• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

looking at Barbel setup what is your setup

As a returning Barbel angler (1962 I stopped fishing for Barbel when I discovered carp ) my pb at the time was 5lb 6 ozs its funny I can remember that yet cant remember why I went into the kitchen ?
I digress I have purchased a pair of Fox Duo Lite Twin Tip Rods 12ft 1.75lb-2.25lb and a pair of Shimano DL 6000 RB reels 15lb line and a Korum river pod plus lots of other bits n bobs
and like a dog with2 tails waiting for the season to start
my ambition is be able to change my profile English 50lb carp to a picture of a lovely chunky Barbel big smile
 
Steve,
A lot depends on where you fish and the ultimate size of the barbel.
I will be fishing the Yorkshire Derwent and Nidd, so no long casts or huge pressure from flow.
In most cases 1 -1.5oz leads, and I like to enjoy the fight even from a smaller barbel, but without being under gunned.
Having tried various rod lengths, test curves and actions, my preference is an 11' - 1.5lb test curve Free Spirit barbel tamer, Shimano 5000gte reel loaded with 10lb main line and 8lb hook length. Hook size with vary with bait from size 12 hair rigged for small pellets up to size 6 for a good chunk of Spam.
Mike
 
Small rivers 10ft 1.75lb tc Harrison stalker speedia pin.

My new season set up will be Harrison torrix 11ft 2lb tc coupled with a Chris Lythe roach pin 4" Can't wait to put this through its paces
 
As a returning Barbel angler (1962 I stopped fishing for Barbel when I discovered carp ) my pb at the time was 5lb 6 ozs its funny I can remember that yet cant remember why I went into the kitchen ?
I digress I have purchased a pair of Fox Duo Lite Twin Tip Rods 12ft 1.75lb-2.25lb and a pair of Shimano DL 6000 RB reels 15lb line and a Korum river pod plus lots of other bits n bobs
and like a dog with2 tails waiting for the season to start
my ambition is be able to change my profile English 50lb carp to a picture of a lovely chunky Barbel big smile
As a matter of interest Gerry where are you planning on trying for Barbel?
 
I fish 3 rivers , avon, wye and severn, free spirit, fox and korum rods various test curves from 1.5 to 2.25, shimano 5000 baitrunners and korum neoteric 5000 baitrunners, mainly maxima but also use occasionally coated braid hooklengths, hooks from 8 to 14, korum xpert reel line 10 or 12lb, lone angler, chub and korum luggage, prestige chair, quick change swivels, leads and feeders, korum 30" folding spoon net with drennan 3m twistlock handle, single extending banksticks.....that covers all my barbel fishing wherever i decide to fish..only went about 6 times last year due to health but chomping at the bit to get out now.. roll on the 16th...
 
As a matter of interest Gerry where are you planning on trying for Barbel?
Hi Paul
I will be fishing the Tidal Trent it will mean over a 300 mile round trip but my pal has moved up there and I hope to get a trip in with him every month cant wait big smile !
 
Small rivers 10ft 1.75lb tc Harrison stalker speedia pin.

My new season set up will be Harrison torrix 11ft 2lb tc coupled with a Chris Lythe roach pin 4" Can't wait to put this through its paces

Nice set up Robert, had the pleasure to fish with Chris Lythe one day and we sat in his kitchen/workshop and he showed me some reels under construction. Craftsman.
 
My set consists of any of my 3 river rods. A 1.0lb, 1.25lb and 1.5lb Avon rods all 11ft. Reel wise a pair of Greys GFS40 loaded with either 6 or 8lb line. Hooks 14 up to 6. My favourite is using the 1.25 Avon for the fun of the fight. 1 to 2oz leads may be 3oz on the Arun. The rivers i fish down here is Sussex do not require any long casts.

Now stop talking about rivers. Am getting more depressed by the day. A bit like a Vampire without any victim's.
 
Most of the time, but not all. An original 2lb tc Greys Prodigy rod, Shimano 3500b reel, 12lb Diawa Hyper Sensor line, Pallatrax hooks. Bill n Bens' home made leads n feeders :D
 
I have a couple of setups and many more in the past...

