#6. Barbel on the float...

Down the years I have caught some lovely barbel. From big doubles, hard fighting 6s and 8lb fish, right down to young fish of 3 to 4oz. I love fishing for them, such a dynamic and powerful fish that gives you a great scrap. Up untill now I have only ever caught them using static baits or rolling baits though the swims. Well, for a few seasons now I have wanted to change this. It was time to get the lighter tackle out and go about catching a barbel trotting on the float. 🎣

Current low levels make it easy to spot Barbel

I've been targeting roach the past few weeks with some good success. To get the roach confident and feeding we have been introducing casters into the swims. This sends them wild and they just can't resist them. Now this was also the case for the barbel, normally shy and elusive in the day, a regular sprinkle of caster and I suddenly had 5 to 10 barbel in the swim competing with the roach for the caster as they floated by. This was an awesome sight. My two favourite species of coarse fish battling each other for my casters. 😀🐟

Casters are a brilliant bait for all fish..

Having picked off a few nice roach on the float I then suddenly thought now is my chance to have a trot for a barbel as by now there were 10 or so barbel ripping the swim apart for my casters without a care in the world. To prepare I quickly switched over the line on my reel to a slightly stronger breaking strain, kept the same Drennan dibber float on with bulk shot above the hook link and put a stronger hook to nylon on so I had a chance of landing one if I was able to connect. I kept the hook small as there were still roach of 2lb or above in the swim and still wanted to have a chance if one of these got to the casters first. This proved to be the case as first cast a lovely roach took the bait followed by several chub that bruised through the swim to the bait. They weren't bad chub to, around the 4 to 5lb mark. ☺️🐟

The roach initially beat the barbel to it!

By now all I could see was barbel in the swim and they were not at all spooked by the capture of the roach and chub in the slightest. I then knew it was only going to be a matter of time before I was to connect with a prince of the river. The next trot down I had a barbel inhale my caster but before I could strike it had exhaled it in an instant. Strangely, it didn't spook, nor which did any other the other barbel in the swim. They kept on feeding on the casters. I quickly re baited my hook with double caster and began another trot. About 15 yards into the trot a barbel rose up and gobbled my bait. I struck into it immediately and BOOM fish on !! The barbel shot of downstream like a bullet and into the far bank cover. The clutch on my reel was screaming and I was giving it as much pressure as I dared on the lighter set up. I need not have worried as my Drennan Acolyte float rod absolutely bossed it. The rod is so well balanced it made playing this barbel an absolute joy. I soon had the fish under control and shortly after it was resting in the net.

A stunning float caught barbel 

It was an utterly gorgeous plump barbel in the most awesome condition. A reel live wire who really showed off well for the camera with its dorsal fin perked up the entire time. But best off all it was caught on the float using conventional float gear. I was made up with it and now I can't wait to catch more barbel on this method. If you've not tried this method for barbel give it a go, I can't recommend it enough 😃👍🏻🎣🐟