Barbel Fishing – Attacking the Swim

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

Exactly. The trouble with Mr Cracker is that he hasn't had that much experience of fishing in general (PaSC are just a bunch of very incompetent amateurs bulling themselves up) so just uses what he conceives to be 'safe' rigs and condemns anyone else that doesn't do as he says. One of the traits of megalomania, he must get this from somewhere.

I have never lost a fish by the mainline breaking during the fight, EVER. Hence my comment - used properly. That means a clean swim with NO snags. Using fine lines that balance, i.e.: a .20 - .23 mainline and a .14 - .18 hooklink - no stronger. Tie the knots to ensure that if a break occurs it is in the hooklink and as close to the hook as possible. Know the limit of the size of fish you're likely to catch from that venue. If anyone feels that the above is not for them, don't use it, but please don't condemn the many thousands of successful and highly experienced anglers throughout the decades that have used the methods safely.

Typical response from you that Geoff.

This thread is about fishing for barbel, which tend to be caught from snaggy rivers. We're not talking about fishing open snag free locations.

Would you use the loop rig with 12lb main line when fishing for barbel in your favorite weir pool?

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

Would you use the loop rig with 12lb main line when fishing for barbel in your favorite weir pool?

No, and I've always maintained that, but the discusion diverted into two differing strands, barbel on the one hand and 'tether-rigs-are-always-bad', on the other. I wus addressing one element of it.

For barbel I fish either with the semi-fixed paternoster, that is one tied with a sliding weak link for the lead - or - one of John Roberts Booms with a piece of silicone tube to semi fix it - or - half of a lead clip with trailing rubber - or - an in-line lead and some tubing behind it. I do trust that these meet with your approval, Mr Casper...

 

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

tether-rigs-are-always-bad'

Jeaph

Tether rigs ARE always bad. Loop rigs on the other hand are not ALWAYS bad. However, what I am trying to highlight is that THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF TETHERING WHEN USING THE LOOP RIG COMPARED TO SAFER RUNNING RIGS, especially when, in this case, fishing for barbel on a snaggy river (with only 8lb line so further increasing the risk of a main line break) like what the match angler wrote some words about.

 

[dave roberts]

(with only 8lb line so further increasing the risk of a main line break)

Only 8lb Line!!! OMG what fish are you fishing for?? I'm sure we were talking about Barbel not Marlin!!

 

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

Dave

I use 12 to 15 lb line for barbel on the Ribble. Anything less and you lose the fish.

 

[dave roberts]

I'm shocked!

Ever thought of changing your brand of line?

 

[bennygesserit]

I'm shocked!

Ever thought of changing your brand of line?

Dave have you never had a line break .

 

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

Or maybe I should fish a river that isn't full of rocks, gullies and sunken trees.

Mainline 15 Krystonite or Daiwa sensor.

Hook length either 15lb Kryston Mantis or Jackel.

Or 9lb Kryston Incogniti combi with 15lb Silkworm.

None of this is unusual on the Ribble if you don't want to lose fish.

---------- Post added at 18:45 ---------- Previous post was at 18:40 ----------

I must add that I have never lost a fish to a mainline break. However if I had it would just be trailing line and not my feeder.

I have however had to pull for a break when the feeder got snagged and the mainline broke. If a fish was attached then it would pull free from the running rig.

Dave

I like your tip for giving a fish line. I've had to do this a few times. Just gave it line. Sat on my hands and waited for the tip to start nodding again.

 

[Fred Bonney]

For the Trent I use 12lb krystonite and have to keep on checking for abrasion, my hooklength is either 9lb incognito or 10lb Esp Ghost, both of which I keep an eye out for abrasion.
8lb line would last very long at all judging by my experience of the above lines, the choice of which was arrived at by trial and error.

 

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

A bit of info for Incognito users (from the lips of Uncle Dave)

9lb Incognito breaks at the same load as the 11lb. It is an odd size in the range. Of you need some extra abrasion resistance then use the slightly thicker 11 lb otherwise use the thinner 9lb.

 

[Dicky (Angling Trust PAC)]

12lb mainline is standard kit on the Severn and Teme, too many snags and abrasive rocks for anything less...

 

[dave roberts]

I think this merely highlights how different my approach is from you guys.

