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Float fishing for barbel

Paul Dowgill

Senior Member
Guys
Having just started to fish the Kennet , i have decided to have a serious focus on float fishing with the expectation, or should i say hope, of barbel.

Two approaches follow taken from links on the site

Keith Speer (2010)
... main line on my Centre pin is 0.17 (6.7lb BS), the rod is a 13ft Drennan Stick Float Rod with a through action and my hook length is 0.13 to 0.15 (4lb 12 oz to 5lb 14oz , I use Preston Innovations Power line as a hook length material), the hooks I use are Drennan Super Specialist and the size I usually start with is a 16, which is ideal for both a single Caster or double Maggot...
I then set up a second rod, this one would probably be a Drennan Tench Float rod, again I would use a Centre Pin but this would be armed with pre-stretched Power line of 0.19 dia or 7lb 6oz BS, with this rod I would put on a 0.15or 5lb 14 oz hook length.

Martin Porter (2005)
...the barbel now seem to live in substantial snags such as fallen trees (during daylight hours atleast) and whilst they can be tempted a little way out of their sanctuary to feed, they bolt straight back when hooked...I now use a Harrison Stepped up float rod. I have changed the line to fifteen pound braid with a ten pound florocarbon and a ten pound co-polymer hook length. This enables me to hook and hold most fish...In the last couple of years on the Kennet I have been catching good bags of roach and dace on eight pound hook lengths and heavy forged size fourteen hooks.

These approaches seem a little at odds with each other in terms of rod type/line strength, although clearly both have been very successful. Martin's approach is what i might do if legering but then Keith's suggestion concerns me about holding a barbel in such a river as the Kennet with all its snags (although he does talk about pre-visualising this in his article). To date i have been using a Drennan Series 7 tench rod which is very good at hitting bites at a distance and 6ib line but i am concerned that if i hooked something bigger than a 3-4lb chub (not that i have yet) i could be in serious trouble.

Any thoughts on these approaches?
 
I'm on the side of the latter approach, 8.9lb hooklength, size 6 to 10 hook depending on bait. On the pin and a 1.25lb tc rod I've yet to lose a barbel this year but do pull out of a few chub.

Probably costs me a few bites but I'm confident of being able to land any barbel that I hook.
 
I think much depends on the amount of heavy weed and other potential bolt holes in your chosen swim that a hooked fish can run for cover and if you are able to get downstream to land it.
I learnt many years ago that feeding is the key and once barbel are preoccupied with a constant flow of ,... say maggots, they don't care about heavy lines.
I have had some great days trotting with 10lb bs line coupled with a stepped up float rod, which allowed me to hit and hold and bring the fish to me.
There is absolutely no point in hooking and losing fish because of inadequate gear when fishing snag or heavily weeded swims. When the weed dies back a lighter setup could be used.
It really depends on the swim, whether you are wading or if the downstream bank has trees or bushes leaving no choice other than bringing the fish to you.
Line has come on leaps and bounds over the years, with today's 10lb bs being far more presentable than 6lb bs was in the eighties.
 
I use 9lb guru n gauge on the pin, it's super strong. it would usually be too brittle for this type of fishing but the combination of the pin and float rod seems to work well. I have tried a heavier set up but much prefer the feel of the lighter.
I do pull out of a few fish but I think you hook them around the mouth a lot in fast water. They snatch at the bait as it comes past.
 
I fish on the Trent quite a bit when conditions are fair for Barbel. I use 8lb guru n gauge line. And Kamasan animal eyed hooks probably the best hooks i have used. On Trent its not so much hit an hold at all. Its not particularly snaggy but because of the bigger river they run a helluva lot. You cant really bully them either too much as the avrrage is around 8 to 9lb and the hardest fighting size imo. You may have to persist with what your doing rig wise as I cant see a solution. Keith was possibly able to fish lighter because of the stretch he fished ie not fishing in and around snags.
 
I was an 12ft Avon man. 6lb. bs. Maxima reel line, initially Drennan Super Spades, then Animal Spades (watch those points) to 4.6lb. bs Silstar Match. Both those lines have been totally reliable for me for over 30 years.

Presentation of the bait is improved by using spades, and I'm happier with those knots.

If using casters or maggots, it's generally one or three on the hook, two tends to spin on retrieve, unless they're hooked at opposite ends. Corn can work, I always dyed mine red and flavoured strawberry. Giant hemp or tares on the hook can prove deadly, if feeding hemp.

Catching them on the float is so much more rewarding, hard work but, never boring.
 
Catching them on the float is so much more rewarding, hard work but, never boring.

Agreed Chris,... trotting is also absorbing imo.
Can't beat the buzz of the float dipping away coupled with the rod being wrenched out of your hand in a split second ! :D
 
Had one occasion on the Trent catching on the float, fish around 6lb, every time a bigger fish was hooked the spade cut the line so swapped to eyed hooks and couldn't get a bite! After half an hour swapped back to a spade and hooked a fish first run down.
I've never had the same problem on the wharfe, I use super spades and have had some decent fish without being cut off. Maybe something different in the conditions, fast and shallow against deep and strong.
 
