Still a place for a lump of luncheon meat

[Andrew Jackson]

I caught my first Barbel way back at the start of the 80's on luncheon meat. Many of my early Barbel were caught on it and even into the 90's I caught some good fish on it. My first double was caught on a tiny piece fished over hemp and finely chopped meat. Somewhere along the way I stopped using it.
The other afternoon, towards the end about 6 ish with no further action I remembered the meat I had brought with me. In for a penny in for a pound and I put on a great lump ( 2" squarish - torn not cut) . What a revelation! 3 Barbel hooked in an hour. The first, a 10.06, the best of the week ( middle Severn), the second, came a drift ( possibly foul hooked) the third a good 9 pounder. I finished with a decent Chub (for the Severn) before packing in. Would I have caught those on the boilie or pellet? I honestly don't think so. Anyway this is not to say it is always the answer but certainly I will be trying the tactic again, soon!

 

[Neil Blood]

Most of my larger Barbel come to meat, mostly large chunks inc half tin size.

I never fish cube shapes and 100% during general Barbel sessions and especially after dark or in coloured water, it can out fish boillie/pellet approach.

 

[Steve Kenchington]

I caught my first Barbel way back at the start of the 80's on luncheon meat. Many of my early Barbel were caught on it and even into the 90's I caught some good fish on it. My first double was caught on a tiny piece fished over hemp and finely chopped meat. Somewhere along the way I stopped using it.
The other afternoon, towards the end about 6 ish with no further action I remembered the meat I had brought with me. In for a penny in for a pound and I put on a great lump ( 2" squarish - torn not cut) . What a revelation! 3 Barbel hooked in an hour. The first, a 10.06, the best of the week ( middle Severn), the second, came a drift ( possibly foul hooked) the third a good 9 pounder. I finished with a decent Chub (for the Severn) before packing in. Would I have caught those on the boilie or pellet? I honestly don't think so. Anyway this is not to say it is always the answer but certainly I will be trying the tactic again, soon!View attachment 36226

I fish meat almost exclusively on a low stock river and usually manage to get one or two over the weeks when I am fishing. This has included two fifteens and a sixteen in the last two years. Never write meat off as it is a wonderful bait especially when there is colour in the water.

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Yes I can certainly see what you are saying. It is the old 'greedy pig' syndrome at play here no doubt.

 

[Andrew Jackson]

I fish meat almost exclusively on a low stock river and usually manage to get one or two over the weeks when I am fishing. This has included two fifteens and a sixteen in the last two years. Never write meat off as it is a wonderful bait especially when there is colour in the water.

Steve. Your results are impressive. I know where you fish ( I think).

 

[Steve Kenchington]

Steve. Your results are impressive. I know where you fish ( I think).

I think you do. I’m down next Saturday for a week and can’t wait. Maybe see you there. All the best.

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Good luck to you. You never know. I've hardly fished there yet. Let's hope for more rain!

 

[David Craine]

I agree with your observations Andrew, a few years ago, fishing the Wye, it was a rather quiet evening with only a couple of chub for my efforts, as darkness fell I changed to large Luncheon Meat baits on both rods. The torn meat had been fried in Tumeric and Garam Masala.
The change was almost immediate, the downstream rod went , and a good double figure barbel came to the net, whilst I was playing it, the upstream rod went , with a 7 lbs plus chub firmly hooked. I ended up with both fish in the landing net at once after a frantic five mins or so. Probably the best double hook up I have ever had .

I have always relied upon Luncheon meat as a good change bait, but even now mostly start with a pellet and paste approach. Maybe I should go back to using meat as a main instead of a standby bait, especially in coloured water . I have found that spiced up meat generally outfishes plain spam like baits.

Recently I have used smaller plain punched meat particles as a successful bait for Tench when cross fed with sweetcorn as a loose fed particle bait.

There is definately a place for it in my bait armoury .

David.

