The Barbel King

After returning from a trip to the Scottish Highlands and failing miserably with the fly fishing I was straight back on the Ouse in search of more Barbel.

The swim I previously caught my barbel in was devoid of life so I opted for a swim 50 or so yards downstream. I've had a few chub out of this swim in the past and would be happy for a couple more today as it seemed unlikely I'd be able to snag any Barbel today. As Spack seemed to land Chub after Chub in the swim next door my rod finally flew round and the Wolf was in. It felt like a Barbel straight off but didn't want to get overly excited as the swim was teeming with Chub and Ive never even seen a barbel in this swim before.

A couple of minutes later I caught sight of the fish and low and behold it was a Barbel. Not the biggest at 6lb 10oz but still very, very welcome.





Spack had 7 Chub in all with the biggest weighing just under 6lb and had to settle for 5lb 12oz.



I only managed to add 1 more Chub, but a very nice fish, which weighed in at exactly 5lb.

First Barbel Session!

Due to deciding to go on a little cycle ride to Afica from June 1st - June 27th I haven't been able to hit the rivers at all until now.

Following an unsuccessful luring trip yesterday on the ouse I took some time out to have a good long look at some likely looking Barbel swims as I was going to have a go for them the next day (Today).

After spotting dozens of roving chub swimming up and down the streamer lined gravel bars I spotted a much larger, slightly lighter in colour shaped fish, which of course turned out to be a nice sized barbel. Its been hard enough spotting them the last year or two but as long as you can find them you can catch them!

I turned up at the same swim the next day loaded with a couple of rods and other essential items. The swim I chose was a real hit and hold type swim, snags everywhere and I had to keep hidden behind overhanging trees as I was only fishing a rod length or so out.

The swim was again teeming with Chub and as I sat back and waited I was convinced the first fish would be a chub, I hadn't caught a glimpse of a Barbel in the swim yet but would be satisfied with a decent chub to kick the season off with.

Twenty minutes or so later when I wasn't paying much attention my rod swerved to the left and I was in. It felt big straight away but assumed it was a chub as it made a dash for cover. Luckily I had remembered to set the clutch perfectly and I could control the fish enough to keep it away from any nearby obstacles. After a while the fish tired and it wasn't long before I saw the Barbel coming towards me on the surface. I was very surprised as I didn't expect to catch one this year let alone in the first 20 minutes of trying for one.



7lb 11 oz of Beautiful Great Ouse Barbel and one very happy Fisherman!

The Quest for a Barbel

I haven't devoted much time to lure fishing recently due to a growing obsession for Barbel Fishing. After two unsuccessful outings I was desperate to catch one. I started at around 5pm in the same swim id blanked in twice already (Good Idea!). I knew there were Barbel there as well as big Chub, Dustbin Lid sized Bream and some specimen Perch. Having blanked before on Halibut Pellets I opted for double Dendrobaena Worms as bait fished on a light running legerlink scaling down to 8lb main line and 6lb Mono hook length with a size 10 barbless hook.
The other rod was set up with a large running feeder, 10lb Mono Main line on a 10lb Braided Hair Rig using 10ml Halibut Pellets with Cheesy Paste moulded round.



As Groundbait we used Hemp, 4ml Pellets, Shop bought Ground bait, blended Bread crumb, corn and Tuna with a cheeky dash of chilli.

Not much happened until well into darkness, we'd only managed 2 small perch since we started. Bite indication wasn't easy with a constant flow of algae coming down stream, which kept getting caught up on the line.
At around 12am my rod bent round, which I thought at the time was a big piece of drifting algae, It wasn't!
I was into a powerful fish I knew at once what it was, there were no headshakes and and no lunges for cover typical of Perch and Chub, there was just a heavy, powerful fish on the end, taking line whenever it turned.

About 5 minutes later I had my First Proper Barbel in the net at just over 8lb it is my biggest ever Barbel and fought like nothing I've ever caught before.





Spack also Managed an 8lb Slab of a Bream.



All in all an awesome night, it seems on this stretch Midnight is the magic time, with most bites coming between 10pm and 2am and absolutely sod all during the day.