Chris Plumb wrote an article on floatfishing for barbel as part of my centrepin article

see here
 
I use 9.1 or down to 7.9 silstar match team.

Presentation is key and bulk shotted 9 inches or so from the hook and held back fishing about the same overdepth works well.

Someone as skilled as Keith might get away with light lines. Us mortals rarely can.

Graham
 
It must be a world away on the Kennet to fishing some trent swims. My fav averages 12 foot deep at 2.5 rods out, to get tje most a minimum weighted float of six to eight gram should suffice roughly 4 to six swan. Whats your typical on the Kennet? Interesting thread as its not so popular.
 
Can't speak for the Kennet guys, but I always feel comfortable in summer flows on the Avon with a 4-5 swan loafer bulk shotted 18 inches from the hook Jon.
Float being fished approx 2 feet over depth and held back.
 
Dave,

I know from your posts, you have fished the Wey (probable understatement alert!). Do you think 10lb mainline would be necessary here? I was sort of thinking, on the relatively snag free stretches I go to, maybe 6-8ld with a slightly lighter (5-6lb) hook-length would be ok, so that e.g. the roach and dace don't find it a bit over done?
 
Hi Jon.

I had a couple on the trent last year on my visit using a 5 bb stick about 2 rods out.

I was fishing for roach though. That's the sort of tackle I would use on the kennet.

I'm on Trent later this week after roach in the day.
If trotting for barbel I would probably be using a 2-3 swan avon float holding and releasing down the swim, thats if I couldn't get a porcupine quill!

Graham
 
Appreciate all the comments and Paul I did read Chris's the article but thought two quotes were enough :).

Yesterday i was on a stick with 6 No 4 then in more turbulent water used an Avon with 8 no 4...swims were 4-5 feet deep and i tried various depths - both swims had overhanging trees on the far bank and i did think if i hooked anything of any size i would not be able to stop it. As you say Graham, i think mere mortals do need a heavier line line and more powerful rod - so what are you using with a 5bb stick?

The tench rod i am using is great for tench ie it has backbone and a great pick up on the strike, but i am not convinced it could stop a barbel quickly enough in a small river, so what stepped up float roads are being used? I have also been using Drennan Float fish but it only goes up to 6lb so different line is needed as well it seems.
 
Dave,

I know from your posts, you have fished the Wey (probable understatement alert!). Do you think 10lb mainline would be necessary here? I was sort of thinking, on the relatively snag free stretches I go to, maybe 6-8ld with a slightly lighter (5-6lb) hook-length would be ok, so that e.g. the roach and dace don't find it a bit over done?

Hi Hugh
Yes, for all my sins I have fished the Wey since the 70,s and still find it to be an enigma. Not sure what stretches you fish, but the 10lb bs line ref. was aimed primarily at the Avon.
I often use 6 lb mainline on the Wey with a 4 to 5 lb hook link if the swim allows as thick runnuculas seems to be a thing of the past on the river.
Even though the stretches I fish hold barbel to 15 lbs and some hefty carp, I feel fairly confident of a result on the open runs, but will step up on the tree lined beats.

Paul,... as much as I like the Drennan tench series, my favourite trotting rod is a North Western 1 1/4 Kevlar long trotter that I built some years ago. It has stopped a 22 lb carp on the little river Mole and is very forgiving.
When on a trip to the Royalty in 1980 I was fortunate enough to fish next to Graeme Pullen and witness him catch loads of quality chub from the Trammels simply by hitting and holding, and not letting the fish get their heads down in amongst the thick streamer weed that was between him and his quarry.
He was fishing on fairly light gear, but the secret was not to let the fish get up a head of steam, .. which can also be applied to barbel.
That's the advantage of trotting, ... in that you are always holding the rod and in contact from the start, but sometimes the fish is going to win ! :D
 
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Chris Guy is spot on.

Paul. I actually caught the barbel up to 7lb on a drennan classic IM9. My favourite rod for general trotting.....but not one I would recommend for barbel although I had one of 9lb oat Britford (Avon) on it.

I looked and had a few trots with the Drennan power rod IM9 but was very disappointed with the weight of it. Suprising really for them to err. (IMO)

The rod I would truly recommend is the Hardy XT Power float rod. Better balanced and lighter to the feel than the Drennan....about £175 though!


I have caught most float caught barbel with an old Sundridge Proton rod (when Sundridge made good rods) It bent from 120 degrees pointing up to touch the floor with the tip.

I totally recommend Silstar Match team England line.


Paul, if we can tie up a trotting Kennet day together we should.



Graham
 
Graham I had a Graham Phillips barbel trotting rod from the early 90's that I used on the upper Medway in the days when it held the record ... It would bend almost double, sadly knicked along with all my gear...but it matched my centre pin beautifully. Have never really found a replacement although my missus bought me an IM9 a few years back...never used it before it was stolen...replaced with the tench series 7...this now lives in the house:D

I joined Wasing this year for my sins...was a member of Reading last year...it would be good to met up but due to work I am a Saturday only angler. Thanks for the line recommendation.
 
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