Line Recommendations - Float fishing for Barbel

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) · May 14, 2012

OK, so I bought a JW Youngs Specimen Flaot Rod, coupled with a Shimano Stradic 3000 - now I have to consider what mainline to use.

Any recommendations?

My first thoughts are Drennan Float Fish or Specimen Plus.

tigger · May 14, 2012

I use daiwa sensor in 4lb to 6lb and usually srtaight through. If I think i'm missing out on bites then I attach a low diameter hooklenght...prestonsreflo power in 0.13 or 0.11 .
I use a centrepin and replace my line on every session.

barbelboi · May 14, 2012

I use either DFF or Pro-Gold and am well pleased with both. The only problem with PG is that many tackle shops don't stock it under 8lb so it's usually mail order.
Jerry

Graham Elliott 1 · May 14, 2012

Silstar match team. Low diameter. Tough. Perfect. Also in decent breaking strains.

Graham

cg74 · May 14, 2012

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) said:
OK, so I bought a JW Youngs Specimen Flaot Rod, coupled with a Shimano Stradic 3000 - now I have to consider what mainline to use.

Any recommendations?

My first thoughts are Drennan Float Fish or Specimen Plus.

Well, I'm shocked.... No horrified, a man that wrote this:

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) said:
Dave

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

Followed by this:

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) said:
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.

Is even contemplating the usage of a mainline which has a max strength of 6lb bs..... On the basis you're not guilty of double standards....

... I wish you the best of luck casting a 4 x no.4 stickfloat with 15lb Drennan Specimen Plus; personally I'd think it's weight and springiness might impair optimal presentation.

mg:

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) · May 14, 2012

What???????

1. Where on this thread did I mention The Ribble?
2. Where did I mention a max of 6lb line on this thread?
3. And where on this thread did I mention 12 to 15lb line?
4. Where did I mention 'stick' float?

Either offer something useful or shut the **** up!

cg74 · May 14, 2012

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) said:
What???????

1. Where on this thread did I mention The Ribble?
2. Where did I mention a max of 6lb line on this thread?
3. And where on this thread did I mention 12 to 15lb line?
4. Where did I mention 'stick' float?

Either offer something useful or shut the **** up!

1,You mentioned the Ribble here: http://www.fishingmagic.com/forums/.../289630-barbel-fishing-attacking-swim-17.html

2,The max strength of Drennan Float Fish line is 6lb bs.

3, Nowhere but that's an irrelevance, or do you alter your standards on a thread to thread basis?

4,Again nowhere, it was an example of a commonly used river and going on your self imposed line selection, I thought unless you're planning on using a bagging waggler, you might struggle get past 2 rod lengths out, so a stick float might be an option. (insert moony smiley)

As for offering something useful, it becomes problematic when you have such a tough criteria for your barbel fishing.

mark brailsford 2 · May 14, 2012

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) said:
What???????

1. Where on this thread did I mention The Ribble?
2. Where did I mention a max of 6lb line on this thread?
3. And where on this thread did I mention 12 to 15lb line?
4. Where did I mention 'stick' float?

Either offer something useful or shut the **** up!

Where did he get those posts from????

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) · May 14, 2012

Mr CG47

As I won't be legering with a large feeder, at night, in a potentially snaggy swim........oh **** it I ca't be bothered going on.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone else.

cg74 · May 14, 2012

Mr Corker, seeing as you've given very little away as to the nature of your fishery, except it's not snaggy and it won't be at night.

I'll conclude it could a commercial stillwater; try Preston Reflo Power line 0.13mm (4lb8oz) or if the fish are likely to go above 3-4lb, try the 0.15mm (5lb14oz) version.

Paul Morley · May 14, 2012

Blimey, must be the Dane then!! 8lb daiwa sensor made floating. Cheap, change it when you like. I also use Drennan floatfish but it's not as cheap!!! Oh and 0.21 reflo as a hooklength.....

Bluenose · May 14, 2012

In keeping with the controversy I'd say 6lb sensor, I wouldn't go straight thro as Tigger says as I like a weak link if I ever have to pull for a break, I'd use the silstar or wb clarke stuff (are they the same?) for hooklengths too!

alan whittington · May 14, 2012

7.9lb silstar matchteam straight through for me,although sensor is pretty good also,though not as supple imo.

red creel · May 14, 2012

7.5lb Ultima power match mainline and a 6.1lb hooklength of the same line.

godsdice · May 15, 2012

Coming from a match fishing background i would go....

Stick Float - Bayer Perlon has stood the test of time and is an excellent floating line.

Waggler - Berkley Nanofil sinks and is tough and robust.

Hook Lengths - Guru N-gauge is the best hook length line going in higher diameters (0.13 upwards) in my opinion. The strength to diameter is fantastic and myself along with a lot of other lads on the match scene around here use this all the time on commercials as hook lengths on methed feeder and pole rigs as well as pole rig main line.

dezza · Jun 9, 2012

Heyup Corks,

As a person who has caught barbel on the float on 3 different rivers I would go for 8lb Pro Gold for the reel line and a good 7lb fluorocarbon, say Incognito for the hook length. With this combination you can use a Drennan Super Specialist eyed hook down to size 14 for say a double maggot.

For the rod, I would use a 12ft 9 inch Drennan Tench Float or a 15 foot Daiwa brute stick I have. For the reel I would use my trusty Daiwa TDX 3012. This is the combination I have used on the Trent and I find that the fluorocarbon gives me more confidence in the very clear water.

By the way I have some Drennan "Big Sticks" which you can use with confidence with this substantial trotting tackle.

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) · Jun 9, 2012

Well I've spooled up with Kryston Krystonite in 8 and 6 lb. plus I have incognito in 5 and 7 lb.

A few drops of Kryston Greased Lighting on the mainline makes it float and mend nicely.

dezza · Jun 9, 2012

Sounds you have got the right sort of gear.

I have landed near doubles on 6lb main line and 5 lb hook lengths, but to be honest I felt a tad under-gunned. I was fishing for big perch at the time.

Mind you, a Trent perch over 2 lbs is one hell of a scrapper.

Pro-Gold is a superb trotting line. Even at 8 lbs bs it is very limp. I like it, although it is quite expensive.

jasonbean1 · Jun 9, 2012

pro gold...bought and tried most line over the years and i have to say i reckon this was one of the worst, how could you use it for for float fishing ron i aint got a clue

bought the new drennan stuff this week will give that a try, dont hold much hope though seeing as double strenghth was always a pile of poo!

alan whittington · Jun 10, 2012

jasonbean1 said:
pro gold...bought and tried most line over the years and i have to say i reckon this was one of the worst, how could you use it for for float fishing ron i aint got a clue

bought the new drennan stuff this week will give that a try, dont hold much hope though seeing as double strenghth was always a pile of poo!

Double strength wasnt ever a reel line imo Jason and is limited in hooklink application,that said i use it for barbel i relative open water situations in 10lb b.s.,the new line doesnt seem to knot well to me(on initial use),but we'll see.

Line Recommendations - Float fishing for Barbel

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