As the end of the season looms, we river anglers start looking for other venues and species to target until the rivers reopen on June 16th. However, the final week leading up to closing day can be one of the best times to fish as often, floodwaters begin to subside, coupled with a rise in air temperature can really encourage barbel to feed.
Not only are the fish actively feeding, but they’re also at their heaviest weights of the year—making the effort well worth it and what better way to end the season than by landing a new personal best barbel!
Keep on rollin'
Rolling baits is one of the most effective ways to catch barbel, with luncheon meat seemingly impossible for big barbel to resist when trundled right past their noses. This method is also incredibly versatile, you can use it in a flood or when the river is low and clear, so no matter the conditions, it will work!
All you need is a small tackle box, your rod, net, and a mat, allowing you to rove around the stretch and a mobile approach increases your chances of coming across a feeding barbel!
THE BEST BARBEL RODS WILL HELP YOU IDENTIFY EVEN THE MOST SUBTLE BITES WHEN ROLLING MEAT!
Try a maggot feeder
The maggot feeder is a long-forgotten method for big barbel, with many anglers opting for pellets and boilies when targeting specimen fish on rivers. However, at this time of year, minnows and smaller fish aren’t usually as much of an issue, and as we know, barbel adore maggots! By casting regularly to keep a steady trickle of maggots entering the swim, you can turn a barbel that isn’t particularly interested in feeding into a ravenous one, giving you an edge on pellet-dominated stretches!
IF YOU WANT MORE TOP TIPS ON CATCHING BARBEL, THIS GUIDE HAS ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED!
Adjust your presentation
It is likely barbel in your stretch will have seen some pressure by this stage in the season, so adjusting your rigs can make all the difference. If bites are going to be at a premium, a bolt rig will ensure that any bites you get should hopefully convert into a fish on the bank.
If the fish are particularly wary, try using a backlead to pin down your line. Keeping your rod tip low to the water, rather than high in the air, will also give you a different presentation, making it less likely for barbel to spook off your mainline by coming into contact with it!
YOU WILL NEED THE EXTRA POWER OF THE BEST BARBEL REELS TO WIND IN THESE POWERFUL FISH!
Try the float
If you fancy a challenge, why not try catching a barbel on the float? While many anglers think it’s really difficult, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, when fish are used to seeing static baits, a well-presented bait fished under a float can make barbel surprisingly easy to catch!
A few bait droppers of maggots and hemp are a great way to start, followed by regularly feeding maggots and hemp with a catapult throughout the day. A piece of luncheon meat or bacon grill makes an excellent change bait, and if nothing else, you’ll likely catch some chub in between to keep you motivated!
IF YOU WANT TO TRY AND CATCH A BARBEL, HERE IS THE TACKLE YOU WILL NEED!
Utilise PVA
While many carp anglers use PVA to great success, not all barbel anglers do, but they should as it’s an excellent way to present bait near your hookbait. If you’re looking for just one bite, a carefully lowered rig with a PVA bag of pellets or boilies, placed tight to a snag, can be all it takes to land a last-gasp fish. This is a great way to fish accurately, and if you aren't overly confident on fishing rivers, it is a simple way to catch fish.
