn, Trent tend to be on the fore front of the sport.

Where do Barbel Feed?

They are bottom feeders by design with mouth’s facing down and Whiskers to help search under rocks.

Barbel are often found on the edge of a fast current as the change to slower moving water can hold a lot of natural food that gets washed down.

When is the best time of year for them

September tends to see most Anglers on the bank due to vegatation starting to die back.
But the last few weeks of the River season are also hugely popular as the fish are at there largest.

What baits work well for them

Barbel tend to like meaty or Fishy baits with Strong aromas to help search them out.
Fishmeal Boilies, Luncheon Meat, Halibut pellets and Hemp all work extremely well.
Tradition baits also work well like Maggot, Caster, Worm or Corn.
But these can be intercepted easily be small fish before they reach the Barbel.