Description of barbel, bait and tackle for catching it

Barbel remains one of the coveted trophies for true fishing fans. Catching barbel is characterized by incredible excitement, unpredictability and powerful resistance when fishing. This is a worthy opponent. To catch him you will need to use all your skills and intelligence. This type of fish has two features: it quickly gains weight and its caviar poses a threat to human health; it is a poisonous product that provokes poisoning of the entire body. Eating caviar is extremely dangerous.

Description

The common barbel belongs to the carp family. The fish attracts attention with its rather unusual body shape: elongated, similar in appearance to a torpedo. The barbel's snout has a similar shape as the body, the mouth is slightly extended forward and downward.

This mouth structure makes it possible to find food at the bottom of the reservoir. A distinctive feature of Myron, another name for the fish, is two pairs of antennae with hypersensitivity.

The lips are thick, protecting against snags and gravel on the river bottom. The eyes are miniature, which is not natural for nocturnal predators. All fins are pink. The color depends on the place of permanent habitat: from olive green to dark, but always with a white belly and a pronounced lateral line. The dorsal fin consists of 8–9 rays, located quite high, at the level of the ventral fins. Myron can grow up to 80 cm, while its weight will be about 10 kg.

Barbel: fishing strategy

The barbel is a large freshwater bottom fish. Belongs to the barbel genus, otherwise known as barbs, the carp family. Local names are kelb, tap dance, madder, maron, miron. Habitat: almost all of Europe and Central Asia, with the exception of some regions of Scandinavia, Italy and Spain. Outwardly, the barbel resembles a gudgeon, only enlarged five or even ten times. His body is elongated, torpedo-shaped. The dorsal fin is high, the caudal fin is forked, the color of these fins is dark. The scales are silvery, the belly is light, the back is dark. The pectoral and ventral fins are reddish. The eyes are small, the mouth is large with very thick lips. On the muzzle there are two pairs of antennae, located not only in the corners of the mouth, like a gudgeon, but also on the edge of the head above the upper lip - it is they, and not the eyes, that help to look for tasty worms or larvae at the very bottom.

Of all bodies of water, the barbel prefers rivers, but can also live in a flowing lake. It likes rivers that are quite deep and fast, with a rocky or sandy bottom. The barbel is omnivorous. The diet is based on bottom inhabitants: mollusks, crustaceans, worms, larvae, leeches. Like a true gourmet, he will never refuse caviar or delicious seaweed. Larger individuals will gladly swallow a gaping fry. The barbel is a fairly large fish. Individual specimens can weigh more than ten kilograms with a body length of more than a meter. The average size of a barbel usually does not exceed fifty centimeters and it usually weighs no more than four kilograms. The maximum life expectancy is twenty years.

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The barbel is a very shy fish, cunning, cautious and strong. The barbel is a heat-loving fish; its winter hibernation is one of the longest among its relatives, the cyprinids. Barbel is best caught early in the morning, late in the evening or at night. The bite begins after the fruit trees in the orchards have shed all their color, intense - after the grapes bloom or the cherries ripen. The barbel bites best in warm and clear weather, after rain and at normal atmospheric pressure. When pressure changes, in cold, rainy weather, during a full or new moon, the barbel almost does not bite. Bait is required, but in moderation.

All winter - December, January and February, the barbel sleeps peacefully in the deepest hole of the reservoir, huddled in a large flock. Not caught even by accident.

In spring, the longhorned beetle sleeps sweetly throughout March. All March barbel bites are random and extremely rare. In early April, the barbel emerges from hibernation, but is still lethargic and lethargic. In May it is already quite warm, the barbel has woken up and is ready to feed. Spawning with an almost complete absence of biting, depending on the rate of water warming, can occur either at the beginning or at the end of May. Of the gear in the spring, donka is the most catchy. As bait, the most desirable and catchy bait will be a good dung worm.

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It's warm in summer, barbel has spawned almost everywhere. He makes hungry and active. All summer - June, July and August it actively bites. You can catch it at this time either with a bottom fishing rod or with a spinning rod. The best summer baits are a worm, live bait (minnow), and a small bright spinner bait.

