Hooked on Barbel fishing?

O

Otto

Senior Member
My friends and I have become so hooked on Barbel fishing, thats almost all we do nowadays. No matter what the weather holds, Barbel always seem to be on the bite. Last weekend we caught 17 in a matter of 7 hours. They varied from 1.8kg - 5.5kg. Is that enough fish for one day, hell no, never, we want more and of course the size needs to increase. Now how do we increase our chances of catching bigger and more of these powerful freshwater predators.

This coming Saturday we are going to adopt a different strategy by raising the bait presentation 50mm off the bottom by using cork. We have been using 6-7 large earthworms per hook and that will not change for the purpose of this exercise. We reckon that the profile and shape of the Barbels head will entice a direct hit/bite as it will not be necessary for the fish to first work the bait off the bottom. At a later stage we will obviously move on to different types of baits, etc.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES?

BARBEL FISHING IS AWSOME!!!

 
 
M

mouse001

Senior Member
go bigger bait and you can also dip the worms in red powder
but i would still use a fish head if im fishing from the bank and if im on the boat definateley platties on the drift.
 
T

The Owner

Senior Member
Heres my 5cents if you can get on a boat dams like roodekopjes can produce good size barbel, me and my father average between 6-10kg always when fishing there. We catch them dipping with a roepstok and loodkop on sightfishing.:::S
 
B

basslover

Senior Member
Platties on the drift is my favourite too...
But i would klop too, you can then sometimes choose your fish that you want to catch.
But the way you guys are fishing...GO BIIIGGERRR!!!!Use fish heads and if you know there is some monsters in there, then go for a whole small fish...
 
O

Otto

Senior Member
Taken all the advise tx. We have ordered some "roepstoks" and can't wait for them to arrive. I've watched the Hier Gaan Ons Alweer DVD and that actually inspired me to explore Barbel fishing. Theres lots to learn for all of us but the most important factor is the amount of fun we are having whilst learning. We will get to the big ones soon. Fish heads and platties are next in line for us. When reference is made to Artlure, putting Deons Punkinseeds and the roepstok method aside, will the plastic Flukes and Lizards work or what is effective? 

My brother recently returned from the Okavango and he was telling us the most effective way to target Bream and Barbel there was to use a fishing pole because the fish spook easy. You can place your bait in the most canny areas.
 
T

The Owner

Senior Member
Good to hear, Otto. Hope you get a lot of big barbel. I have never caught a barbel on plastics even though I have seen how the barbel takes it. Everytime I strike to set the hook, the barbel swim away and my hook comes back flying past me. I would much rather use lures like the salmo minnow sinking or rapala countdowns. Jigs and spinnerbaits also work well.:fishn
 
D

DWB

Sealiner
Eish, i've got a calling rod, but must say the SALMO one makes me wanna melt.... Might have mine on order soon
 
O

Otto

Senior Member
I have some "loodkoppe" in my tackle box, what technique does one use when retrieving and do you target shallow water or what type of area?
 
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