How to Fish for Barbel on Rivers

Fishing for Barbel is by no means something that should be undertaken by a beginner angler. Not only are Barbel a large fish but they are one of the most ferocious fighting fish once hooked.

But every beginner progresses from fishing for smaller roach and perch, and quite often, a beginner angler, will make the transition to targeting bigger fish. The “trendy” big fish to target is Carp.

Over the past decade Carp fishing has become a huge market in modern angling, spawning countless products aimed at the Carp angler and many commercial waters stocked to the brim with Carp.

In the past couple of years there has been a slight shift away from Carp fishing; maybe because it has been rammed down every angler’s throat for so long it is almost becoming “un-trendy” to fish for Carp. Even match fishing has taken a step away with the introduction of more and more “Silverfish Only” only matches.

Silverfish match rules generally state that any fish can be weighed in, so long as it’s NOT a Carp. In these matches anglers are going out of their way to avoid catching Carp, and on some commercial waters this can be quite difficult due to their abundance.

So, I decided to write this guide on how to fish for Barbel on rivers because much of the same tackle can be used for Barbel fishing as is used for Carp fishing. But they are two very different fish and techniques need to be adapted in order to target them.

And when you hook a Barbel expect one hell of a fight, a fight you’re unlikely to have experienced Carp fishing.

Key tips for how to fish for Barbel on Rivers:

Use Heavy Tackle
Find the Right Sections of River to Fish
Feed Multiple Swims
Vary Your Bait
Use Polarised Sunglasses
Re-Cast Every 15-20 Minutes
Fish During Low Light

Characteristics of the Barbel

Barbel are a golden brown colour on the back, fading to a milky-white on their underside. Their fins are typically a reddish colour, sometimes appearing more orange.

Small Barbel look very similar to Gudgeon, but they can easily be told apart by the number of barbels (whiskers) around their mouth, Barbel have four where Gudgeon only have two.

The British record for a Barbel catch exceeds 21lb, however; a typical catch on UK rivers is between 3lb and 7lb. Anything over 10lb is considered a good specimen fish.

Although a 3lb to 7lb fish is not considered a monster in UK waters, especially compared to 20lb plus Carp that anglers pull from commercial fisheries, the fight that Barbel put up makes them a much more challenging fish to catch.

Barbel are long, slender fish, which means that a Barbel that weighs around 7lb can easily exceed 100cm in length; snout to tail fin.

Barbel are a river fish although they can sometimes be found in canals, particularly canals that have a confluence with a river or a canal that is mainly fed by a river. It is around these areas of canal that it is possible to find Barbel.

Some rivers in the UK are famous for being prime locations for Barbel fishing, these are:

Hampshire Avon
Dorset Stour
River Trent
River Kennet
The Wye
The Severn
The Great Ouse

Despite these rivers being famous for Barbel fishing, Barbel populations across the UK have grown greatly in recent years and they can now be found in many different rivers, from small, shallow rivers to larger, fast flowing rivers.

There are many varieties of baits and techniques that can be used when Barbel fishing, throughout this guide I will give you as much information as I believe you could need to help you in your quest for the majestic Barbel.

Barbel Fishing Tackle

As I said previously, there are some similarities in the tackle you would use for Barbel fishing as you would use for Carp fishing. The most important thing to remember is just how strong Barbel are, mix that with the fact that Barbel are usually found in heavy flowing waters; your tackle needs to be up to the job.

Fishing rods are categorized by their length, test curve and number of pieces that make up the length of the rod (amongst other features).

For Barbel fishing on rivers it is advisable to use a rod with a test curve of 1.7lb to 2.5lb. Commonly the test curve of a rod is referred to as the amount of weight required to bend the rod to 90 degrees. Some rods refer to the test curve of only the quiver of the rod, this is usually measured in ounces.

With regards to choosing the right reel to use; it is advisable to use a reel feels well balanced with your chosen rod, is strong and durable, and is of a modest size.

Even when fishing on a smaller river I would recommend using a larger reel due to the fact that if you get in to a fight with a big Barbel you may need to let it run.

The size of a reel is often categorized by a number, from 1000 to 6000 and greater. The higher the number the larger the reel. For Barbel fishing I would recommend a reel in the 4000 to 5000 range.

Below you will find some tackle recommendations and my reasoning why.

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Rods

Shimano Alivio AX Barbel Classic

This would be my ideal pick for anglers who are just starting out fishing for Barbel. The rod comes in two test curves ; 1.5lb and 1.75lb.

Both the 1.5lb and the 1.75lb versions of the Shimano Alivio AX offer excellent tip sensitivity, this is a must when fishing for larger fish and registering their shy bites.

Although the Shimano Alivio AX is suited to anglers new to Barbel fishing, it is also an exceptional choice for the more experienced angler fishing smaller waters for Barbel.

This rod is designed for low water level and close-range fishing, so would not be suited to fish large open rivers.

Korum 12ft Barbel Rod

This is a rod which is much more suited to larger rivers; with either a 1.75 or 2lb test curve, it is ideally suited to Barbel fishing. There’s also a 13ft version available with a 2.5lb test curve.

Reels

Shimano Stradic Ci4

Shimano Stradic Ci4 – This is a reel that is excellently suited to just all about disciplines of freshwater fishing. The Shimano Stradic Ci4 is a strong and durable reel that is available in a number of sizes.

I own 2 Shimano Stradic reels; the 2500FB, which I use for casual fishing on small waters and the 4000FB which I use for fishing larger water or larger fish, such as Barbel or Carp.