In the fall, the barbel begins to prepare for winter, but before that he wants to eat properly. In September, barbel bites well like summer. Both the gear and bait are still summer. In October, autumn fully comes into its own, and by the end of the month the bite is no longer summer. You can still use a spinning rod, but the donka is becoming more preferable. Bait – live bait (minnow) or dung worm. In November, the barbel, waiting for winter, goes into the depths, to wintering places, the bite gradually weakens and by the end of the month the barbel is already sleeping peacefully in the deepest hole, waiting for summer. The November tackle is a donka baited with a dung worm or live bait.

Barbel is an indicator of the cleanliness of a reservoir. One of the first to die, along with trout. It is an object of sport fishing. Having caught a barbel, it is important to remember that its caviar and the film of the internal cavity are considered poisonous, unlike tasty meat. You can bake it, fry it, boil it, stew it, or make balyk and enjoy delicious, personally caught barbel, sitting by the fire in the evening.

Where does it live?

Habitat: Black, Baltic, Caspian Seas, Atlantic Ocean.

The barbel belongs to the category of sedentary fish. In the warm season, he prefers to stick to deep places with fast currents and a rocky bottom. Often found in direct currents, but tries to avoid pools with reverse currents. Favorite places are deep furrows with a pebble, rocky or sandy bottom.

The young generation of fish stays in small schools; they live on the rifts along with the gudgeon. Large individuals live separately. With the arrival of winter, the common barbel lies in holes and burrows under steep river banks, and the bite is practically absent.

Catching barbel in winter is ineffective.

The Crimean barbel lives in the waters of the Western Caucasus and Crimea, the Dagestan barbel lives in the rivers of Dagestan, Terek and Kuma, and the Kura barbel lives in the Kura. There is also the Dnieper barbel; in total there are 9 subspecies of this fish.

Where to fish

Freshwater bodies of water with muddy water in the early and evening hours.

According to information from the network, the barbel most often bites from spring to autumn.

From personal experience, in Israel, given the hot climate and warm winter, the most active biting time for me was in the spring from March to May; I caught barbel throughout the summer. It was least common to catch barbel in the fall, approximately from the second half of September to November. Unfortunately, the frequency of fishing trips leaves much to be desired, and there are no more detailed statistics yet. If anyone can share more specific data on barbel biting times in Israel, I would be very grateful.

The ideal time is after the rains, during the rains, since at this time the barbel comes close to the shore to eat worms washed by the rain. His element is muddy water.

It is not recommended to go hunting in anticipation of inclement weather and during the spawning period, during which time the fish ignores the bait.

On a clear early morning or late evening, using a float tackle would be ideal, but a bottom rod is best used at night.

The most common fishing spots:

area of rapids with a shallow depth of up to a meter;
deep-sea backwaters;
places with little current or reverse current;
bridges;
piles;
mouth

The shallow waters of the Jordan River are an ideal place to use a fly rod equipped with thick fluorocarbon line, the use of which reduces drop-offs and makes it invisible in muddy water.

The use of sliding, spiral-shaped feeders, on both sides of which weights are attached. The weight of each load depends on the degree of current. The main thing is to ensure that the bait does not rise to the surface of the water and that the bait is easy to wash out. Next, secure the fishing hook.

Another option for equipping a spinning rod:

fishing line (the strongest, for example, braid);
heavy weight;
leashes 20 cm long;
hooks No. 6 or 7, on which a folded crust of white loaf bread is attached.

Advice: in order for the bait to last as long as possible, it should be placed in bags that are tied to a long stick. Secure the stick in the fishing spot, so the bait will not be carried away by a strong river current.

Advice:

use bright baits to attract fish in troubled waters;
use weighted nozzles in strong currents like in the Jordan.

Animal attachments:

dung worm (earthen, crawling);
pieces of beef or heart;
cancerous cervix;
pieces of crayfish meat.

Plant attachments:

mulberry (used in summer, when the tree falls off, in the area where the upper reaches of the Yardenka River are used);
pearl barley;
dough (maybe pilot dough);
soft porridges;
a crust of white bread.

They also use an unconventional bait - French hard Parmesan cheese (or another type of hard cheese), necessarily moistened until soft (in a wet rag or milk), which will ensure ease of installation on the hook. The advantage of such a nozzle is the strength of its hold on the hook.

