and what should i use bait wise flavoured meat did the trick for me in the summer floods,
regards dave
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
davidcharliepearce |
winter barbel |
Lead | |
|
is this a good time of year for barbel fishing guys, this was my first proper season fishing for barbel and i loved the summer flood conditions i had great
success on the severn in those conditions, but this is my first winter barbellingand i havent been out. is it to cold at the moment or is it still good?
and what should i use bait wise flavoured meat did the trick for me in the summer floods, regards dave |
|||
Barbeldoctor |
|||
|
as a (winter) rule (but there's nothing hard and fast about any of this fishing lark) if it is cold and clear I'll be chubbing and if it's wet and
windy I'll be hoping for a barbel.
Below 45deg f water temp tends to be a struggle for barbel. Although sometimes the overall trend is more significant - so, for example, if it has been very cold and clear for a week with temps of 41 or lower the beginnings of a temp increase, even if still below 45, can be good for barbel fishing. Baits - flavoured meat can work well in winter too. As can boilies - wrapped in paste for a bit of extra flavour leak off. If it is very clear maggot feeder is worth a go. Good luck. |
|||
mikehodgkiss |
|||
|
David , although I am no expert I think the Barbel doctor is spot on with his advice . In terms of temperature I don't think it's the actual numbers
that matter , certainly not above 40f ,but the way the temperatures are going , namely up good ,down not so good . It is interesting looking in on the various
river threads on BFW to note how a 'cold 'water temp in one area of the country would would be seen as possibly balmy in more northern climes . I
recall reading , I think it was on the great Ouse thread ,how one angler wasn't going to bother as the water temp had been only 45 f for a few days . A
stable winter water temp like that in Yorkshire in December / January would be regarded as high , nevertheless it is the trend that matters . I certainly think
that temps below 40f , static or falling are 'challenging ' wherever you are fishing . In this case go for the chub if conditions allow , I have caught
them in smaller rivers here in Yorkshire when the air temps are in the mid 20's f . some of the river is frozen over and the line is freezing in the rod
rings . Grayling will also feed avidely in very low temps , thats if you are lucky enough to fish a river that contains these lovely fish . Cherish the glory
days of summer but don't write off the winter Barbel just keep dipping your thermometer and watching the forecast for those westerlies bringing in the rain
Last Edited By: mikehodgkiss
07/01/08 14:09.
Edited 1 times.
|
|||
farkanal |
|||
|
Don't let this dampen your spirits cos I have only been fishing for barbel since
Oct/ Nov this year since when all I have caught is chub. Having said that they have all put a decent bend in the rod and been 3 lb+. I have had some great
words encouragement from other guys on this forum which I'll pass on to you, they are definitely there (where else would they be) (
Good luck, James |
|||
Windsor Boy |
|||
|
James,
I have only been fishing for Barbel since August 2006 and as yet have not caught a winter Barbel i.e. Jan, Feb, March not for the want of trying and I will be working hard to lay the ghost before the end of this season. I believe it is all about being in the right place at the right time and sometimes it is like someone rings a bell or throw's a switch they can sudenly turn on to feed and you get a bite maybe only one but if you haven't got a bait in the water you won't catch. I will be putting a lot more effort into my winter fishing this season fishing shorter sessions when the conditions are most favourable and hopefully catch my first winter barbel. Alan |
|||
DazErewash |
|||
|
I've only been Barbel fishing this season too.
I fish the Trent around Nottingham, I had one Barb (around 4Ib) and lost a good 'un Xmas Eve on Pellet, and had two screaming takes New years day and lost both, the second, which I am certain was a double I lost at the net! Both on Sweetcorn. But I read a post on here that theTrent Temps are quite warm in comparison to other rivers across the country. |
|||
Ian Crook |
|||
|
Lot's of good advice so far, one thing I will add from my own experience is that when it is cold, Barbel are generally not as willing to go looking for
food, but, if you land a bait in front of their nose they will take it. Therefore it pays to be very mobile, more so in cold weather than warm, go looking for
fish, you might get a response if you find them.
Ian.
Ian Crook (Crooky)
|
|||
jackfoxy |
|||
|
Ian, when mobile do you just present a big smelly bait, or put a bit of feed in?
|
|||
Spl1nt |
|||
|
I think you have to remember that fish are cold blooded and as such, the water temperature will, to a large degree, dictate the pace of their metabolism. In
other words, the colder the water temperature, the more lethargic and less inclined to feed, they will be. In conditions like this, a single smelly bait may
work better than a bed of bait - ie. they may well investigate a single, smallish bait rather than grub around over a bed of particles or pick up a large piece
of meat.
