Shopping Cart
There are no more items in your cart
- 0 likes
- 481 views
- 0 comments
Barbs - what is worth knowing about them?
Barbs are predators known for their prowess and incredible strength, and this despite their relatively small size. These fish have a strong body with a spindly shape, and their mouth opening is located on the underside of the snout. The Polish record in barbel fishing is 7 kg, but usually even finding a 2 kg piece is not easy. Moreover, barbel is the only poisonous fish in Poland. Toxic is mainly its eggs, and during spawning the entrails of females can also be dangerous. The meat itself is edible, although according to many - not very tasty.
In Poland, barbel are subject to protective periods. They cannot be caught between January 1 and June 30, and the protective size is 40 cm.
Where are barbel most often found?
Barbel can be found in wide, large rivers with a fast current and a rocky or stony-gravel bottom. They like medium temperatures. Barbel are most active in summer and autumn, with the summer being a good time to hunt them especially in the evenings and after dark, when the water temperature drops.
These predators are often found in troughs 1-2 meters deep, as they like to dig in them in search of food. When hunting barbel, focus on the so-called bands - areas behind the bends of the river quite close to the bank. In addition, these fish like to stay near sunken trees or sizable stones.
Remember that barbel often swim in schools, which are led by the largest pieces. So if you manage to catch a few smaller specimens then move the set a little higher towards the current.
Preparing a feeder set for barbel
Since barbel is a strong and ferocious fish, it requires a properly prepared set. This is especially important right after the hook-up, as the barbel likes to influence between obstacles or jump over the water during the tow, which can break too delicate equipment.
Rod and reel
For barbel you need a strong rod to withstand both throwing a basket of bait and towing the fish. Of course, a match type is useful here, allowing you to fish with a so-called distance rod. The optimal length is in the range of 3.6-3.9 meters. A good rod for barbel will be Tubertini Strong Water 3.9m 200g, Daiwa Aqualite Feeder 3.90m 180g or Sensas BLACK ARROW SPOD ROD rod 3.90m 50-160g.
You need to match the rod with the right reel. The most important thing is a durable brake that will help you haul the fish. A slow gear can also be useful, as barbel like to swim away a bit after taking the bait. For this reason, we do not recommend fishing with a clip, so as not to damage the set. Reels to take with you for barbel fishing are Mikado Keino Method Feeder 4006 Fd or Preston Intensity Feeder 720 reel.
Kit, leader, hook
Without a doubt, you will need a good fishing line (such as Team Matchpro Feeder Line 300m - 0.25mm) and strong forged hooks in size 10-14 (such as Browning Sphere Beast 14 or Drennan Specimen Barbless 14.
As for the leader, experienced anglers usually put on a fairly long one. The standard is a leader 70-110 cm long and 0.14-0.18 mm thick. The exact size of the leader depends on the current of the river and the size of the specimens encountered. You can also use fluorocarbon. When barbel hunting, remember to use a high-quality swivel.
Groundbait basket
Complete the set with a groundbait basket, the weight of which allows it to stay on the bottom of the river. The higher the current of the river, the heavier the basket you need.
What barbel like to eat, or a thing about bait and bait
Barbel is rather picky. It usually has an abundance of food, so you need to prepare attractive bait that will interest and attract it. Feed it just before the fishing point.
If, despite the bait, the fish does not take, go a little lower with the fishing. Perhaps the current of the river has somewhat carried away the thrown food. The bait should be quite compacted so that it settles to the bottom and stays between the rocks, as this will help keep the barbel in one place. These fish like meat and any "stinky" bait.
What to throw as bait? You can use:
-
Protein balls
-
Pelletswith an intense smell, for example, a set of Aller Aqua Primo 2mmpellets
-
Worms
-
Boiled hemp
And what to put on the hook? From the experience of feeder anglers, a good bait for barbel is:
-
Yellow cheese. Yes, barbel really like its strong smell. Put a 1×1 cm cube on the hook. It is good for it to be sticky. That way it will not fall off the hook.
-
Leeches. This is another delicacy of this fish. As bait, they more often prove effective closer to the shore than at depth.
-
White and red worms.
-
Pellets.
-
Corn (try Dumbels Traper MF Sinking 8-10mm 50g Fermented Corn).
-
Insect larvae.
Barbel fishing - a challenge worth taking
Catching a barbel is never easy. It is a real feat that can give you a lot of satisfaction! Just towing the fish is a real experience, let alone taking a souvenir photo with a big specimen. This is exactly what we wish for you! Get professional fishing equipment in our store and go hunting for barbel!
Comments (0)