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when to stop fishing for barbel

S

Steven Ballard

Senior Member
Hi all, as this is my 1st serious season fishing for barbel, about what sort of month does the barbel fishing really get hard on small rivers (like its not hard enough already)
The reason I ask is there are plenty other species I fancy targetting when Im not after the barbel, so want to plan my trips accordingly! As time is thin on the ground at the minute! Plus I want to catch a decent double from my local before the going gets really tough!!
cheers
 
Hi, this is my first serious season aswel, the small river I fish il fish it all through the winter as I will with the Trent. From the info Iv gathered they are few and far between but bigger?? The small river I fish I think it will be ok at any time just ALOT more of a waiting game as they don't tend to feed as much in the winter.
Regards
 
Has soon as the first frost mate, thats when it will get knocked on the head:eek: Then its up to you how long and how cold your willing to fish for and through:eek: Im not one who will fish right through the winter but I know a few lads who do:eek: fish one rod for the barbel and the other for your targeted species, if you get a barbel in the winter it will be well deserved. Good luck;)
 
As said in previous posts and as I discussed with you Jon il be there until the roads get too bad with snow to drive there ;)
 
Strange isn't it I don't bother to go after the bigger fish until the end of October!

My season will start properly then, I love it when it gets cold, thats when I catch.
 
I knew I should have been more specific........that'll be water temp for those not in the know...:D
 
Keith Speer said:
Strange isn't it I don't bother to go after the bigger fish until the end of October!

My season will start properly then, I love it when it gets cold, thats when I catch.
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Your welcome to come up on the Trent anytime Keith and show me how its done:D.
 
I tend not to bother fishing specifically for barbel once we get into November. I may fish for chub with the vague hope of catching a barbel but that's about it. If I fancy targeting barbel I wait for a mild spell and take a trip to the Trent.
 
I don't see how you can put a date or a month on it.....

Isn't it dictated by the weather conditions.... I know it is for me....

If the conditions look good for Barbel, I'll fish for Barbel, but if it looks like a better option to target a different species, be that Pike, Zander, Roach, Perch, Chub, Grayling...etc... then that's what I'll fish for......

Steve
 
Caught quite a few when chubbin', low temperatures etc.
Breadflake, cheesepaste, worms and maggots have produced.
Cheers
Bob
 
When you look at the type of River that Keith's fantastic catches came from then that should encourage us to ''Carry On'' Smaller shallow rivers if you have one will often produce, where the deeper Rivers will not.
 
Neil Smart said:
When you look at the type of River that Keith's fantastic catches came from then that should encourage us to ''Carry On'' Smaller shallow rivers if you have one will often produce, where the deeper Rivers will not.
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I'd suggest that it has as much to do with where the river concerned rises than the depth or size of it.
 
Steve Williams said:
I don't see how you can put a date or a month on it.....
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Naturally, it'll depend on the prevailing weather conditions. However, me saying November is nothing more than a rough time when I have tended to give up on barbelling over the years. It isn't set in stone.
 
Years ago we KNEW that you would not catch Carp or Tench in winter so we did not fish for them!

The fact is, local conditions apply, for me a slight rise in temperature even as little as 2 degrees will trigger my departing for the river because sometimes it triggers a feeding spell, I take lots of things into account:- temperature, pressure, river level, storm water going into the river, wind strength, direction (I cannot float fish in a hooley) even the state of the moon can make a difference.
My point is that no matter how cold it is I know Barbel will feed at some time, I just keep my eyes on conditions and take my best chance when I can.

One thing I have learned is that Barbel will feed in even very cold conditions and in winter this is often at the warmest part of the day, so lunchtime is often worth a bite.

I have often surprised people when I tell them I am fishing for Barbel and I can see in their eyes that they think I am a bit of an idiot, and to be fair trotting 5-600 times a day for the possibility of a bite does seem a forlorn hope!
But when the float dips, I strike and the rod compresses, that kick after a second or so that tells me I am into a big fish, accompanied by a flood of adrenalin make the effort (and the blanks) well worthwhile!!

So this winter I am looking forward to a load of blanks, but maybe, with a bit of luck, some trips will turn out not to be blanks at all!!

Tight lines chaps.
 
I think everybody should really stop fishing for barbel about now! No point really, no real chance of catching in these temperatures, waste of time, probably best to leave the rivers alone completely in fact. Lots of nice lakes and stillwaters to have a go at, rivers are nasty in the winter...wet, full of debris, cold, horrible unsavoury places!!

I myself might carry on for a bit though.

Mic
 
Chris Jones said:
Naturally, it'll depend on the prevailing weather conditions. However, me saying November is nothing more than a rough time when I have tended to give up on barbelling over the years. It isn't set in stone.
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For many coarse anglers the winter heralds the start of the season proper, Chub and Pike fishing is at it' s best and the rivers are brim full, I wish.
November is the new September, and I have found the bigger barbel partial to a nice piece of spam, and with the hire boats long gone the River is all mine, well almost!!
But ...(there always is) if the weather buffs are right this winters forecast is gonna make last winters look like a poor summer :(
 
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