Anyway, my winter fishing is always based upon single baits initially. As I leave the river, I throw in a few - maybe a dozen boilies in each spot. It seems to work for me. If I think the fish will definately be on the move and actively seaching for food, then I'll prime a swim with 4 or 5 broken boilies but generally I start with just the hookbait and go from there. Dave. |
|||
Topecatcher |
|||
|
I'd also go for the roving single hookbait approach. I usually give it 20 -30 minutes in each swim and if I haven't had an indications will move on to
the next. After doing this a few times on a couple of stretches I fish, there are certain swims that tend to turn up fish in tougher conditions. I put this
down to them being holding areas. After a bit of time and leg work you can narrow down the swims that are worth a try. Having said that it doesn't always
work, which all adds to the challenge I suppose!!
|
|||
Graham Elliott |
|||
|
I would suggest looking for some rainfall into the rivers when the air temperature is a few degrees higher than previous days. This warms up the river much
quicker than a staedy temp rise.
Look for the smaller rivers initially then the larger ones that are often a day or so behind in showing the effects of warmer rainwater. South/south west winds are usually good (unless like today they start out in the North and are bloody freezing) Personally from now on can be the time for the bigger fish. It often means waiting for them though. I find winter barbelling more enjoyable than summer. Good Luck
Graham Elliott
|
|||
Ian Crook |
|||
|
Jackfoxy,
I use a smelly hookbait, boilie or pellets wrapped in a smelly paste generally, I feed a groundbait feeder with crumbled boilies in the mix (crumbled to dust), get flavour in the water without particularly feeding the fish. Graham is spot on regarding this being the time for bigger fish, fingers crossed!! Ian.
Ian Crook (Crooky)
|
|||
farkanal |
|||
|
Dave Good post mate with some excellent responses...if they don't fill you with the desire to get back out there and keep on plugging nothing will. Fished on till an hour after dusk last night on a quiet part of the river Lea... , coldish and damp and the tip never twitched. One last cast I thought, gave it five minutes and the tip went bonkers....On the nose?? Hooked it had it on for a few seconds and the hook pulled....I'll never know what it was and that's another thing that will keep me going back!! Alan I think you are right, time to put in a little more effort....I need to prepare better i.e. tie rigs and hooks before I before I go and not in the dark!! Good luck to you all, James |
|||
Windsor Boy |
|||
|
Proof of the pudding!
Short session on the Kennet this afternoon one bite resulted in a new PB of 13lb 9oz and laid the ghost of last winters Barbel blank. Wonderful feeling..............Alan |
|||
Kingfisher II |
|||
|
Well done Alan, great result.
Micky |
|||
scubasteve |
|||
|
I found it very hard to get the enthusiasm to get out there in "not so perfect" conditions this winter.
We dont seem to get the very cold spell for a few weeks with a sudden change to wet milder conditions that is so needed to trigger the Barbel into feeding hard. It always seems to be a few days of cold weather followed by a few days that are almost warm enough to make it worth while, but not quite enough
I have had a bit of successes by regularly prebaiting a local bit to me, then fishing it when we get a slight "up-turn" in conditions. Its produced a couple of doubles to 11,4 (which has upped my middle Severn PB by 2oz ), and a few other nice Barbel.
I am starting the baiting campaign again this week, so maybe that will trigger the old enthusiasm! I'm someone who enjoys catching most species though. Over the last few weeks I've been spending my fishing time on a new water, drift float fishing for Pike. I've had a dozen fish in two trips, and to be honest, I'd rather be doing that than sitting "hoping" a Barbel might feed. I've also been out after Chub and Roach, and am planning on some serious Perch fishing over the next few weeks. The fact that I caught loads of Barbel during the Summer, is probable another factor in me not feeling I've got to get out. Saying that, I know that the final few weeks of the season will see me out day and night in all conditions and wishing I'd done more Barbel fishing, but I suppose that's the problem with been an all rounder, there is never enough days in the week
Steve |
|||
Windsor Boy |
|||
|
Steve, Its a good point last season I spent most of my time blanking after Barbel when I would have been better targetting other species such as Roach and Pike
when I finally decided to fish for Bream on the last few days of the season I had 3 consecutive tons when my colleagues blanked for Barbel. Alan
Last Edited By: Windsor Boy
10/01/08 11:02.
Edited 1 times.
|
|||
chech221 |
|||
|
hi all now i fish the riverr tees right up in the north east and winter up here for barbel can be demoralizing, but we persevere and keep fishing. over the
last week a mate who i fish with has had 2 barbel with temps of 39f and catching barbel spurred me on, lost 2 barbel this week but il keep pugging away till
the last day of the season,had my first winter barbel last march and boy it was cold,so the temp thing could be anything from 35f up over to catch barbel but
being in the righ place at the right time could payoff.keep plugging away you dont catch at home, and il be out fishing no matter what the weather is like just
have to have faith and believe fish still need to eat at some point.
|
|||
davidcharliepearce |
|||
|
cheers for the advice guys, i thought what the hell with it last saturday and went out on the severn,
the ground was frozen solid and it was cold but the river was on the toepath and heavily colured, i hadnt wet a line since september so i was up for a day out. i was well chuffed becuase i had 5 hours there and caught 4 barbel 1 was 4lb and the other 3 were between 6 & 6 1/2lb not big but still fun, i am off out again tomoz because that dreadfull day march the 15th is getting closer. |
|||