• 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...

Winter Barbel

Thanks Ray,

Do you think the size thing could be down to water temps, i.e. the smaller ones turn on first because maybe they have lower fat reserves than the big girls and need to feed more often?

As for the rolling meat, they need to chase it when I do it!

Regards,

Jeff
 
It sounds like a reasonable suggestion to consider but I have no explanation or answers other than you and I know it happens at times. However, when I fished Adams Mill in 1996-2003 to where the majority of the barbel population were seemingly 8lb-19lb, you would catch mainly all big ones with small ones very rarely turning up, but again it did happen here at times to where the highly noted big ones did always show. Generally, you would usually catch more doubles 10-15lb than singles.
At the time, I guessed that the record potential barbel were not in the area and went searching for them. On many occasions in very cold, gin clear conditions, nothing or just the rare odd fish was ever caught in these periods, very similar to the Royalty, even though I would cover probably 200+ barbel that I knew were there. Static fishing at Adams in these cold clear conditions did not fare much better either, although the odd barbel were caught in the daylight, but usually early morning or late in the day. Really, the effort involved to get a bite in these conditions was demoralising once you knew what to expect.
One thing I did learn though, was that it was far better to fish Adams in these conditions (with less barbel present) other than the Royalty with loads. The bite ratio was virtually the same on both fisheries in the cold, so if I did get a pull at Adams, your heart would miss a beat as the chances are that it could be a 15-19lb lump, whereas on the Royalty you could pretty well bank on it being a 5-7lber at the time.
 
Last edited:
Interesting read this chaps...

Couple of questions Ray - would you trundle the meat through at a slower rate in slower conditions? Also, would you be more likely to find fish in slower, deeper spots or in shallower faster water?
 
I have noticed several times that, generally speaking, if one big one comes out, then the likelyhood of another big one is very high. It was evident last time I was down that only small fish were being caught and then very sporadically. On the Thursday, in what looked like perfect conditions, nobody had as much as a bite. On the Friday, again in relatively good conditions, there were 4 fish caught within an hour of each other late in the day, all 5-7lbers. On the Saturday, fish fed all through the day but again, odd small ones apart from one big fish that was lost TWICE by the same angler.
Sunday again produced odd small fish. I think that most of the 5-7lb fish are probably males and the bigger doubles are all famale fish? Would you agree?
Could this be another reason that they feed at different times? I would imagine that if the temperatures had remained steady for another few days, then the bigger fish would have put in an appearance but this is clearly now just speculation as the temp from then on has plummeted. Obviously, there would have been other considerations such as water level, colour, angler pressure and experience to factor in.

Jeff
 
Some other things you have to consider on the Royalty which may effect barbel and other species in some way.
1. It is Tidal and the water level rises and falls due to the ebb and flow of the tidal influence. In my opinion and experience, these times definately switch fish on and off especially in winter when it is more noticeable.
2. There are discharges on the Royalty itself and from upstream sources that could affect the feeding habits and modes of fish at various times as they pass thru the fishery and downstream. Some may cause stress to fish, de-oxygenate the water or other.
3. The amazing amount of pike on the fishery nowadays. It was always a case that when live and dead baits were chucked out into the river, especially when the pike season started, it killed the barbel fishing in the surrounding areas and swims stone dead. If big prowling pike are in the swim or area, then this could also put the barbel down.

Jeff…Although feasible, the problem with the male and female barbel theory is that younger up and coming female barbel go through the stage of being 5-7lb also. Determining which is which would have to be sorted.

Knowing where the bigger specimens frequent or lay up at this time of the year is very important to have any chance of catching them. They could be a mile away. There again, they don’t always feed at any given particular time even if they are there.
 
Last edited:
Chris Fox said:
Interesting read this chaps...

Couple of questions Ray - would you trundle the meat through at a slower rate in slower conditions? Also, would you be more likely to find fish in slower, deeper spots or in shallower faster water?
Click to expand...

Hi Chris
1. Yes, Always slightly slower than the speed of the current in slow or faster river pace. You have to weight the rig/bait accordingly to each swim or area. Basically, add and take away weight on the line, as the speed of the bait can be critical at times. Use less weight as possible! In very slow conditions you may be able to eliminate the weight on the line altogether to stop frequent snagging up on the bottom, or use a weighted hook buried in the bait. This allows a more natural presentation in slow conditions.

2.You will find barbel in both areas but it can depend on the river conditions at the time.
 
Feeding habits of barbel

It always surprises me just how little we know of the feeding habits of fish. All we seem to have is circumstantial evidence. If it were mammals or even Great Whites, it would be all well documented. There must be scope for some Ph.D studies. A relatively easy fish to start with would be a trout. They have feeding spells which often just stop, typically 2pm - nothing to do with water temperature on a particular day, possibly the level of light (probably not as it doen't seem to matter whether the day is sunny or cloudy), midge hatch slowing down - possibly. They may start to feed again in the evening, but not always, but if they do, it is almost certainly connected to a hatch. Another case, what triggers a pike feeding frenzy, high pressure, low pressure, moon phase etc or just a simple concentration of bait fish, for whatever reason?? In both cases, feeding spells could simply be the sudden availability of a food source. With barbel, a bit more tricky. There is less natural food available in the colder months but a fish's metabolic rate will slow hence needs less food anyway. But any animal (hibernators apart) will need a certain amount of food and when food sources become available, eg a flood, tuck in, or if an easy meal comes along likewise.
 
I think exact location is at least a small part of the jigsaw puzzle that is catching barbel in winter. Fish are reluctant to expend too much time searching for a meal in winter, because the scarcity of natural food items means that the energy expenditure is likely to exceed the rewards. In other words, the old adage 'Put it on their nose and they will have it' is more relevant in winter.

However, Ray's mention of the huge number of fish he KNOWS he covered at times, but still remained biteless, proves that it is far from the complete answer, as ever :rolleyes:

Cheers, Dave.
 
I fancy giving maggot a try after reading this, however if used on the Kennet I assume crayfish will be a problem as they are for all other baits I've tried ?
 
Cliff Turner said:
I fancy giving maggot a try after reading this, however if used on the Kennet I assume crayfish will be a problem as they are for all other baits I've tried ?
Click to expand...

Not too sure Cliff, I used casters a lot on the Wasing stretch this summer with very little crayfish problem. They are being trapped on a very regular basis on these stretches and it seems to be having a good impact. Now if you wanted to try them on the Cherwell then you would have a cray problem..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top