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frustrating big barbel

Agree with all thats been said about pinning the line down, although personally I think that maybe you introduced the hookbait to soon, I'd try the maggot or hemp/castor with the bait and wait approach. I dont think theres a fish that can resist if the baiting is applied correctly.
 
Hi everyone
Hey many thanks to everyone for great ideas.:)..I cant use naturals due to some very big roach and chub also in the swim..when i say big roach i mean 2lb roach..well today ive been back but this time just fishing for chub which ive had up to 7lb 4oz which im over the moon about!!..anyway back to the big barbel..i spent time watching how they behaved around my chub rig which is just 6lb line and guess what they wouldent go near it!!..but i think i have a cunning plan which i intend to try on my next visit..the baits im using are no problem it was just my position where i was fishing from which became apparent today..these barbel keep coming into the swim several times every time i throw bait in and feed with gutso..these barbel even detect pinned down line im not joking,the water is absulutely gin clear and the clear gravel patch i fish is flanked either side by heavy streamer weed..i found today that if i cast from a downstream position and my line was pushed into the weed by the current the barbel would come back and feed..so i will find out if im right on my next trip..:cool:
 
2lb roach, 7-4 Chub and huge barbel :eek:

Perhaps I should come and have a look for you Craig - please let me know which swim on which river it is.

Thanks :rolleyes::D
 
Me too!!
I hope your new plan of attack works Craig.
I know it's already been suggested but would float fished or free lined/rolled natural work?
 
Have you tried fishing for them in a decent flood, and plenty of colour ? As this normaly works for me. Theres a big fish, in my local river, which cant be caught in low clear conditions.but It comes out once a year in a big flood.danny
 
You haven't said how deep the water is. So here's an extreme suggestion from a non-specialist. If it's shallow enough, and every time you throw in feed the fish appear, get in the river with your rig and either cover it with the gravel that's already there, or get a bucketfull from a nearby swim. You may need to use rig tube for the buried bit and something supple for the last few centimetres to the hook. The fish might spook for a while because of the disturbance, but if you do it early enough in the day and wait, you may get lucky. You can use baits that deter the Roach and Chub (although with 7 pounders of the latter present, that might be difficult!) and feed the swim until your big Barbel arrives.
When this works, claim the fish was caught on a different method or we'll have a spate of drownings across the country!!
 
Get a bit of reed, slit along the length, chuck the hooklength through it, hookbait is camo'd on the end.

And good luck!
 
What the hell! :eek: With 2lb+ river roach in the swim - fish caster and take the odd nuicance fish - don't forget to weigh it and get a good photo as they are as rare as rocking horse droppings these days! :rolleyes:
 
hi everyone
Well been back today and spotted the same big barbel but they just werent interested in feeding today as they have on other trips..probably going to leave that particular swim due to other reasons which are nothing to do with the fish..Time to move on and find other swims with other fish that other people are not chasing..I hate being made to feel im treading on someone elses toes because i go to enjoy my fishing not compete..:(..
 
Ah craig, had a run in with an idiot have you? A lot of them on the river bank these days.

Should you decide to return I have a suggestion for you. If you are concerned about the hook link standing out why not try something like the dynamite stick method? Have been planning to test it out on my stretch of the kennet now the water's a bit clearer. Lots of good advice on this thread though guys.

Martin
 
Is there another spot either up stream of downstream of the fish where you could target them?

Try feeding another 'out of the way' area.
The same fish will probably feed in this unpressurised area, where as they wont touch a bait in the 'known spot'.

Put some time in looking for a suitable spot not too far away.
Make sure its well hidden.
I use rope to pull branches out of the way, rather than cut them off, as this then allows them to return to there original position and hide the swim when I'm not fishing.


Stick at it Craig, don't let the fish or the idiots beat you......................


Steve
 
Very good advice, Steve. On finding, trying for and failing with some Kennet biggies thirty years ago, a mate and I "moved" the fish to a spot 40 to 50 yards away - and we duly caught them.
 
try a lobworm nicked at both ends with 3 SSG's on a free running swivel (depending on the current).
 
Martin Stevens said:
Ah craig, had a run in with an idiot have you? A lot of them on the river bank these days.

Should you decide to return I have a suggestion for you. If you are concerned about the hook link standing out why not try something like the dynamite stick method? Have been planning to test it out on my stretch of the kennet now the water's a bit clearer. Lots of good advice on this thread though guys.

Martin
Click to expand...

Martin,

The 'stick' method will not be effective at all in running water. It is designed to hide hook links in lakes, whereby the link is still covered by the stick mix after the PVA has melted, because there is nothing to disturb it.

In a flowing river, the PVA would melt in seconds, allowing the stick mix to be washed away by the current within another few seconds, leaving the link exposed as though the stick had never been there. That does of course depend slightly on the flow and consistency of the mix, but to be honest the mix would have to contain araldite to make it work, it really is a non starter.

Cheers, Dave.
 
Hi Craig,
one last effort which you could try before you move on, is a simple rig that was used by Stuart Morgan,whilst fishing the Royalty on a very hot day,we know that at times fishing on some of these pressured waters can be tricky,this rig was shown in Stuart and Guys video,"Barbel even closer."
The rig consists of cutting a groove in a pop up boilie and glueing it on the shank at the back of the hook,the hook length is then weighted to counter balance the bait, all his fish were hooked, and none dropped,this was used when he was in a similar situation to yours,i hope you are succesfull,and well done on your monster chub.good luck.
Brian Willson Throop Bailiff.
 
Good Call young Willson,:) great video that.


Not read the whole of this but if not suggested the key can sometimes be the shape of the bait. Irrespective of the flavour etc, the different shape often fools them.

Great success on the clear rivers with a number of micro pellets or casters etc, on the hair rather than the normal bait size and shape. Even a 1/8 inch piece of meat instead of the larger lump can work

Graham
 
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David Gauntlett said:
Martin,

The 'stick' method will not be effective at all in running water.

it really is a non starter.
Click to expand...

I take a different view.

I use the sticks to ensure that the hooklink and hook get through weed without snagging. I can then have the confidence to cast just once (unless I stuff it in a tree :rolleyes:) and leave it out all night which can be a real edge in terms of keeping swim disturbance down

I agree stuff might get washed downstream, but only in as much as bait droppered stuff gets washed down too. I make my stick mix very stodgy so it's not just dust washing quickly away. lots of oil in it to keep it together and a scent trail, er, trailing.
 
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