Quiverin' Bluejeans

by Dick Dowing

I wrote this sometime ago, but recently was lucky enough to hear Mr Horaks talk at the B S, Berks and Oxen regional meeting. A fascinating talk on his methods. Within his commentary quiver tips came up, and how he never uses one in normal Barbeling situations. Upon asking the audience, only one was willing to admit using a quiver. More to the point a condescending mumble rumbled around the room, along the lines of “ Ooooh noooo, nobody in their right minds.....etc“ Stef asked why I use one, realising I could rattle on for ages, made do with simply saying “ I can’t see fish on my river, using one tells me what’s going on in the swim “ I did not like to labour the point, with hind sight I might have added more. Hind sight also highlights major differences in our approaches. The most major, being able to see the fish in the swim. Stef will not introduce a hook bait until he knows fish are there, and feeding confidently. ( he wont drop the bait on their heads though ) This appears to be the most consistent Barbeling advice the stars all hold with. In this situation, it’s arguably not so important to need the sensitivity of the quiver tip. My situation is different, as I suspect most folks are, spotting is next to impossible. In my case then my quiver becomes my sight, so to speak. I am lazy and concentrate more in one swim, especially in winter when I carry too much gear. I have roved and often do, but I really find a long patient approach, building a swim, produces a better stamp of fish (for me, not compared to Stef’s).

I have sung the benefits of quiver tips for a long time now. I realise many dismiss the method for various reasons, of which I will try and deal with. All I ask is be objective and don’t dismiss it out of habit or IMAGE. Keep an open mind, the best fishing advice anyone will ever give you.

There are arguments against the quiver, the greatest of which the annoying tendency, or propensity to tangle. Which really lays in the hands of the user. Another is when fishing in heavy flows, although a seemingly bent beyond use. The quiver tip, in such flows, in fact registers pulls, and more so drop back bites in spectacular fashion. But I concede looks daft, and does not make for comfortable fishing, with the tip often bouncing all over the place. Also not advantageous when you want the tip aviated as high as possible to keep line out of the water.

The most annoying argument, against, I hear is “ Oh, I only touch ledger “ Well one may think there is no use in touch ledgering. Very wrong. Touch ledgering with a quiver tip is indiscernibly noticeable in the tactile sense, and infinitely better in the visual sense ( more of later ) All the more so using braid mainline.

Another, “ I like the power all the way to the tip of my rod ”

I can’t speak for other rods, but mine ( Free Spirit, stepped up ) in quiver mode has plenty of power, a certain accidental, 24 lb-08 oz Kennet Carp will tell you that, he was caught and landed in flood levels too. When you think about it the tip eighteen inch’s, or so of any rod have very little to do with power anyway.

The last for now. “All my bites are rod wrenchers”

The daftest argument of all, anyone believing this is missing an awful lot of opportunities, and ten bob to a pinch of........, life time’s best opportunity's.

There are special skills, or should I say extra skills in using a quiver, apart from casting. Mainly because being more sensitive it shows more indications. Be it indications of things fishy or things sent to try us ! With experience subtle differences between species bites can be discerned. Obviously there are crossover’s in this, but more general idea is given than from the rod tip. Quiver tips slow down or smooth out some pulls or takes giving far more time to hit them, especially beneficial with maggot or caster, feeder set ups. Line bites are more discernable along with false registrations from passing debris, or fixed wavering weed touching the line. Another important side benefit, line bites are softened at the business end. Barbel don’t spook nearly as much touching a soft, forgiving line, compared with a guitar string from a stiff rod top. Most Barbel give some indication before the classic rod wrench, sometimes only a split second, but does serve as early warning. More often it’s surprising how many indications Barbel may give before a take (an hour and a half of very intermittent taps on one occasion) On more pressured waters, especially bigger Barbel tend to tap the bait about, or gently pull on it. This though is not peculiar to “educated Barbel“ I have experienced similar in little fished areas. Upon feeling anything suspicious, they may not only reject the bait, but can spook and leave the swim altogether. With a quiver tip, more so in slacker water, the resistance is softened, and less likely to offend the fish. All factors touch ledgering will also pick up. But touch ledgering with a quiver lends the extra softening dimension, surprisingly without loss of feel and beneficially with extra visual reference.

Much has been said about the benefit of bobbins in this area. Definitely a sound mode of thought. I find though the delicate balance needed with various flows and direction of cast, to be too variable to be quick and efficient. Added to which any negative movements in the line are compromised. I also find it less conducive with my “fisherman's other eye“, as I call it. I like too look around, easier with eyes looking for bites at eye level.

Most of my confident, or available Barbeling is after dark. I have found a quiver set up with two lights invaluable, be it Beta type or chemical lights. I set mine one near the tip and the second about 10 inch’s back down the quiver. This gives unbelievable readability and sensitivity after dark. The aft light appears to stay still whilst the tip light moves in relation. A single light against the inky black night canvas, is hard to discern accurately, even an inch movement, along with tired eye tricks can open confusion. Two lights, as viewed from behind appear for arguments sake an inch apart. Any movement, positive or negative is easily identified. Speed of movement, including uneven movement of the tip is immediately obvious. I am seldom totally surprised by a bite ! This can be achieved using the wonderful clip on attachments BLABLA have brought out in the last few years. Probably the best and cheapest “must have” to come on the market in years. An incidental advantage also. It’s often difficult to tell with accuracy, which direction your fish is, when hooked and played back in the dark. The double lit quiver points the little devil out with great precision. Also, casting in the dark, the tip can be seen clearly to steer around bank side bushes or vegetation.

