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Winter Wye barbel.

G

Gwyn Jeffs

No Longer a Member
Apologies if this has been asked before gents ( and for thinking about winter in July! ). This question is specific to winter barbel on the Wye, although any relevant advice from people who fish similar rivers will most certainly be welcomed.

Allow me a brief digression.
I've fished the Wye for 20 years or so, and for barbel for at least 15 of those, but because I love fishing for multiple species I've always switched to pike during the first proper spell of high pressure and frosts and continued to fish for them until the close.
This year however, I have missed the start of the season and it looks like I won't be able to fish until mid August at the earliest due to injury ( broken ribs, broken collarbone, severed shoulder ligaments ) on the right hand side of my body.
Therefore I am thinking I need to extend my barbel fishing time...which means winter.

However, my winter barbel fishing experience is precisely nil.
I have fished damn near all the accessible stretches on the Wye, all the usual haunts from Glasbury to the tidal, but only in the warmer months.
I'm now settled on one stretch that is open from the 16th ( but very, very lightly fished ) and another that I can only fish during the salmon close season.

Obviously I've read loads of articles and watched loads of vids, and out of interest I'm currently watching how match men fish for barbel during high and coloured water...the winter Wye 90% of the time!
While most ' specialists ' ( for want of a better term ) seem to recommend a big, smelly bait, the matchies seem to do fine on the maggot feeder.
I was under the impression it was small baits and finer tackle in clear conditions and the big smelly stuff when up and coloured, but now I'm not so sure, although it should be said the latest vid was filmed on HDAA which I was in for years and know how much match fishing goes on, so that may condition the fish somewhat regardless of conditions.

I'm given to believe the barbel will retreat into slower, deeper, steadier water during winter. Is that correct? Both stretches I fish have riffles and pools along with deep steady glides.
The only advice that seems to be constant on winter barbel - on any venue - is water temperature.
Will they mass migrate for the winter to suitable stretches like silvers can do?
I've seen how prolific HDAA water is during winter for silvers, and also the river Yare in Norwich on the free stretch at Riverside Road - just eels in the summer, rammed with bream and silvers during winter.

I am breaking new ground on which I have zero experience so any advice appreciated. I don't want to know where you're fishing etc, and will not disclose where I am fishing as both stretches I basically have to myself..OK, I have to share with my father I admit ;-)
I live local and fish the Wye at least once a week conditions permitting, but winter barbelling is new to me so I'd like to hear from any Wye anglers who target them when conditions allow in winter.
 
Hi Gwyn, firstly, welcome to the forum. And a great question. From my experience, ( I,m no expert ), regardless of the river being fished, ive found that in the summer, the fish will search for food, you can often sit it out all day/night, and the fish will eventually turn up.Whereas, in winter, as you have said above, the fish become more lethargic, and will seek deeper ( warmer ) water, they will not move much, and wait for food/bait to reach them. For these reasons, i will normally fish just one peg in summer, but come winter, i prefer a roving approach to try and find the fish. Bait wise, summer, ( warmer water ),low and clear, small baits, i.e. maggots, casters, hemp through a feeder, up and coloured, BIG smelly baits, up to halve a tin of spam. Winter, i will just reduce everything, the fish don,t want as much. I will only put a few baits in the feeder, but will top it up with a none filling feed, i.e. groundbait to create a scent trail. When the waters up and coloured, i will still use a smelly bait, but reduce the size. Don,t forget the humble Lob Worm, its still a fantastic all year round bait. Hope this is of some use. And i'm sure some of the Wye regulars will be along shortly to offer better advice. :)
 
As above. Although not a winter barbel fisherman i am a winter fisher for chub and roach (with varying levels of success) and i believe the rules for cold water river fishing are fairly universal. Twenty minutes to an hour in each swim then move. Nice deep glides, slacks, and undercuts. Spicy flavoured baits have worked well for me although carpers swear by sweet and fruity flavours such as scopex, however never discount the humble worm or slug.
Most essential is to stay warm or your interest will flag, take a light chair to minimise contact with the ground although i am sure you know this from your piking. Importantly dont get disheartened as its hard work. You havent necessarily done the wrong thing, sometimes they just wont eat so stick at it.
 
