Make magic meat for barbel

If the river’s carrying extra water, it’s my No1 choice

FOR fans of barbel fishing, the next few weeks are among the best in the angling calendar.

The fish will have packed on the pounds and be reaching their prime weights, and the chances of catching a heavyweight whisker increase with every rain-filled low pressure front that rolls in.

It’s no secret that barbel feed hard in high-water conditions, but that doesn’t mean you can just lob out any old rig and bait. A river carrying extra water calls for a simple approach. The current will be stronger and more unpredictable than in summer, so small baits, such as maggots, are likely to be swept away, while round boilies can be rolled downriver. A substantial hookbait emitting maximum attraction is the way to go, focusing the barbel’s attention just where you want it. Big balls of paste work well, as do bunches of worms, but for reliability and ease of use, meat is my No1 choice.

SIZE MATTERS

A common misconception is that you always need to use massive chunks of meat when river levels are up. In fact, you’ll probably catch more barbel by using thumbnail-sized baits, because barbel of all sizes can pick these up, and they are less likely to be wary of a relatively small hookbait than a clonking great one. That said, if you want to single out just big barbel, use a heftier bait – anything up to matchbox-sized lumps can be used for double-figure fish.

THE PONG FACTOR

Meat has plenty of attraction in its own right, so it can be used straight from the tin, but it takes on flavours really well, so why not give it a boost? Barbel love hemp, so adding a tablespoonful of hemp oil can work brilliantly.

Garlic is a superb, yet underused, barbel attractor. You’ll probably have some chopped cloves in the kitchen cupboard. Black Pepper Oil is another proven winner for barbel, but go easy. Two drops of this super-potent extract are all you need on a tin of meat.

One note about fish location. While the surface of a swollen river can seem turbulent, below the surface it’ll be much calmer and perfect for barbel. If you’re in any doubt, find a near-bank slack and lower a smelly hookbait into position. It won’t be long before the rod bends to the attentions of an angry barbel!