Thanks for that, I thought, in the original photographs that the fish looked significantly different to those we catch in the UK ( barbus barbus). In the second batch of photos the difference becomes very obvious, the mouthparts being noticeably different, being far less underslung, suggesting they are much less of a bottom feeding species than is barbus barbus. I very much doubt you would be able to catch any of our UK barbel on the dry fly. What sizes do these various Spanish species grow to?
PS: What Glenn is saying is not about catch and return, (although we appreciate the fact that you do return them), but he is pointing out that in the UK, fish are in general no longer laid out on rock or gravel for photographs. Most barbel anglers here use either a special mat, or search for a patch of soft grass on which to lay the fish. A wriggling fish on stones may damage itself. With Spanish fishing being rather different to what we are used to here, I appreciate that you may not be able to buy unhooking mats in Spain.
UK anglers should pause and think before being critical, as it is obvious you are trying your best for the fish, based on current Spanish practice.
A link to an interesting article on fishing for Spanish barbel:
http://toniorocca.com/blog/?page_id=236
[QUOTE=Barbelfisher;11112]We have some species of barbel in Spain. These are the most important for the fishing: Barbo común (barbus bocagei), barbo comizo (barbus comiza), barbo gitano (barbus sclateri) and barbo becero/cabecicorto (barbus microcephalus). The barbel of de pictures is ‘barbus bocagei’. It is the most strong of all, they can extract many meters of backing of the reel.
All the Spanish barbel species can be fished with dry fly, as river as lake. It isn’t easy, especially in winter, but with the suitable experience or with the help of a specialized guide it may be easy.
Barbelfisher (The Red Ghost Team)
Barbel Comizo
Barbel on the fly in spain - the ultime fly fishing experience
Linear Mode
