Having the the luxury of the whole of January off, an understanding wife and access to a few rivers round these parts I've set myself the task of catching a barbel. I'm mainly talking about the Windrush though the Cherwell, Evenlode and Thames are all candidates.
Now from what I've read and been advised your average barbel doesn't throw themselves onto the hook with gay abandon at the best of times and in winter pretty much shuts up shop altogether.
So, given a few rivers that whilst not being jam packed do contain some barbel (I know 'cause I've seen 'em getting frisky in the spring!), does anyone have any advice on tactics, bait, times etc. they could offer?
Oh, and if anyone suggests that I'm wasting my time, I've got plenty to get rid of!
Thanks in advance.

Andy

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I don't know those rivers Andy, but in terms of general tactics I'd adopt a simple roving approach, legering with luncheon meat, which will also pick you up chub as well. Assuming the barbel run to a decent size you'll need strong gear. Finesse not necessary in winter coloured water anyway. I use 1.5 to 1.75 tc barbel rod (or heavy feeder rod will suffice), baitrunner reel loaded with 10lb mainline and hooklinks of 8lb, or sometimes braid. Hook size 8, with hair rigged meat, or maybe even a size 6 if buried directly in a big chunk of meat. An apple corer will cut you a nice size piece of meat, or you can cut into cubes. On the hair rig I like to use Korum quickstops which avoids having to replace a bait stop everytime, but thats just personal preference. I like smelly baits in winter - luncheon meat, cheese, pepperami, or you could try boilies like monster crab and green lipped mussel (ie fishy smelling ones). Simple running leger - 12 to 18 inch hooklength to swivel, couple of rubber beads above swivel, snaplink swivel above that so you can change ledger weights to suit the swim. Fish to features and snags, eg underneath overhanging trees, the "crease" on edge of main flow, "holes" etc. Use as light a leger as you can get away with so it sort of rolls round under the snags - eg half or 3/4 oz bomb. Don't carry much gear, just rove along dropping in every likely looking spot - no more than 20 mins or half hour max in one swim if no action. You might struggle to get barbel in Jan but that set up should certainly see you get decent chub too. If you don't have a batrunner type reel leave the antibackwind off if you don't want your rod pulled in! (or hold the rod). Maybe someone with more local knowledge can give you better river-specific advice, or have a read of various artilces on barbel fishing world website, or barbel society website, good luck!

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I have a friend who fishes the Windrush a lot, and he's only seen one barbel (spotted in the closed season, and probably not where it lives when it isn't spawning). Good luck! Thames barbel are a local knowledge situation, I fear, I'd love to catch one myself but don't know where they are or have the time to find them. If I were you, I would either try the Kennet or head West to the Bristol Avon. But then, sometimes the challenge is the point.

Gerrads Cross and Uxbridge DCA below A34 Kidlington to Islip
A34 pain in the ****

oops forgot to say its the cherwell

wondered what all those guys with the heavy gear were after!! Always presumed there were carp in there, doesnt strike me as classic barbel fishing!

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I think u may of seen the matchmen.

Don't fish for Barbel very often myself, but I do retain a healthy interest in doing so. I have a freind who fishes for them and catches plenty. I am bored with everytime I meet him being presented with loads of pics on his mobile of Barbel weighing 7-13lb.

I have asked him how more than once and always get the same answer: Halibut pellet very small in a black top swim feeder. Next size up pellet (sorry can not rem sizes) on the hook. Big secret he says is the distance from feeder to hook = 3-4'.

Main problem with winter Barbel is finding them. Trefor West (Barbel catcher of note) suggests in the increased flow of winter hand fed loose feed will disperse the bait over to wide an area so use pva bags or a bait dropper. Also there is a need to increase the food flavour leakage of groundbait and hookbait in cold water. More water soluble offerings and hookbaits are advised. Ultimate Spice paste and Ultimate Fish paste are both recommended. Try Hinders at Swindon for things like that and good advice too.

The above is basically the 'static' approach. However, TW suggests moving on after 20 mins if no joy, rotate 6-8 swims throughout the day rebaiting on each return visit.

Good luck

Chris

Well Jeff and Christy have pretty much got it covered, so just a couple of baits to try, Hinder's Elipse pellets super glued to a hair tied on a strong size 6/8 hook, or Bacon Grill it's got a much stronger scent in colored water, and if the river is carrying a bit extra water get a bait tight into the margins basically right next to your feet, I've had double figure Barbel in 3ft of water inches from the bank, Good Luck and Be Careful

I didn't mention halibut pellet because I wasn't sure about the rivers mentioned and how "tuned in" the fish will be to that bait, whereas meat and cheese and lobworm if you can get them) will work everywhere. I use pellet on the Dove - its a bit predictable - they are widely used on that river and most known barbel rivers, but it has to be said they are very effective in those situations and in clear water I have sat and watched fish home in on them very quickly - chub and barbel - they pick up the scent very quickly. However on a local chub river I fish, which gets very little angling pressure the fish seem to ignore pellets, whereas they love bread and meat. Pellets are normally considered as more of a summer bait where warmer water increases the high oil leakage. However, I have read that they can still be very effective in winter, which can be helped by dipping hookbait first in hot water - not tried it myself. You can either use a single big pellet hair rigged on the hook, or as seems more popular now, smaller single or double 8mm pellets on hook, with 8mm or 6mm pellets in a feeder, pva bags, or with mushed pellets and hemp based method mix groundbait in an open mesh/method feeder. However, it starts to get a bit specialist and fiddly at that point and for the situation mentioned where a bit of hunting about may be required (locatiing them being key, as has been said) I'd be inclined to wander about with a big meat bait dropping in here and there. Once you've located barbel in certain spots then you can perhaps target them and adopt more specialised tactics later. Its like any form of fishing, you can make it as simple or as complicated as you like. Bruce1 can no doubt give you chapter and verse but unfortunely he's offline poorly at the moment.

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