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What makes barbel so special???

Wayne Glossop

Wayne Glossop

Senior Member
Hi I'm laid in bed feeling very curious as to why we all love the barbel fishing is it the same thing for everyone???
 
For me it is, without doubt, the violent take and screaming reel that happens just when you think you're going to blank! And on the river I fish (Kennet) that next fish could always be a P.B.

It's also the environment in which they live. The rivers are generally pretty/scenic and full of features. I always feel like I'm a million miles away from real life and all the stresses it brings when I'm by the river.

Then it's back to work to deal with the sh*t :D
 
what, they go like a stabbed rat.
they are a nice looking fish, i still prefer a big roach or rudd.
 
Neil Powney said:
For me it is, without doubt, the violent take and screaming reel that happens just when you think you're going to blank! And on the river I fish (Kennet) that next fish could always be a P.B.

It's also the environment in which they live. The rivers are generally pretty/scenic and full of features. I always feel like I'm a million miles away from real life and all the stresses it brings when I'm by the river.

Then it's back to work to deal with the sh*t :D
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I'd second that, but also say I consider being down the river real life, the rest is just stuff you have to do to get back to reality.
I had three hours of reality this evening. Caught two chub and a barbel. Watched a kingfisher taking it's supper and as I left nearly ran over a fox. And all whilst most people were busy watching Big Apprentice goes Ballroom, or something..
 
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What makes barbel so special???

Nothing, they are just another fish I like to attempt to catch, they do look nice but so do all the others species in my opinion. You could be forgiven for thinking they are some kind of mystical creation with the way some people go on! (not directed at you Wayne)

Each to their own though.

I just like fishing. :)
 
Paul Boote said:
Very much so, Tom. Just another very nice fish, not Holy Cows.
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Not Holy Cows, but the are special, and a bit more than a very nice fish I would suggest, they do have a mystique unlike any other, and can turn up when you least expect them to and disappear when you most expect them.
But above all I know of no other fish that can give such a thrill in our Rivers on being hooked, so really not just 'another' fish, Barbel are in a different league.

Mind you, there is nothing so nice as a 2lb Roach:)
 
Hi all,
For me it changes. At one point it was the fish, then bigger fish then it became about the company I fish and, at this point its about the rivers I fish.
Oh and still trying to get the first barbel of the season :(

Rich
 
Oh, no doubt they're a lovely, sporting fish (I wouldn't have fished very hard for barbel since the age of ten if they weren't) that live in some very nice places, but we mustn't go "all carp" about them - you know, believing and declaring them to be a species apart, a special exception, demanding death to anything or anybody that dares to munch or in any way inconvenience the lives of its members, become all blinkered and blinded to reason about them...
 
yes barbel are a very special fish, but no more so than a roach, chub, perch or any other really. i only got into them because i got fed of match fishing & the back biteing that went with it. that added to fact they are on my door step they were my obvious choice of fish(ing) i went for.
i still enjoy going for the chub & pike in the winter along too with anything else that swims too
 
Barbel are special to me for a variety of reasons. The prime one though is availability to me locally. I suspect that if many other species were as freely available and so relatively large they'd not loom quite so large in my imagination. Locally, only chub are quite so accessible. Perhaps because they don't grow so big is why I generally don't go out to target them. If tench, roach, perch, carp or bream where a bit bigger and a bit more accessible locally, I'd chase them just as much as barbel.
 
Paul Boote said:
Oh, no doubt they're a lovely, sporting fish (I wouldn't have fished very hard for barbel since the age of ten if they weren't) that live in some very nice places, but we mustn't go "all carp" about them - you know, believing and declaring them to be a species apart, a special exception, demanding death to anything or anybody that dares to munch or in any way inconvenience the lives of its members, become all blinkered and blinded to reason about them...
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Agreed, but you know as well as I do that they do have something special about them, the fact they are great pioneers and can literally turn a fruitless day into a memorable one.
But I am guilty of focusing a bit too much on them, they are very addictive, I guess the most of us are looking for our next 'fix' and forgetting the more subtle side to our art.
(Note to self:))
 
- They are widespread enough to be viable for most
- They grow large enough to be an impressive sight
- They are a nice looking fish
- They fight very well
- They are easy enough to catch to make them exciting
- They are hard enough to catch to make them engaging

That said, it is easy to get blinkered by the convenient thrill of barbel fishing, even complacent, and forget the interesting aspects of other species. Such as the tracking down of a solitary river carp; what will the next bite be from when live baiting for perch by the bullrushes; the anticipation of a mere flicker on the quivertip in winter intended for roach... (My three obsessions at present)
 
I love fishing for most species, I'm just as happy catching tench at Dawn as I am running a float through fishing for dace! I know this will always be the case as the veriety will keep things interesting. Theres just something about barbel that for me is that bit extra special! I think it's the combination of relaxation, anticipation and hopefully thrill and excitement! There's nothing like a 3ft twitch after 5 hours
 
I fish for just about every species (except bream), and each species stands out from the others in one particular area...the barbel's expertise is most definitely their fight.
 
Darren George said:
- They are widespread enough to be viable for most
- They grow large enough to be an impressive sight
- They are a nice looking fish
- They fight very well
- They are easy enough to catch to make them exciting
- They are hard enough to catch to make them engaging

That said, it is easy to get blinkered by the convenient thrill of barbel fishing, even complacent, and forget the interesting aspects of other species. Such as the tracking down of a solitary river carp; what will the next bite be from when live baiting for perch by the bullrushes; the anticipation of a mere flicker on the quivertip in winter intended for roach... (My three obsessions at present)
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and for me a quill float dipping and bobbing, fizzing and lifting on a warm still june morning.
 
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