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Trotting for Barbel

M

Martin Osmond

Senior Member & Supporter
Although new to fishing for barbel, being a carp angler for the last 25 years, I learnt to fish trotting a float on my local River Blackwater. Since giving up targeting carp and getting back on the river I've enjoyed my fishing more than I have for a long, long time. I'm on the Loddon and have yet to catch a barbel but I am loving it, the stretch I'm on is spectacular, truly special and I'm happy just being there, its also very quiet which helps.

Anyway, I'd really like to have a go at trotting for these elusive barbel and whilst, as I have mentioned, I'm not new to trotting I've never specifically targeted barbel so any advice would be massively appreciated, literally everything from what breaking strain line, hook sizes, float sizes, bait, feeding strategies, anything and everything I will listen to and take on board.

Cheers
Martin
 
They are relatively easy to catch on the float Martin, if they are in your swim.

Ideally you need to fish a river where barbel are in reasonable numbers to have success trotting and obviously you will then need to use your knowledge and watercraft to find them.
The loddon or surrounding rivers and streams wouldn’t be my choice for it.

If you’re not new to trotting then you’ll already be familiar with top n bottom floats and rigs and with barbel it’s really simple. Just step it up and don’t use light floats.
8lb line 4g-10g floats, olivettes and strong hooks. No finesse necessary!!

The most specialized piece of tackle you’ll buy will be the rod. You need a capable rod especially if doubles are firmly on the cards.

There are a number of rivers that lend themselves to it very well in terms types of swims, depths, pace and obviously number of fish. It might be worth doing some research on some day ticket or club sections of some rivers

Severn, wye, Trent, Ribble, upper Lea, swale and I’m sure many more that I’m less familiar with.
 
Like you, Martin, I've just started float fishing for Barbel as well, although I've fished rivers all my life, just never predominantly for Barbel. My set up is pretty simple. I've got a Daiwa Connoisseur 14' power float rod, TDR reel, loaded with 9lbs Trilene XL line. I use a Dave Harrell alloy avon float, an on line olivette and finish with a quick change swivel with a shot just above it. I'm a bit lazy here as I use pre-tied hooklengths from various companies. It just means I can change hook easily enough without breaking the rig down. I use an old platform from my match fishing days to put bits and bobs on, and just stand in the water.

That's my set up, I'm sure others will do things differently, but it's all the same in the end because when you get one, you've just got to hang on. Enjoy it.
 
Thanks, in terms of the set up I'll be using a 14ft Acolyte plus with a JW River specialist.

I was always pretty decent at getting amongst the chub, quite often putting together a decent amount and some bigger ones too. We're going back a fair old years now but I used to go up with half a gallon of maggot and just constantly bait. My theory back then was most people fishing the river were a bit older and just enjoyed spending time trotting a float, none of them ever really got it going, but they were happy enough just doing what they were doing. As a mad keen young teen I thought it was obvious that they just weren't getting enough fish actively seeking bait so I took the opposite approach let them have it.

Would a similar approach be they way forward for barbel, maybe with different bait?
 
Can't comment on the Drennan as I've never used one. Nor a centrepin.

As regards bait. I'm lucky in as much as I can fish a section of the Trent that lends itself to trotting for Chub and Barbel, and there's a good head of them. I fished pellets last time out, simply because they're easy and I'd got some. I tried some meat as well, but didn't have a take on that. But I think I'd catch on most baits here if you stuck at it. Be interesting with a few pints of bronzies, just to see what would happen.

Given the choice, I'd fish hemp and castor. But that requires a little planning nowadays to get hold of them. Red maggot on the hook. It's how we fished back in the day on the upper Trent.
 
Martin Osmond said:
Thanks, in terms of the set up I'll be using a 14ft Acolyte plus with a JW River specialist.
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Nice. I just bought my first centrepin, a mint JW Young BJ... and I have the same rod, although I just bought a 14ft Acolyte Specimen as well.

If I can hijack with a supplementary question: I wonder what the consensus is, on line BS, when trotting for barbel with a pin. Much of what I've read, and been told so far, has said either 6lb or 8lb.
.
 
Top tips, ensure you have a rod, that can get them in as quick as possible. There's a lot of good 13 footers, a fair few 14s and maybe a fistful of 15s that are good enoughfor the job. Line wise, I don't go less than 10lb, at the mo I'm using Matrix horizon sinking feeder waggler line in 0.22mm. Fish straight through as its pointless putting a weaklink in your setup. Floats, if its a top and bottom, ensure it has a thick top, it doesn't have to be over sensitive, because when it goes under you will know about it. Deffo an olivette or bulk, with 4 number 8 stotts in pairs below. Stotts are better that normal shot, just for the ease of moving and placing them. The bulk imo acts as a bolt rig at times. Wagglers, just any of Dave harrells speci wags.
If its deep, 10 foot plus and you only have a 13 foot rod, go the slider route, you won't be forking out on expensive 14 and 15 footers other wise. Dave Harrell has some bolo sliders, just recently come out and are superb.
above all enjoy it. I do a lot 😃
 
What baits to find target the barbel more when trotting been have few goes trotting with maggots and meat only chub on the maggots and couple better fish wheN using the meat been thinking about trying worms next time out
 
I think everyone has their own personal slant on the set ups required and what suites them.
My own is very simple....6lb daiwa sensor fished straight through to a drennan superspade size 14s for the biggest part, but sometimes a 12s or even a 10s if using a bait such as meat. I use bolo floats from 2grm to 8grms and weighted by a olivette or a bulk of shot and a smaller shot of bb or no1 for the dropper.
In some circumstances I may go down to 4lb line or up to 8lb.
My favourite baits are maggots and corn.
 
Paul Clotworthy said:
What baits to find target the barbel more when trotting been have few goes trotting with maggots and meat only chub on the maggots and couple better fish wheN using the meat been thinking about trying worms next time out
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They can all have their day. I use meat a lot, caster is another really good one. Corn is great especially if there is a drop of colour on. I think if you present it right they’ll have it. It’s keeping them there with your lose feed that’s the real trick. There’s an art to doing it and the difference can be night and day.

You’ve got to be consistent and get into a rhythm. It’s so easy while the rod is in your hand and the bait on the hook just to make another quick run through but don’t. Feed then cast then feed then cast.

I love hemp seed mixed with either caster and 6mm cubes of meat as my favorite lose feeds

I use stacks and stacks of hemp because it’s great for keeping fish occupied.

It just so happens i had a session on one of the nots angers stretches today with the float rod.
Worked bloody hard for just 5 singles and 5 average chub. but I was over joyed with that result. It’s only going to get better as the weather cools off and season progresses
 
Alan Palmer said:
Do you fish your meat straight on the hook? I fish corn and maggots straight on the hook or banded pellet but need to try meat more often
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Yes straight on hook Alan size 10 or 12 Fluro hook lengths 4-5lb quick change link
Allways seem to get better fish when I use meat maggots seem to produce smaller fish for me but get a fish every cast on them not had a fish on corn yet tho

Gunner give worms a go next time
 
Alan Palmer said:
Do you fish your meat straight on the hook? I fish corn and maggots straight on the hook or banded pellet but need to try meat more often
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I fish meat a lot on the float. Just straight on the hook bury it right in.
Minimize the risk of getting caught up when bouncing it along the bottom.
 
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