Free Spirit big rivers twinned with shimano 5500xtb baby pits for the big chucks and feeders
Fox horizon pod and atts alarms to go with that lot

Dave Mason Andy sliwa 10,6 barbel rod for roving,stalking and rolling coupled with a shimano 2500fa x aero baitrunner( nice reels and front drag)

And for evening sessions after work I've just bought a shimano beastmaster 9,10 foot 5 piece spinning rod coupled with reel above as it fits in the boot nicely- yet to be used

In the past I have had Harrison interceptor,4 piece, and a host of off the peg jobbies but can cover most situations with what I have now
 
I fish smaller rivers and use a Hexagraph Avon No 2, with a Speedia, braid mainline (super slick) and braid hooklength (usually coated, but not always). Can't wait for the 16th!
 
I have two set ups mainly. I'm not a tackle affictionado, expensive stuff puts me off using it.

A cheap one that lives in my van for opertusist sessions which is a Dragon Carp Barbel Twin Tip, usually with its 1.75lb tc tip. Coupled to a Shimano Alvio 3500. Less than £50 all in and perfectly capable.
Then I have a better combo, a Korum Barbel Rod (can't remember the exact one) in 1.75lb TC mated to a Shimano Baitrunner 4000. Much nicer. If things get serious il swap out to a 2.25tc Diawa rod.
It really depends where your fishing and what your upto. For the Dorset Stour its spot on, for some of the big tidal rivers id be under gunned.
 
Never really thought about it before,But here's my current rod and reel collection.All still used at times in my barbel fishing:roll eyes:

Reels
Shimano X-Aero 4000FA
Shimano Baitrunner 6000oc x2
Shimano Baitrunner XT-A longcast medium x2
Shimano Baitrunner 5000GTE-B x2
Daiwa Capricorn CA3500 x2
Daiwa Theory 4000HA
Daiwa Theory SP4000
Daiwa Excicer 4000S

Rods
Free Spirit Hi-S Specialist Big Water
Free Spirit spirit barbel 12’ 2.25lb x2
Free Spirit CTX barbel tamer 11’ 2.0lb
Harrison Chimera specialist No2
Mark Tunley Harrison Chimera flood
Nash Barbel elite 12’ 2.0lb
TFG River & Pit x2
Korum Neoteric 12’ 2.75lb x2

Jason
 
6lb and 8lb line with a 1.25 TC rod might be fun for the angler, but not for the fish. You will be playing a sizable fish to exhaustion with the risk of serious damage. The Petworth and Bognor club who control the best barbel fishing in Sussex say 10lb line should be a minimum for barbel fishing on our waters. Most of our serious barbel anglers will be on 12 or 15lb.
 
Dave swallow pin on an 11ft fox 1 3/4lb tc duo lite , an ss2600 on same rod and an ss2600 on a 10ft free spirit bank creeper
 
6lb and 8lb line with a 1.25 TC rod might be fun for the angler, but not for the fish. You will be playing a sizable fish to exhaustion with the risk of serious damage. The Petworth and Bognor club who control the best barbel fishing in Sussex say 10lb line should be a minimum for barbel fishing on our waters. Most of our serious barbel anglers will be on 12 or 15lb.

Coultershaw is the only place where a stronger line may be needed. Being a long term member i Can only think you've been talking to Nelson too much. Using a higher strength line and a stronger rod may cause the fish more damage by hurry hauling it straight in. By back winding and playing, you are giving the fish time to regain some strength without causing ill effect. This also gives the fish a breather which is much kinder to the fish. Also with a lighter rod, the lunges are more cushioned. In the 40 odd years ive been Chub and Barbel fishing ive never had a snap off due to the size of the fish. What i use i find very suitable for the Chub we have in our waters. As you seem to like older kit as well you should know that Avon cane rods were within the 0.75tc to 1.25tc rated and they caught double figure Barbel and Carp with ease.

Most people these days use kit that is too overrated and not needed for what their fishing for. Then again if you need a broomstick and double figure line to land a 5lb Chub in, i must be working miracles.
 
Back
Top