Roger's Angling Pages
The Barbel Barbus barbus		Carp family Cyprinidae

This fish inhabits small and large European rivers, except for those in Scandinavia, Ireland, Denmark and the southern peninsulas. It is distinguished by its regular body shape and the symmetrical arrangement of its rows of scales. The flattened lower part of its body and fleshy mouth with four barbels indicate that it stays near the bottom in its search for suitable food.

The Barbel spends its time in deep currents. It uses its snout on the hard gravel or stony bed to turn over small stones and collect from them various insects and larvae. It is a slow-growing fish; for instance a 63 cm long Barbel, weighing 4 lb 11 oz was 18 years old. However, its weight is relative to the nutritional value of its environment. It can weigh 18 Ib or more, but today such a fish is a rarity. With the current rate of water pollution, dam and weir construction, and river control the number of Barbel is fast decreasing . The spawning season is in June, when the eggs are deposited in the shallows and adhere to various kinds of bed. Before spawning a migration occurs, the fishes moving slowly upstream in large shoals.

It is a great experience to hook a fine Barbel, since when this happens the angler has to prove his efficiency and the quality of his equipment. The fish fights strongly in deep currents so that It seems as If the hook has caught under a stone or a sunken piece of wood. Large firm Carp hooks are usually selected, with a line of 12 lb or more breaking strain. This corresponds to that used with a Carp rod. It is possible to fish for it using ledgering or float-fishing techniques. Suitable baits are worms, Caddis Fly larvae, cheese, bread paste and small, whole, or pieces of dead fishes.