 

[Andrew Jackson]

I agree with your observations Andrew, a few years ago, fishing the Wye, it was a rather quiet evening with only a couple of chub for my efforts, as darkness fell I changed to large Luncheon Meat baits on both rods. The torn meat had been fried in Tumeric and Garam Masala.
The change was almost immediate, the downstream rod went , and a good double figure barbel came to the net, whilst I was playing it, the upstream rod went , with a 7 lbs plus chub firmly hooked. I ended up with both fish in the landing net at once after a frantic five mins or so. Probably the best double hook up I have ever had .

I have always relied upon Luncheon meat as a good change bait, but even now mostly start with a pellet and paste approach. Maybe I should go back to using meat as a main instead of a standby bait, especially in coloured water . I have found that spiced up meat generally outfishes plain spam like baits.

Recently I have used smaller plain punched meat particles as a successful bait for Tench when cross fed with sweetcorn as a loose fed particle bait.

There is definately a place for it in my bait armoury .

David.

That's quite a result! There's all sorts of things I used to use that would stand resurrection. I've had Barbel over 11 on Garlic sausage and my first 12 plus Stour Barbel on pepperami after fishing maggot all day. Instant response as the light faded.

 

[Barry Peck]

Unless you've got cray fish in any numbers

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Unless you've got cray fish in any numbers

Good point! Or Eels!

 

[Cliff Turner]

Most of my larger Barbel come to meat, mostly large chunks inc half tin size.

I never fish cube shapes and 100% during general Barbel sessions and especially after dark or in coloured water, it can out fish boillie/pellet approach.

Neil, I agree it could outfish pellet but in my experience even in high coloured water pellet catches me more fish. I always take meat though as its a good change bait. As always though, a bait the angler is confident in is the best bait.

 

[Robert Morgan]

Hi all meat is a great bait I fish it alot like half a small tin on a size 2 hook..even in clear water once darkness falls therell av it.once there av add a taste of it there cant leave it .could take upto a hour for a big fish it commit but when there do you now about it .I dont fish small meat baits as tend to catch every think that swims..

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Neil, I agree it could outfish pellet but in my experience even in high coloured water pellet catches me more fish. I always take meat though as its a good change bait. As always though, a bait the angler is confident in is the best bait.

I think there is no best bait. Only the right bait on the right day. For my own part though it has heightened my awareness of how effective it can be on its day.

 

[Neil Blood]

Neil, I agree it could outfish pellet but in my experience even in high coloured water pellet catches me more fish. I always take meat though as its a good change bait. As always though, a bait the angler is confident in is the best bait.

In my experience, different river Barbel populations respond differently to different baits. Take the Wye for example, if fishing pellet feeder, always include corn in your pellet feeder mix, as on the hook, it can completely outfish pellet hook baits! In comparison corn doesn’t work as well on the Severn.

On the middle and upper Severn, in my experience, larger meat baits catch me bigger Barbel. I’ve caught far more Severn doubles on meat than I have pellet/boillie. Its also about doing things differently, as my meat hookbaits are far bigger than what the average angler uses.

Think massive catfish sized baits

 

[Neil Smart]

All my bigger Barbel have fallen to meat, as soon as I reach for the meat I think OK no more Mr nice guy you have had the starters now for the main course.

 

[Cliff Turner]

In my experience, different river Barbel populations respond differently to different baits. Take the Wye for example, if fishing pellet feeder, always include corn in your pellet feeder mix, as on the hook, it can completely outfish pellet hook baits! In comparison corn doesn’t work as well on the Severn.

On the middle and upper Severn, in my experience, larger meat baits catch me bigger Barbel. I’ve caught far more Severn doubles on meat than I have pellet/boillie. Its also about doing things differently, as my meat hookbaits are far bigger than what the average angler uses.

Think massive catfish sized baits

wow, I must admit Ive never used that size meat Neil !! Interesting what you say about corn too, Ive never caught a barbel on it because Ive never tried it.