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You can also use pieces of fried lard. The disadvantage of using them is that they quickly saturate the fish.

Advice:

the hook must be completely filled with bait;
Non-traditional baits are used when the current is not large, since they are not firmly attached to the hook.

5.7 How the barbel bites

The bites are cautious, so you should use sensitive gear. To prevent the barbel from tearing off the bait, it should be hooked immediately after the bite. If the tackle is not soft, then the hooking should be smooth to avoid breaking the line.

When catching a large specimen with a donk, the hooks are noticeable. The resistance is daring and aggressive, the barbel rushes against the current and if the rod is without a reel and with a weak line, as a rule, it breaks.

When fly fishing, the bait is cast against the current, and when using a feeder, the cast should be careful and in the direction of the current, so as not to frighten off the cautious barbel.

have a landing net with a long handle;
observe weather conditions;
have strong gear.

Below are some free fishing spots on the Jordan River in Israel. I have personally been to each of them, and I know that there you can catch not only barbel, but also Jordanian catfish (here you can read how I caught catfish), mullet, carp and even eel. Each of these places is good in its own way, and which one you choose is up to you.

Taking into account the way the barbel feeds and the conditions at the fishing site, the bait is applied with fairly frequent, strong and prolonged slowdowns. This wiring method is a middle ground between semi-stationary fishing for bream and active wiring of equipment when fishing for ide. After all, a feeding barbel not only lifts the bait from the bottom, but also grabs pieces floating at depth.

When fishing with a “running” rig at a long distance, the rig is carried out almost without braking. The depth should be set so that the main sinker floats above the surface of the bottom, and the bait drags along the rocks. The barbel bite is strong and confident, with a noticeable shudder, the float goes under the water.

After hooking, even a not too large barbel creates the impression of a hook, after which it begins to move, swimming faster and faster down the river. The first maneuver can be long and makes a strong impression on the angler who has never caught barbel before. If you fail to hold the fish with the help of a shock absorber extended from the tip, you can try to follow it with the current.

However, most often the barbel leaves so quickly that the leash line breaks before the angler has time to come to his senses and adequately respond to the situation. When fishing with a rod and reel with a well-adjusted brake, even large barbel can be caught in a few minutes. After that, he swims at the bottom again, trying to find shelter.

Long maneuvers of a large barbel are repeated several times: downstream, against the current, towards the middle of the river. During pauses, it sticks to the bottom, giving the impression that the fishing line is tangled in underwater obstacles. The most important thing is to behave calmly while fishing, this primarily concerns observers, so as not to unnecessarily scare the fish.

In addition, there is a risk of the fishing line rubbing on the stones. Therefore, when fishing for barbel, you need to keep the rod raised high, all the time trying to tear it off the bottom. If this works, the fish will soon give up. A tired barbel does not lie down on its side like a bream. However, they pick him up only when he no longer has the strength to maneuver. When determining the condition of the barbel being fished, the fisherman must not make mistakes, otherwise the fish will leave, which has happened more than once.

From semi-dams or dams overgrown with bushes, it is best to catch barbel not with a float, but in a stationary way with a donk. Despite the strong current, the weight of the sinker should not be too large; It is better to cast the fishing rod at an angle to the current. It is important to keep in mind that the thicker the main line, the more the sinker will be carried away by the current.

For this reason, you can replace the fishing line with braided braid of the same strength but thinner. Braid has much less elongation than fishing line, so the rod with such equipment should be more elastic. A typical rod for catching barbel is a heavy feeder. In this case, there will be no problems with hooking, since it bites so sharply that it usually hooks itself.

It is important, after installing the fishing rod, to strengthen it well so that in case of a strong bite it will not be pulled into the water. The barbel rig should have a feeder filled with bait containing maggots and a strong smell. If the fishing rod is cast a short distance from the shore, then you should feed the fishing spot with heavy bait balls.

Considering the strength of the fish, it is better to use a hook that is resistant to extension and made of thick wire. Lures for deep barbel fishing are usually larger than when fishing with wire: a bunch of red worms, a whole large crawler, a large piece of cheese, several grains of barley. It is better to catch barbel at night than during the day.

