Despite falling temperatures you can still catch barbel in the winter, and even on the coldest of days, with the right approach and correct bait choice you can slip the net under the Prince of the river.
Now there is no denying when it gets cold, barbel are significantly more difficult to catch than they are when the water is warmer. Bait choices don't vary a great deal from the usual summer offerings, but how you use and apply them has to change to tempt a bite.
Meat
There has never been, and never will be, a barbel that can turn its nose up at luncheon meat. A cube of Spam, or whatever meat you prefer, has been catching barbel—both big and small—since anglers first started using it, and it makes a great winter bait.
You don’t need to feed any additional bait; just put a decent-sized lump of meat on the hook and cast it in. Although meat is great on its own, it absorbs flavours really well. Try adding oils, garlic paste, or spice powders like chilli or tandoori to it, this also makes the bait more visually appealing. Peperami also makes a superb change bait—just try not to eat it all before it gets onto your hook!
IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON A WINTER CAMPAIGN, MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THE BEST BARBEL RODS.
Boilies
Boilies are a firm favourite among winter barbel anglers, as they are great for casting out and leaving for long periods without nuisance fish whittling them away. Aim to use strong-smelling fishmeal baits, as they will help create attraction, which can tempt a barbel that isn’t initially interested in feeding to take your hookbait.
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Paste
Don’t go winter barbel fishing without a good paste bait. Paste releases so much attraction, even in the coldest water, and it can make the difference between getting a bite and not, especially when you’re not feeding any bait.
Paste is particularly good when the river is in flood. You can either make your own or buy one off the shelf—just make sure it has plenty of scent. While you can use it as a hookbait, wrapping paste around your lead or hookbait is a great way to introduce it into the swim without worrying about it falling off during the cast, leaving you with a bare hook.
IF YOU NEED MORE TIPS ON CATCHING BARBEL, THIS EXPERT GUIDE IS WELL WORTH A READ.
Naturals
As with many other species, when the weather gets cold, natural baits like worms, maggots, and casters become a staple in many anglers' bags. A very underused method for barbel fishing is trotting. In the summer, you can be plagued with small fish when using maggots on a float, but in winter, it's a different story. Using a float can help you place the bait right on a barbel's nose, and often they take it out of sheer curiosity. If you get it right, it can turn a blank day into a red-letter session.
ONE OF THE BEST FLOAT RODS WILL HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION TO TEMPT WARY BARBEL.
Pellets
Pellets have revolutionised angling, and barbel, like many other species, find them irresistible. Whether you opt for a traditional Halibut pellet or choose one of the newer flavored pellets, you can't go without them for your barbel fishing. A small PVA bag full of pellets with a matching pellet on the hair can be all that's needed on a cold day to get a bite. When it's cold, it can pay to reduce your pellet size. The 12mm and 14mm pellets you use in summer are best left in the bag, replacing them with smaller 8mm pellets.
GET YOURSELF A SET OF THE BEST WINTER WATERPROOFS TO ENSURE YOU STAY WARM AND DRY ON THE BANK!
