New Stretch - Advice Needed

Hi all.
Its been ages since i posted on this site. hope everyone is doing Ok.
I am planning to tackle the Kilgrim Bridge stretch of the River Ure (TAA) when the season starts in June.I am hoping to catch my first barbel and i have been told that the stretch holds quite a few yet they are rarely fished for.
Has anyone got any advice to what baits i should try?
I was thinking of using a maggot feeder to begin with but i am unsure of what line stregnth and hook size and type I should use.

Depends on the size of the Barbel. Would start with 8Ib line and a size 12 specimen hook for maggots. Would lso try pellets. Good luck.

Hi Matthew

Concentrate on the streamier water and use 8 mm halibut pellets banded on to a size 14 or 12 Drennan Super Specialist hook. You can put pellets into a cage feeder (just cover them with water and leave for 5 minutes then drain and they will squeeze nicely into the feeder) or loose feed them. If the Barbel haven't been fished for too much you'll find that the pellets will draw them from a fair bit downstream.

A good alternative is to fish caster over pigeon conditioner (boil as for hemp), but you may find yourself getting 'bitted out'. This will probably happen if you fish maggot as well.

As 'trout supremo' Bryan says fish at least 8lb line and either fish a short braid hook link or fish 'straight through'.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice,

I have some 11mm halibut pellets will these be ok to use?
I also have some 4mm halibuts I can put through the feeder or I could some pva mesh which I have.
What kind of pellet bands would you reccomend? I have never used these before.
Could I use hemp with the pellts as well I have read it is great for attracting barbel.
Is it worth trying groundbait? I was thinking along the lines of fishmeal flavours.

Hi Matthew

The size of the pellet you use on the hook is really down to your own personal preference and 11mm should be fine. I know some people who use 14mm or even bigger, but after a while you will find that a smaller pellet tends to spook fish less and so get you more takes.

I use Gardner 3mm bands - they come in a small plastic container and you get loads. These will stretch over a 14mm pellet so they'll be OK for your 11mm ones. Other brands are probably just as good and you'll probably try several before you find the one you like best.

Put the band on the pellet by sliding the band over the jaws of your forceps, opening the forceps and sliding the band over the pellet. Just slide the hook point under the band and push the pellet round on to the shank of the hook.

4mm pellets are fine in the feeder. you can use pva mesh, but personally I'd stick with the feeder unless the stretch is heavily fished and fish are wary of feeders. Don't soak 4mm pellets for too long though as they will go mushy and you'll end up with a method mix which won't come out of the feeder.

I wouldn't bother mixing hemp with pellets. Use hemp or pellets, but not both. Groundbait will work fine especially with some pellets mixed in. But again I'd stick with a cage feeder initially.

One thing to remember is not to feed too heavily with pellet. There's a worrying trend for people to use large quantities of them. This is OK if the stretch is lightly fished and there are a lot of fish, but I've seen people on the busier stretches of the Swale doing this and then wondering why they aren't catching. Barbel are spooked by large quantities of bait at times.

Phew! Almost a mini article that!

Hi Matthew, I hope you wont mind me asking Sean a question on your thread, this year will be the first time that I have fished for Barbel, and I think the advice given is basic and brilliant, may I also wish you much luck in the future.
Sean, if Chub and Barbel are prolific in the same stretch, will barbel react to the pellet and move the chub off the bait, or is it a case of just taking your chance, or
are there any specific tactics that might help to get onto the barbel first.
Best regards, Paul.

Deanos. Chub will usually be on the bait first. The Barbel coming later. I would advise waiting for the rod tip to wack round in the usual 3 foot twitch before lifting into the fish. Due to the way the chub feed by picking up the bait in there lips and moving of you will usually get a short tap then nothing as the bait comes out of the chubs mouth. The barbel will follow shortly after. Occasionally though you will pick up a suicidal chub.

Many thanks Bryan, roll on the new season, I am going daft waiting to get back to river fishing.

Bryan's said it all Deanos! The Barbel will push the chub off the bait and you won't hook too many Chub. Although having said that the Chub don't seem to be able to avoid being hooked on banded pellet quite as much as they would on a hair rig.

Once you get into July its worth trying the deeper water upstream or downstream of the shallow. The Barbel tend to move into areas like this on some rivers, leaving the Chub in the shallows. This gets rid of the Chub problem nicely.

Sometimes chub don't always move out of a swim when barbel move in, but move up in the water and feed above the barbel, especially when the swim is being loose fed with particle baits like maggot and caster, or if groundbait is clouding above the bottom.

Thanks for the advice fellas. I can't wait for the season to start so I can have a go for my first whiskers!
I will keep you posted on how I get on.

Matthew you also might want to see this.
http://www.fishingmagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/3228/v/3/sp/

As a postscript to this rig, I?ve now dispensed with the sliding part of it, as I worked out a way of tying the dumbbells on at any length of hair I required.

However, you have to be able to whip hooks by hand to do it. If you can?t, stick with the sliding method.

I now use this method for all hair-rigged baits, for barbel, chub, tench and bream. Don?t fish for carp EVER so can?t vouch for its effectiveness for them.

Thank you also from me to Sean, Bryan, Phil and Graham for your advice. This season I will be fishing for barbel on most outings, simple advice gives me lots of confidence.
Very much appreciated?wishing you also loads of luck Matthew in the new season. nearly there now!