Baits is a mater of taste, hmm profound ! I’m never sure if it’s the fisher’s taste or the fishes, or indeed who is ever hooked. I would like to address more the bites aspect. Even here we have a enigma, bites are different on different baits, and size baits for that matter.

Most of what I write here is from my experience. A lot is theory. I don’t want to keep apologising for everything I say, it takes too long, being diplomatic as well, so I will treat all as fact. After all theory is fact until proven otherwise.

My quiver ramblings intimate all kinds of bites, or indications. Most of these indications may not matter too much, as the end result is often the same if allowed to reach fruition the, and I think wrongly considered so, classic bite. The rod wraps around like a sack of cement has been dropped on the line. Early indications do prepare one for this, in most cases I never see the wrap around as I have already lifted into the fish, or struck. A common trait I see with touch ledger, and quiver use alike.

Worth mentioning, most of my fishing is not on prolific stretches therefore not too busy, hence I use the quiver, mostly in the rest. Busy times touch ledger can not be beaten. BUT is just as affective with a quiver tip, upon early indications I will pick the rod up, or given frequent indications I wont rest the rod.

Here lays the point of these indications, ignored I’m surprised by, by so many. The pre indications DON’T always develop into a bite. They are then a valuable tool used to fine tune, change, or work for a proper bite. Here I hold definite reservations with bolt rigs. OK it works, saves doubt, often in hooking. But how many unnoticed hints are these folk unaware of. Being aware simple changes can be made, then that P B stands a better chance of falling.

Hair rigged baits I tend to wait for the definite pull, for obvious reasons. Conversely Maggot, or particle fishing, which I also hair rig , I will hit the more pronounced twitches. Same with strait hooked baits, any movement of the hook is more likely to be in the fishes mouth. This is assuming the firm pulls are just not developing. There is more danger in spooking the fish, or group of fish by striking and missing, than the actual disturbance of catching and landing the fish.

I tend to hair rig more often as I feel the bait seems more natural, with the weight of the hook out of the bait among other reasons. Wary fish are more likely to take the bait, but hooking is, if anything less likely. A misconception I think that hair rigs are self hooking rigs, they are, but no more so than strait hooked rigs. Just more likely to get that one bite, that could make a lifetime difference.

My further interest in these indications is as a warning, but does serve other functions. First it shows me what's about, species to an extent, or if Barbel are about. If I know other fish are about, I can make decisions, how much lose feed, maybe to move. A confidence boost, knowing the activity may attract Barbel. Saying that the same is true with no indications from small fish. Maybe Barbel are already about.

Bites are influenced by so many things, I will try to cover them. In no particular order. Flow, Barbel behave differently in different flows. Takes in heavy water usually take on the wrap round form. Maybe in such conditions the taps etc don’t show up so well. Then in saying that my detections of an inch long Bull Head, casting across a heavy’ish flow, requiring 3 oz to hold showed very well. In slack water, taps plucks, gentle takes are more the norm. Including slack bottom conditions within a heavy flow, be it a weir pool or a river bed depression.

Swims affect the bites, in some heavily fished swims the Barbel can be very nervous, bites reflect this. Swims further from cover, especially in daylight offer nervous bites, incidentally, more from panic than anything the final take is usually very fierce, if allowed to develop that far. I would describe a proper bite as a firm pull. Whackers are fish panicking, sensing something is wrong (in their view) and taking flight, well swim!

Competition between Barbel for the bait produces whacking bites, those who fish prolific stretches will know this. Same applies on the rare occasion when frenzied feeding takes place. Which incidentally I see a lot of anglers trying to provoke with heavy feeding. I often wonder if the result is feeding off, in some cases scaring off, the fewer fish there than the angler, in his wishful thinking, presumes to be present.

From the fish eye view, the sequence of events go something like these. The Barbel amble upstream towards the bait. Unless in competition. They in some way pick up the bait, be it inspection or feeding. Result a pluck and or vibrations coming up the line. The fish may reject the bait, may or may not return. Having excepted the bait, will move off in various directions and pace. If the something wrong factor is noticed, Boris will bolt, usually down stream. If unsuspecting, will gently turn down stream and move off. Interestingly they usually turn head into the stronger flow, or towards the river centre. Resulting indications, a further positive pluck tightening of the line, lifting or dislodgement of the lead, all preceding the panic whacking bite. This seems to be more the case with big baits. I think like all creatures given a good chunk of food move away to deal with it in private. Another scenario, more so with particles, the fish pick up, same pluck etc. then can carry on browsing moving upstream past the lead ( or feeder) the next indication when the line is drawn taught upstream of the lead. Or anytime something wrong factor is recognised.

What I’m trying to ally is an understanding of how much goes on before that whacking bite. And more so the information that can be gleaned using this sadly misunderstood tool, the quiver tip. The quiver tip revolution is on its way, mark my words. Barbel are easy to catch, sometimes, extra effort is required for more, all the time. And I’m sure bigger, older, wiser, call them what you will, are more wary still. So next time you sit all session, with just one half inch jab on the standard rod top, if lucky one an hour. Those are the bites that big fish have been producing, never to develop on a stiff rod top, quiver tip devotees will be getting them on the bank. Think on, because I wont be thinking back.