To fish at night, you need to attach a luminous attachment and a bell to the tip of the rod, which will not allow you to miss a good bite. Night equipment should be stronger than daytime equipment, for example, the main fishing line is 0.30, since the accuracy of the angler’s actions is significantly limited. At night, unlike during the day, the bait is thrown closer to the shore and into shallower water, since this is where the most bites occur.

The habitat of the longhorned beetle is Western Europe, South and West Russia. The barbel is very common in the rivers of the Caucasus, the Kuban and its tributaries. It is found in rivers flowing into the Caspian, Black and Azov seas.
Inhabits riffles, pebble and sandy bottoms, fast currents, and great depths.
The barbel is a schooling fish; schools constantly migrate in search of food.
The barbel feeds mainly from the bottom, but can also rise.
The best period for catching barbel is summer, especially June. But fishing can begin from spring to autumn. The most active bite is observed at night.

What does the barbel eat?

Spawning

Sexual maturity of a fish occurs at 3–4 years, it all depends on the size of its body. The optimal body length is about 20 cm; it should be noted that females are much larger than males. Miron lives 14 – 18 years.

The spawning period of barbel begins in the first half of May, when the water temperature warms up to 15 degrees. Deep rocky reaches with fast currents are chosen as spawning grounds. Each female is capable of laying up to 50,000 eggs.

The spawning process occurs at the bottom, where the females attach themselves to the rocks and after 15–18 days you can observe the appearance of small barbel larvae. Various microorganisms become their food source. Considering that eggs are laid in several stages, the spawning period lasts 2 months.

Barbel fishing gear

There are several ways to catch such powerful and cunning fish on the river:

For float tackle, where long rods from 5 m are used. For line fishing, the tackle is equipped with an inertia-free reel, the diameter of the main line is 0.35 - 0.4 mm, for leashes it is necessary to use a thread with a cross-section of 0.25 - 0.30 mm. To ensure that the bait passes close to the bottom, the sinker is placed at the end of the tackle, and the leashes are placed a little higher. And the second method: the intermediate sinker on the tackle and the leash with the bait must be in the bottom layer.
For bottom tackle, where they use tackle equipped with a blind sinker, a sliding sinker and feeder rods with a feeder. A fishing thread with a thickness of 0.25 - 0.3 mm is used as a leader material, and a thread with a cross-section of 0.4 mm is used for the main line. To securely connect the main line with the leashes, use a swivel with a clasp. It is advisable to install hooks with a round eye, numbers 7 – 9.
For spinning tackle equipped with small spinners, for example “Universal”, “Baikal”. It is more effective to fish with bait whose color is similar to the aquatic inhabitants of a particular body of water. In order for the bait to be retrieved effectively, the retrieve is carried out above the bottom. It is recommended to examine the topography of the bottom of the reservoir at different points and at different distances from the shore.

Catching barbel on a donk (feeder)

Fishing with tackle with both a blind and a sliding sinker is successfully practiced, plus the option with feeder feeders. The diameter of the fishing line for making leashes is 0.25-0.3 mm, for the main one – 0.4 mm. It is optimal to connect the leashes to the main line using swivels. Hooks - No. 6-7, with round eyes.

The traditional rod for hunting barbel is the heavy feeder type.

The fish most often bites very sharply and hooks itself, so it is important to secure the fishing rod well so that the barbel does not simply drag it into the water. . Red worms in bunches, large crawlers, and pieces of hard cheese are used as baits for deep barbel fishing.

At night, barbel fishing is more productive than during the day.

Red worms in bunches, large crawlers, and pieces of hard cheese are used as baits for deep barbel fishing. At night, barbel fishing is more productive than during the day.

Large boilie-type baits are used on hair rigs. In any case, hooks should be selected taking into account the size of the nozzle.

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It is acceptable to use both monolithic and braided fishing lines for leashes. In the case of fishing line, the breaking load should be about 4 kg, for braid – 6 kg.

Part of the main bait must be added to the bait mixture. To fix the feeder, it is also better to use swivels with clasps; the knots are protected by a small rubber bead.