If you used 12lb line for my approach you would need to add at least an ounce of lead (Not helping any fish or rig there!) as well as paling out a bigger bow of line to hold bottom.

I only use 12lb line for my summer salmon fishing and 10lb is the highest I carry for feeder fishing.

I just think people fish in very different ways. I know I can get barbel out in good time without bullying with my gear. Take the rig argument away..... I can't break my 8lb line.

Those comments are not aimed at anyone or trying to be a 'know it all' it's just my experience.

There is a saying that the harder you pull, the harder they pull. I wonder if I was using a heavier test curve rod whether I'd find my gear undergunned?

 

[barbelboi]

Depending upon river conditions I would usually use 10/12lb Pro-Gold/Clear/Krystonite coupled with 9/11lb Incognito or 12lb Drennan Sinkbraid - I rarely fish the big rivers these days but do frequent the weirs on the Thames tribs.
Jerry

 

[Titus]

8lb is plenty for the majority of the middle and lower Severn which mostly runs over a silt/clay/gravel bottom. The op also stated he uses Maxima which is a very underrated line by many specialist anglers but does have excellent abrasion resistance and stretches like old school, knicker elastic, both which are excellent properties in a feeder line.
I would however step up the diameter a bit on the Teme, Ribble or the Wye which do have large areas of exposed rock which will tear up the best line.

 

[smithdave]

Ten.......!
Ten splashers.......!
From the Wye......?
Is that good........?
Is that an incredible day.......?

Fairplay, though Dave. It was a well written and presented peice, although I didn't read it all as it was a bit retro for me.

Sorry, mate I can't help it, I've got to say it again...

Ten.......!
Ten splashers......!
Etc etc etc

 

[Lee Swords]

Its a fair article but

1. it's a dodgy rig
2. it's a dodgy rig

and

3. it's a dodgy rig

Apart from that its all gravy...yeah you could argue about keep-nets but how do we run a match without them?

Your organization of end-rigs is impressive though...nicely tied knot less knots

Seriously though...don't listen to the screaming and shouting just listen to my voice.

The rig is dodgy, its not the best rig out there by a country mile geezer, yes it works a treat but it is dodgy...it may work ok for you on the Wye but if a noob tries that on the Trent we are going to lose fish on tethers. Please adopt adapt and improve away from that rig. It is dangerous.

best regards and tight lines

Lee

 

[dezza]

The rig is dodgy, its not the best rig out there by a country mile geezer, yes it works a treat but it is dodgy...it may work ok for you on the Wye but if a noob tries that on the Trent we are going to lose fish on tethers. Please adopt adapt and improve away from that rig. It is dangerous.

As Lee says, you really don't have to use that awful dinosaurian loop rig. It belongs to the past, give it up for goodness sake, and use a stronger line for barbel.

12 lb minimum is what I use.

 

[cg74]

and use a stronger line for barbel.

12 lb minimum is what I use.

Why such rope, do you plan on doing a bit of skull-dragging?

A good quality durable 8lb mainline (I use Ultima Power Steele) is fine for most swims on the Severn, Wye, Teme, Warks Avon; after hooking and landing hundreds of barbel from the aforementioned rivers using 8lb line, I am yet to suffer a break off on my mainline (with a fish attached).

If 12lb line is your minimum, it begs the question what is the highest bs you use for barbel and what necessitates the usage of such heavy line?

 

[dezza]

Why such rope, do you plan on doing a bit of skull-dragging?

Generally speaking I use 12lb mainline and a 10 lb fluorocarbon hooklength when targeting barbel on the Trent, in connection with a Harrison Chimera barbel rod and a Shimano 4000 FA reel. And I don't feel one bit overgunned with this combination. Lee uses something similar.

But on the tidal Trent there are numerous rocky snags which the fish make for.

And yes I do know of anglers who use much stronger tackle than me. And yes I don't believe in "pussyfooting" barbel, or giving them "swimming lessons" as we used to say in the 60s.

 

[cg74]

Ah, so am I right in thinking you only barbel fish on the Tidal Trent, if I'm wrong, please enlighten us as to your perception of suitable tackle for there.

You do make me laugh; 14-15lb line and a 3lb test rod has you screeching like a banshee when an angler is pursuing 12-20lb carp..... Hmmm, rings of double standards to me!