Rods that aren't 'Barbel' rods

[benny samways]

Does anyone use rods for barbel fishing that don’t follow the modern trend of actually being a Barbel rod? Avon rods used to be the specialist tool for barbelling but now everyone has a dedicated barbel rod, me included.

I used to catch all my barbel on a Mitchell Merit Match rod with 5lb line straight through, used to loose the odd bigger ones I hooked though.

My new 'favourite' barbel rod is my 9ft Fox Eclipse Heavy Spinning rod (60-100gm). Ive got no idea of the test curve but it is a my go to choice for stalking and hit and hold situations now. Its had barbel over 12lb and carp to mid twneties and hasnever felt under gunned.

Just wondered what other rods you use for barbelling/stalking that arent labelled as such?

 

[sam vimes]

Yes, I've intentionally caught plenty of targeted barbel on 15' "Specimen Match" float rods. I use them when trotting for the barbel and have had several doubles when doing so. Marvellous fun that makes a great change from watching tip(s) when the conditions are favourable.

 

[peter crabtree]

It doesn't matter which rod you use, it's your angling skill that catches and lands fish...

 

[benny samways]

For sure.

I just find it fun using different tools for what they are meant for. The missus hates me using the hoover as a pond cleaner thoughmg:

 

[Paul Morley]

I think if a lot of newbies are using 'barbel' rods then that may be OK as at least they're not undergunned. On rivers like the Ribble, Trent etc you most often do need rods that are capable of getting you out of certain situations - after dark, big clumps of weed, high water and 4+oz leads etc. Outside of the 'Barbel' classification, the 1.75 tc as typical, clearly under certain circumstances it is good to use an 'avon' style rod. I have a 1.5tc (made for tenching really) which allows an excellent fight from chub, can be used to link leger with two swan or just about cast 3oz; when a large fish appears it has the steely power to deal with that too, but I think one would call it an 'avon'. Sometimes the 'barbel' set up feels clumsy especially with a heavier reel in the equation (I use a 2500)

 

[dezza]

There are some swims on the Trent where I have used my 1.5 lbs TC FM Concepts with 8 lbs line and 2 oz leads for barbel, no problem at all.

There are others where I use my Harrison Chemira 2 lb TC and 15 lb line out of necessity.

 

[terry m]

My Greys barbel Prodigy 1.5lb TCs are not sufficient when the Hants Avon is in flood, so I step up to a pair of 11ft 1.75bc TC carp rods. Not so much 'feel', but the extra beef copes with the raging tprrents quite easily.

 

[Sean Meeghan]

I've said this before on here, but it bears repeating. Mid 90s carp rods make excellent barbel rods and they tend to be a bit more through action than many moderm barbel rods. I've got an 11ft 2lb TC Daiwa whisker Kevlar (the one before the Kevin Nash) and a 12 ft Shimano 2 1/4 lb TC. Both have a much softer action than a modern rod and so are a lot more versatile.

Because they are a different concept from modern carp rods they can generally be bought quite cheaply. The Shimano was almost unused and I picked it up for £25.

---------- Post added at 21:47 ---------- Previous post was at 21:46 ----------

Oh, and split cane Mk IV type rods make excellent small river barbel rods.

 

[tigger]

I've said this before on here, but it bears repeating. Mid 90s carp rods make excellent barbel rods and they tend to be a bit more through action than many moderm barbel rods. I've got an 11ft 2lb TC Daiwa whisker Kevlar (the one before the Kevin Nash) and a 12 ft Shimano 2 1/4 lb TC. Both have a much softer action than a modern rod and so are a lot more versatile.

Because they are a different concept from modern carp rods they can generally be bought quite cheaply. The Shimano was almost unused and I picked it up for £25.

---------- Post added at 21:47 ---------- Previous post was at 21:46 ----------

Oh, and split cane Mk IV type rods make excellent small river barbel rods.

I've got two of the 11ft 6inch daiwa tournament whisker kevlars in 2lb test and another two in 1.75lb test and I find them pretty much perfect for barbel fishing. I like using my shimano diaflash rods in the same test curves as well. They all have fantastic actions and have a feel that the latest rods just don't seem to have.

 

[Poshpaul (Angling Trust and PaSC)]

I caught my largest barbel (just over 8lb) using a Drennan legermaster (1.5lb TC).Deliberately chosen rod. Indeed, thanks to ebay, I've just got hold of another legermaster. Ideal for rivers such as the Dane.

 

[Rich P]

I have an old North Western 11' Specialist rod, that I bought from Ebay some time ago. It's a 2lb tc but a lovely through action. I've had a few nice barbel on it and, when funds allow, I'm going to have a full cork handle fitted (currently abbreviated black stuff).

