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Sittingbourne Angling Club

Barbel

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Barbel (Barbus barbus)

Description:
The best place to find this species is in fast stretches of rivers. They usually feed on bottom invertebrates and shoal over hard beds. The best way to recgonise them is by the long body and prominent snout. The ventral mouth is flanked by two pairs of barbules. The barbel spawn from April to July and often migrate upstream to gravelly shallows. Their eggs stick to stones or lodge into crevices and usually hatch after approximately 2 weeks.

Methods of Capture.
These are varied from casual feeding with the use of swimfeeders and legered baits, sitting and waiting for that rod-bending bite to stalking; stealthily walking the bank, gazing through the water with Polaroid's and a selection of baits to hand.
Whilst some results can be had with the first method, it can also be a hit and miss affair. The better catches coming from steady, consistent feeding and careful selection of the swim - long gravelly glides fringed by beds of flowing weed. Strong tackle being the order of the day.
The second method is the favored one especially if the larger, specimen is the target. Careful observation can pick out the Barbel in between weed beds sometimes accompanied by one or two others. Again strong tackle is required. A bait, dropped ahead of the fish with a small leger and allowed to be carried into the Barbel's feeding area, can have some heart-stopping results.

Prebait a swim with particle baits, seed, corn, diced luncheon meat, and then return to fish similar over the chosen area. Keep a low profile and try not to disturb the water too much. Wait and watch, the bite may start with a twitch of the rod tip or line, and if the Barbel is confident, result in your rod being wrenched from it's rest or hand. Once hooked.......

Tip:
A good bait for Barbel in any location is caster fished over a bed of hemp seed. This usually accounts for quite a few Barbel. However, if the fishery you are fishing is stocked with small silver fish it may be worthwhile switching to a large chunk of luncheon meat flavoured with chilli or curry powder at this time of year.

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