Lures

Since myron leads a bottom lifestyle, and its whiskers serve as a kind of radar in search of food, it is recommended to fish on the river with the following types of bait:

insect larvae;
crustaceans;
leeches, snails;
small fishes;
large earthworms and dung worms;
pieces of semi-soft cheese;
steamed cereal grains;
boiled potatoes;
thickened animal blood;
lungs, liver;
fry;
boilies.

In spring, fish actively bite on the livers of animals and birds.

Lure

It is especially effective to use bait mixtures when catching barbel. Like all representatives of the carp family, they prefer aromatic compositions. But don’t overdo it with flavorings; everything needs moderation. The barbel bites well on a bait mixture with a fruity aroma.

The bait should be made only from fresh ingredients and include either maggots or pieces of worms. It is enough to use five components to make the bait high quality and effective. The consistency of the mixture should not be too hard or too soft, it should sculpt well.

In reservoirs with a current, it is recommended to throw the bait mixture against the current, without unnecessary noise. Otherwise, you can scare away the object of fishing.

The most favorable time for catching barbel is considered to be the warm season. In the autumn, large barbel bites reluctantly.

Tackle

While it is having its effect, I collect the gear: a 3.6 m long rod with rings, a reel with 0.25 mm fishing line, a float with a carrying capacity of 5 g, a leash diameter of 0.17 mm, hook No. 12. The float is loaded so that a quarter of it bodies protruded from the water. I pinch the first pellet 30 cm above the hook; I attach the second pellet at a distance of 30 cm from the first pellet. The sounding shows a depth of 2.5 m.

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Groundbait: Bread flour and oat flakes form the basis of the groundbait. After adding water, they form a dense sticky dough. If desired, you can add grains, such as corn. For fishing in strong currents, the bait dough is surrounded with gravel.

There are several ways to catch such powerful and cunning fish on the river:

For float tackle, where long rods from 5 m are used. For line fishing, the tackle is equipped with an inertia-free reel, the diameter of the main line is 0.35 - 0.4 mm, for leashes it is necessary to use a thread with a cross-section of 0.25 - 0.30 mm. To ensure that the bait passes close to the bottom, the sinker is placed at the end of the tackle, and the leashes are placed a little higher. And the second method: the intermediate sinker on the tackle and the leash with the bait must be in the bottom layer.
For bottom tackle, where they use tackle equipped with a blind sinker, a sliding sinker and feeder rods with a feeder. A fishing thread with a thickness of 0.25 - 0.3 mm is used as a leader material, and a thread with a cross-section of 0.4 mm is used for the main line. To securely connect the main line with the leashes, use a swivel with a clasp. It is advisable to install hooks with a round eye, numbers 7 – 9.
For spinning tackle equipped with small spinners, for example “Universal”, “Baikal”. It is more effective to fish with bait whose color is similar to the aquatic inhabitants of a particular body of water. In order for the bait to be retrieved effectively, the retrieve is carried out above the bottom. It is recommended to examine the topography of the bottom of the reservoir at different points and at different distances from the shore.

Barbel can be caught with a long fishing rod with a blind rig, but not with a standard fishing rod, but with a special, more durable so-called carp fishing rod. It is equipped with a large diameter tip, which houses a durable shock absorber with a diameter of 1.6-2.0 mm. It is mounted in at least three legs of the rod so that the fish can be slowed down over a longer section of the path.

It is necessary to check and replace it often, as it frays quite quickly, especially at the end section. The life of the shock absorber can be extended by replacing the shock absorber with a used end piece, which will only result in a slightly higher initial stress on the rubber. A shortened rig with a leash of 0.14-0.16 or without a leash is attached to the shock absorbers to limit the number of knots that weaken the fishing line.

Unfortunately, not a single fishing rod with blind equipment of a modern design provides a guarantee of catching a barbel weighing more than 1.5-2.0 kg. The barbel is a strong and hardy fish, and in addition, the fast current further increases the load on the equipment. For this reason, it is much more reasonable to use a long, 8-9 meter rod with guide rings and a spinning reel used when fishing with “running” equipment.