Read my Shimano Stradic Ci4 Review

Feeders

On large rivers each swim can be different to next; so when you fish for Barbel on rivers it’s important to have a selection of feeders.

Personally, I start with a large feeder such as a Large Preston Open Ended Feeder. The large open-ended feeder will release the bait relatively quickly.

I would re-cast the large feeder every 15 minutes or so, if the fish start biting then I’ll stick with it otherwise I’d switch to a smaller feeder but extended my re-casting to every 30 minutes or so.

The river is fast flowing I favor the Korum River Feeder. Its unique design helps keep it fixed to the riverbed while the low-profile design doesn’t spook the fish.

As always, the depth, flow and casting distance will determine the weight of the feeder to use. Deep, fast flowing or casting long distances will require a heavier feeder.

Landing Net and Mat

A good quality landing net is essential when fishing, even when you’re not targeting large fish. You should never be swinging a fish out of the water by the hook.

I usually have two landing nets set up, a smaller one for small fish and one of at least 36” for larger fish.

I have a great article on choosing the right size landing net for Carp fishing. The same priciples apply for Barbel fishing so I’d recommend giving this a read – What Size Landing Net for Carp Fishing?

When Barbel fishing, you should have a net of at least 36”. The Wychwood Signature is an excellent example.

I also consider an unhooking mat to essential; some fishing clubs now require you to have one.

For a no non-sense, value for money unhooking mat, I’d recommend the Diawa Black Widow.

Location

As discussed already, Barbel are a river fish, although are sometimes found in canals. However, not all rivers are the same and not all sections of rivers are the same. Just because you are fishing a river doesn’t mean that Barbel are in the area.

You would usually find Barbel in clean, fast flowing sections of a river, particularly in areas where the water bed is clean gravel, Barbel love to feed on clean gravel.

This is a where a pair of polarized sunglasses come in handy; by removing the surface glare on the water you should be able to see the waterbed and be able to determine if its gravel, silt or weed. So long as the water is shallow enough that is.

Barbel also like areas of water that has over hanging vegetation, such as tree branches.

If you see an experienced angler fish for Barbel on a river, you see that he/she doesn’t stay in one spot for too long if the fish aren’t biting.

Because of the nature in which Barbel feed, it makes sense to be prepared to move if you’re not catching within one or two hours.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to scope out the swims further up the bank before you even start fishing. Find your starting swim, but then find 3-4 more swims that could be good for Barbel. If after a couple of hours nothing is happening, move along to your next chosen swim.

Being prepared to move swims means that you’ll need to travel light. I only ever take the tackle I will use, and essential spares, when I fish for Barbel on rivers.

If you can find a swim with a section of water that is clean, fast flowing, has a gravel waterbed, over hanging vegetation and close to weeds then you could be on to a winner.

Bait

When I fish for Barbel on rivers I tend to try a selection of baits; starting with a bait that is tried and tested on that particular river. Just ask at a local tackle shop, in forums or even on the bank; which baits have people had success with.

Fish get accustomed to baits that are used frequently. If you introduce a new bait that the fish have never encountered before, they will be wary. Like-wise, if a bait has been over used the fish will associate that bait with danger.

Common baits that I use to fish for Barbel are:

Luncheon meat or Spam
Boilies
Carp Pellets
Worms
Boilie Paste

All of these baits allow for a decent sized hook-bait and smaller feed for the swim.

Make Your Own Spicy Paste for Barbel

When river fishing, especially when Barbel fishing, I like to spice up my bait; literally!

Fishing a flowing river can cause the scent of your bait to easily become diluted and washed downstream. For this reason, I choose to give my bait a boost with a potent spicy paste.

I often use a spicy paste along with my hook-bait; for example, wrapping some paste around a boilie on a hair rig. The paste releases a strong an attractive scent very quickly but also breaks down and dissolves much quicker than tougher baits.

I’d add a small amount of paste to my bait every 2 to 3 casts.

Below is a quick recipe for making your own Spicy Paste for Barbel Fishing.

For the binder, crack an egg in to a large bowl.
Add one teaspoon of curry paste, any type will do but I usually opt for Tikka.
Add one teaspoon of anchovy paste, not essential but adds an attractive element when Barbel fishing.
Whisk to combine the paste and egg.
Add approximately four tablespoons of boilie paste.
Mix to combine everything until you have a soft paste that can be molded in to a tennis sized ball.
Allow the paste to rest for 10 mins until it starts to go firm.
Add the ball of paste to an air tight sandwich bag to stop it going dry and crumbling. It needs to remain soft and malleable.

Barbel Rig

As I mentioned earlier, I prefer to use an open-ended feeder or pellet feeder, depending on the bait I’m using; obviously the pellet feeder is more apt for pellet or maggot baits. The open-ended feeder is more suited to using a mix of bait with ground bait.

I’d suggest always using a running rig for the safety of the fish. If you get hooked in to a decent sized Barbel then the chances of it breaking the line, or getting your line snagged up, are quite high. You don’t want to lose a fish and leaving it carrying a heavy feeder; the fish will most likely die.

A running rig will also help prevent a fish from shaking the hook loose. If the weight of the feeder is fixed on the line then as the fish fights and shakes the weight, it helps to dislodge the hook. With a running rig, the weight just runs away from the fish and doesn’t allow to use the weight to shake the hook free.

Here’s a guide on Hair-Rigs