THIS WEEK: Dip your baits and bag more barbel
OF ALL the specimen fish in our waters, barbel are undoubtedly the most fearsome fighters of the lot.
Hook a big barbel in flowing water and your tackle is going to be tested to the limit, with the fish using the current to give you a right royal run-around.
Add to that high and coloured water and the job of locating and then landing these powerful giants becomes even trickier – but Dai Gribble insists that using the right kit can tip the odds firmly in your favour.
The Korum-backed star ranks barbel among his favourite targets, and this week he reveals his top tips for slipping the net under a new personal best when the river levels start to rise.
BIG FISH RIGS
“Barbel fishing requires tough tackle. There is no point in hooking them if you haven’t got the proper gear to land them.
“I will feel confident of landing fish well into double figures when I am using 12lb Korum Xpert mainline to a 10lb Korum Barbel Line hooklength and a size 12 Xpert Power hook.
“The type of feeder you go with depends how much bait you want to disperse into the swim.
“On days when the barbel are cautious I use a 60g Clik Cap feeder, but when I want something bigger to deliver a bit more feed I will switch to a 60g Combi Feeder.
“This weight of feeder will hold bottom in most conditions and give me the presentation that is required.
“I always start with a 3ft hooklength, as I believe pellets from the feeder escape and trundle down the peg slowly, eventually mixing in with my hookbait.”
SEEK COVER
“When the water levels rise on rivers, the currents will pick up too. This will force fish to look for cover, otherwise they will have to expend a lot of energy battling the flow.
“In order to preserve energy the barbel will look for slacks and creases where the current is less harsh, and these are usually located close to features.
“Overhanging trees and bushes down the margins are often the perfect place to drop your rig in.
“Don’t cast to the far bank towards a feature, as you will have a lot of line trailing through the rough open water which will affect the presentation of your rig.”
BAIT CHOICE
“When it comes to flood water barbelling you really can’t beat pellets, but they must have plenty of flavour to them.
“The water is likely to be extremely coloured, which means the fish won’t be able to locate their food by sight.
“Instead, they will rely on their sense of smell and this is why your bait needs to have plenty of attractants seeping off it.
“I pack a blend of small Sonubaits S-Pellets and Krill pellets into the feeder and then drizzle a good coating of Pellet Oil on top to give them even more of a boost.
“A large pellet hookbait is the final part of the equation to give you a fantastic chance of bagging a big barbel.”