You can fish with this rod in the same way as with a cane with a shortened rig, that is, by passing the rig under the tip. In such equipment, a leash with a thickness of 0.16-0.20 is quite sufficient to hold and fish out a barbel weighing even several kilograms. In areas where there is no catch, you can dispense with the leash and tie the hook directly to the main line.

The equipment for catching barbel is similar to the equipment for catching bream: it has a concentration concentrated in one place, for example, in the form of a drop, and an additional shot is clamped on a long leash up to 0.5 m so that the bait does not come off the bottom. This is where the similarity between the rigs ends, since the load on the rig for barbel is usually smaller, since the depth at which this fish feeds is also smaller.

For float tackle, where long rods from 5 m are used. For line fishing, the tackle is equipped with an inertia-free reel, the diameter of the main line is 0.35 - 0.4 mm, for leashes it is necessary to use a thread with a cross-section of 0.25 - 0.30 mm. To ensure that the bait passes close to the bottom, the sinker is placed at the end of the tackle, and the leashes are placed a little higher. And the second method: the intermediate sinker on the tackle and the leash with the bait must be in the bottom layer.
For bottom tackle, where they use tackle equipped with a blind sinker, a sliding sinker and feeder rods with a feeder. A fishing thread with a thickness of 0.25 - 0.3 mm is used as a leader material, and a thread with a cross-section of 0.4 mm is used for the main line. To securely connect the main line with the leashes, use a swivel with a clasp. It is advisable to install hooks with a round eye, numbers 7 – 9.
For spinning tackle equipped with small spinners, for example “Universal”, “Baikal”. It is more effective to fish with bait whose color is similar to the aquatic inhabitants of a particular body of water. In order for the bait to be retrieved effectively, the retrieve is carried out above the bottom. It is recommended to examine the topography of the bottom of the reservoir at different points and at different distances from the shore.

Barbel is caught using a variety of gear. Moreover, sometimes he is caught with one tackle, and sometimes this tackle does not give any results. Therefore, we have to resort to other methods of catching this fish.

Float tackle

When catching barbel with a float, you must choose a rod that is at least 5 meters long. Due to the presence of a serious current, fishing is carried out by wire. Therefore, the rod is equipped with a spinning reel, on the spool of which about 50 meters of fishing line with a diameter of 0.35-0.4 mm are wound. For leashes, a fishing line with a thickness of 0.25-0.3 mm is used.

The barbel bites directly at the very bottom, therefore, the bait should be as close to the bottom as possible.

Such conditions are achieved by attaching a sinker to the end of the fishing line. At the same time, leashes with hooks are located slightly higher. It turns out that the sinker seems to drag along the bottom, under the influence of the current. Another option involves the presence of an additional sinker, as well as a leash, which is located at the very bottom.

The use of bottom gear is widely practiced by fishermen. Typically, equipment with a blind or sliding sinker is used, as well as feeder equipment with a feeder. A monofilament line with a thickness of 0.4 mm is used as the main line, and a line with a diameter of 0.25-0.3 mm is used as leads. It is better to use hooks No. 6-7, with a round barbel. All element connections are connected using swivels and latches.

Spinning

The use of spinning is also justified, since it gives a positive result. The barbel is an omnivorous fish, so it actively bites on artificial baits. Barbel is perfectly caught on rotating spoons, such as “Universal”, “Baikal” and others. The color of the spinner plays an important role. The barbel attacks more those spinners that remind it of the small fish that it feeds on in a given body of water.

The spoon is held close to the bottom, which requires a certain skill and knowledge of the bottom topography.

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When choosing equipment elements, you need to take into account that the barbel resists, and seriously. At the same time, all elements must correspond to the weight of the baits used, as well as the weight of the fish that are most often caught on the hook.

You can't skimp, especially on the reel. Therefore, a high-quality reel with a friction brake is what you need.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the life of the barbel (miron), bottom tackle may be the most effective. At the same time, the equipment can be completely different, ranging from rigid fastening of the sinker to modern bottom equipment (feeder), where feeders are used. What makes this equipment convenient is that the feeder plays the role of a sinker. This means that feeder equipment is the most effective.

The load or feeder is selected depending on the strength of the current. The higher the water speed, the greater the weight of the load or feeder should be.