 

[Fairweather]

Interesting topic. I've got a pair of Daiwa AKN116's which when they came out were billed as a carp stalker rod. However, they're great for rolling meat and I believe Salmon anglers love them to bits too for worming and shrimping work.

Had cork handles put on them and they're great now...

 

[sam vimes]

I'm off to chase some barbel tomorrow. I'll happily catch anything else that may put in an appearance (I hope the roach, chub, bream, carp or perch do show up), but, if past experience is anything to go by, barbel will be the mainstay. Despite knowing this, I've packed seven rods into my match type rod holdall (I won't use them all), not one is a barbel rod. Bait will be hemp, maggot and caster. If I get the leger rod out I might resort to a bit of corn.

 

[chris hall]

I have one dedicated Barbel rod, a Shimano Nexave power with a 1.75 tc straight section and a quiver section which seems softer right through its section. I have a couple of 1.25 avon rods too which come out to play if the water speed allows. But I also have a composite 1.75 to 2lb tc 12 foot carp rod I bought at a show for about 15 quid, I bought this as some of the swims I used to fish on the Ribble were overgrown with brambles or had the occasional barbed wire fence to get through/over when having a wander between swims. My more expensive built for purpose rods got damaged/scratched when doing this so the cheapo carp rod was used when jungle fishing. The tip action on the thing is quite good too and using braid I knew when the Barbel were having a mooch round the bait. Worth thinking about if you happen upon a similar situation.

 

[Keith M]

I do have a Greys Prodigy 1.7lb Barbel rod but I also use a 12ft Prodigy 1.5lb/2lb Specimen multi-tip rod for Barbel.
I also use a Drennan 13ft MKIV Tench float rod when trotting for Barbel.
I also very occassionly use a cheap Mitchell 12ft commercial float rod which I bought for the wife at a tackle show once for £15.

Back in the late 70s I used to use a 10ft B.James & Son Richard Walker MKIV Carp rod for my Barbeling which I used to catch loads of Barbel on.

 

[The bad one]

Yep Daiwa Specialist Mk2 1.5 TC 11.6 I think? Picked them up for a song at PAC show £30 the pair Because they're old school rods, second generation carbons, they're a lot slower in the tapper to the tip than today's rods. Making them a little bit stiffer in the tip section and great flood rods despite the 1.5 TC.
They also have a habit of catching doubles when I use them
I love these rods and heaven forbid anything happened to them, as I doubt I could replace them
Just wish they'd made them at the time with dual tips, including a q/tip, but they didn't, as it wasn't fashionable to q/tip in the specialist world when they were made

I also have a pair of Nexave barbel rods, but much prefer to use the Daiwas when the conditions are right and tend to use the Nexave's with the q/tips in low water conditions only.

 

[alan whittington]

I do not own a designated 'barbel' rod,unless you count my Normark Bob James 'barbel',trouble is its a 1.25lb t.c.,i use a Harrison Avon special and a Hardy 11ft 6in Avon smuggler for virtually all my barbel fishing....then,i dont fish the bigger rivers,ive had no problems handling big fish on either.

 

[Berty]

Yep Daiwa Specialist Mk2 1.5 TC 11.6 I think? Picked them up for a song at PAC show £30 the pair Because they're old school rods, second generation carbons, they're a lot slower in the tapper to the tip than today's rods. Making them a little bit stiffer in the tip section and great flood rods despite the 1.5 TC.
They also have a habit of catching doubles when I use them
I love these rods and heaven forbid anything happened to them, as I doubt I could replace them
Just wish they'd made them at the time with dual tips, including a q/tip, but they didn't, as it wasn't fashionable to q/tip in the specialist world when they were made

I also have a pair of Nexave barbel rods, but much prefer to use the Daiwas when the conditions are right and tend to use the Nexave's with the q/tips in low water conditions only.

Daiwa turned out some superb blanks back then,,,,my barbel rods are also 11ft 6in Daiwa's......the tc doesnt come into the equation, they are just perfect for lines between 6 and 10lb.

 

[Judas Priest]

IF, when using a "barbel" rod you catch a 2lb Roach does it not count or does that make the rod a "Roach" rod" ?

 

[alan whittington]

IF, when using a "barbel" rod you catch a 2lb Roach does it not count or does that make the rod a "Roach" rod" ?

No,it doesnt alter the fact you caught the fish,though i'd be very disappointed to have caught such a roach on a 2.5lb t.c. barbel rod,as it certainly wouldnt do it justice,on which you would have been able to crank it in and swing it out,else why dont we use boat rods for barbel,or is that the next logical step for carbeling.