Gwyn.
Fish it exactly the same as you would in the summer. On the general basis that feed spells could be as zhort a two hours. Often midday.

With the one change being that maggot feeder will sometimes outfish pellets.

Choosing your times go is the most important aspect.
A few days after a temp rise due to SW warmer rain is perfect even if air temp drops.

Swim wise. In Floods you can often try find some slacker stuff. Try there first.

Long cold spell......Essox time again.

Good Luck
 
Watched a a very good Shakespeare consultant video on youtube to-day, he was fishing the tennis courts stretch at Hereford, feeder fishing with maggots with a stepped up black cap feeder. Mid Winter, and was catching good Chub and Barbel, certainly maggot is a good bait when the smaller stuff are less inclined to feed.
 
Neil.... That was James Robbins sponsored by Shakespeare he does some good videos too. Ive caught barbel on the Wye in every month except December (notwithstanding close season) so as long as you go at the right time with the right tactic you should catch a fish or three.
I put my blanks in Dec more down to me and fishing time than anything else.

Good luck.


Brian
 
Many thanks to all, it seems I'm thinking along the right track at least!
I guess I have a learning curve in front of me and some literature is a must.

Interestingly, I was discussing this with a long time angling friend earlier ( who, like myself has never fished for barbel during winter ) and he mentioned reading a blog online once about someone who was trying their first winter for barbel and catching consistently while just fishing regardless of conditions and water temperature, including a long high pressure spell with daytime temperatures of minus 3 and frost on the ground.
I will try to find said article tomorrow as it sounds interesting.

Water temperature was the first thing I looked into, and although opinions vary between 5-8 C, all agree that a feed is on the cards regardless of temp if it is rising.

I'm unsure if the fact my stretches are barely fished would be a factor? Anyone have any experience with that, as in lack of bait going in?
By lightly fished...stretch A that is open from the 16th I've only ever seen 3 barbel anglers and one pike angler ( salmon anglers don't count ) in 15 years.
Stretch B I can only fish October -March, 3 stick float anglers and 1 barbel angler over the last 2 winters.
I fished for carp for many a year ( but my way - not the accepted way ) and I know carp will go dour if left alone all winter with no bait going in, I have no idea if barbel react the same. What does come to mind though is that 30-40 years ago nobody thought you could catch carp in the winter.
I know I could probably rock up at Courtfield or Holme Lacy midwinter and maybe catch, but these fish are essentially virgin. I'm not even sure if they see boilies and pellets as food on stretch A tbh. Which...I have never barbel fished, just pike.

I've been reading this forum for almost a year now, albeit posting next to nothing, and I'm just trying to glean every little bit of knowledge based on experience that I can. If I ever see a thread I can contribute to then I surely will, but there are so many brilliant minds here that someone inevitably mentions the one or two things I had in mind!

My thanks to all who replied, this thread will be re-read many times by myself. Every little bit of advice is a thread, and if you get enough threads you end up with a rope.
About to go check PMs, thanks in advance to you guys too.
 
Brian Timson said:
Neil.... That was James Robbins sponsored by Shakespeare he does some good videos too. Ive caught barbel on the Wye in every month except December (notwithstanding close season) so as long as you go at the right time with the right tactic you should catch a fish or three.
I put my blanks in Dec more down to me and fishing time than anything else.

Good luck.


Brian
Click to expand...
Yep, I like JR, he is a good angler and is very easy to watch, no ego's here. With the head of Barbel the Wye enjoys they have to keep feeding and with the pace of the River it's the ideal winter venue.
 
Neil Smart said:
Yep, I like JR, he is a good angler and is very easy to watch, no ego's here. With the head of Barbel the Wye enjoys they have to keep feeding and with the pace of the River it's the ideal winter venue.
Click to expand...

After the last couple of posts, just watched JR for the first time on you-tube. Feeder fishing on the Wye. Catches a barbel estimated between 4 & 5lb. Straight out of the landing net ( no recovery time :mad:) Then "dropped" into his keepnet :eek: Won't be watching him again. :(
 
Looks like we have got off the main topic, Winter Barbelling, apologies to the OP on what was an interesting subject.
 
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