• 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...

Water Retention

J

John Hasler

Senior Member
I have read a few comments and articles that mention Barbel putting on weight due to water retention when the rivers are flooded especially over winter. I always thought that fish put on weight over winter due to carrying spawn ready for the next spawning cycle. Does anyone have a definitive answer as to whether fish retain water during flood conditions and therefore appear heavier than normal?
 
Haven't heard of that before John,...but from my koi keeping days I seem to remember that ' water retention ' in freshwater fish was a symptom of poor osmoregulation,..the ability of a fish to maintain constant osmotic pressure of its internal fluids to control water and salt....
Whether it's kidney functions are affected by low water temps seems unclear.

If a fish has fed heavily and is then subjected to a sudden substantial drop in temps, food can cause an intestinal blockage as the ability to pass it through its gut is dramatically slowed. This can sometimes result in pathogenic bacterial growth which affects internal organs and can cause fluid retention.
Hi protein foods will accelerate the process that's why fish keepers feed a low protein diet in the cooler months.

Sorry I couldn't really answer your question, I shall have to have a search for more data.:)
 
Could it be related to barbel hydrating their spawn? They start to hydrate their spawn towards the back end of winter, that is one reason for them putting on weight towards the seasons end and as to why they feel a bit more solid around that time.
 
Similar to what Dave says, I think that if a barbel has a big munch on hard pellets etc, it needs to take on water to break them down. This is generally ok in higher warmer water temps where normal digestion takes place and it can go through their system quite easily. However, if the water temp drops, so will the fishes metabolism/digestion rate slow down, thus it's intestine can be full for a longer period. In some cases,especially in winter and a sudden change in water temp, the eaten food can ferment in the intestine, thus causing the fish to 'gas up' and will have trouble stabilising itself on the riverbed which could eventually result in surfacing and death, if it cannot get rid of the pellet/.food etc. So yes, taking on water to aid digestion will increase the weight of the fish, but it can easily drop the extra weight again by excreting it quite quickly in warmer conditions. We do hear of re-captured barbel weighing quite differently from one day/week to the next and this is one of the reasons...in my opinion. Ash's explanation is probably another reason as well.
 
Good point about the spawn hydration Ash,...although I thought, ...probably mistakenly,...that this process happened within 24 hours of spawning.
Depends on species no doubt.

Ray's point about pellets is interesting,...dehydrated pellets being the worse culprits as they will expand in the intestines and cause a roadblock possibly leading to kidney malfunction when coupled with low temps.
This very rarely applies to our methods as anglers though, and more to floating dry feed such as a pond keeper would use I reckon. Depends how soon a barbel gets onto the feed I suppose?
 
I remember reading that more serious damage would/could be caused by the larger dry 'Donkey Choker' Pellets, especially in winter and if used in baiting up a swim. They can also split the barbel's intestine if not watered/softened and broken down etc.
 
Do barbel have a mid-life crisis? If so, it probably explains the willingness to get caught if not the water retention (presumably the opposite is true).... :)
 
Never heard so much rubbish on one thread!!!
Assuming angler's use pellets mainly in warmer conditions then summer weights would be higher!!
 
Jeff Collins said:
The day I take advice off him , a man who fishes IMHO the easiest barbel river in the UK is the time I sell mykit and take up golf!:eek:
Click to expand...

Considering he lives on the Trent Jeff, where else would you expect him to fish?

I've no idea why everyone chooses to get on his back. He seems to do a lot better than the average Trentman, and he's hardly done much barbel fishing this year anyway.
 
Metabolism Jeff...It slows down in Colder conditions. Fish are Cold Blooded. In summer pellets are broken down quicker and go in and out of their system much quicker and easier.
 
John Care said:
Considering he lives on the Trent Jeff, where else would you expect him to fish?

I've no idea why everyone chooses to get on his back. He seems to do a lot better than the average Trentman, and he's hardly done much barbel fishing this year anyway.
Click to expand...

Not got a problem with Rich, but he personally hasn't fished for barbel on a river where it's tough. I see people using his baits having a modicum of success but I think winter fishing is the key to a good bait.

Not sure how long you have followed Richard John but it seems the usual glossop barbel success story.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top