Hi everyone

I'm having real problems fishing the small river I fish alot, had some good days on there with barbel up to 8lb, but late last year, I was fishing it and got the hook straightened by a big barbel that I couldn't stop it's running to it's hide out. So I beefed up the hooks I was using, I have had no problems with the 8lb's.
Anyway this year I have been smashed off 3 times now, all with using 15lb main line, it's the same situation every time, it's like a smash and grab,

So I have decided to go with 30lb braid, in a bid to stop it running, back to it's hide out.

Anyone got any tips, how to bag this small river monster.

I have seen what I believe to be the barbel in question, swimming in the margins and it looks to be over 3 foot long. Weight wise I havn't a clue.

I'm getting really obsessed with catching this fish.

Originally Posted by DaveM

Hi everyone I'm having real problems fishing the small river I fish alot, had some good days on there with barbel up to 8lb, but late last year, I was fishing it and got the hook straightened by a big barbel that I couldn't stop it's running to it's hide out. So I beefed up the hooks I was using, I have had no problems with the 8lb's. Anyway this year I have been smashed off 3 times now, all with using 15lb main line, it's the same situation every time, it's like a smash and grab, So I have decided to go with 30lb braid, in a bid to stop it running, back to it's hide out. Anyone got any tips, how to bag this small river monster. I have seen what I believe to be the barbel in question, swimming in the margins and it looks to be over 3 foot long. Weight wise I havn't a clue. I'm getting really obsessed with catching this fish.

Sorry but you are sure it's Barbel doing this aren't you and not pike? To smash up 15lb line seems very extreme if I am honest even from the biggest of Barbel. You don't seem to be doing anything wrong so any tips wouldn't help I don't think. But maybe you should try and lure the fish out of the area and into your own bank and that way you'll have a lot more time to deal with the runs etc.

Hi mate, yeah I'm pretty sure it's a barbel, I'm not the only one it's snapped off, if the line was snapped down by the hook I would be thinking Pike, but yesterday it snapped the main line.
Bear in mind the small river is only about 15 foot across and the bushes over hang about half way, so I only have about 7 or 8 foot in which to present the bait, which I am using 22mm Halibut pellets.
When it grabs the bait it runs straight away to the back of the bushes.

I'll tell you what it reminds me of, when I used to fish the dams in Cyprus, when a big Cat fish got hooked, it's that type of smash and grab take.

But I think the chances of a Big cat fish being in this little river is pretty remote.

Originally Posted by DaveM

Hi mate, yeah I'm pretty sure it's a barbel, I'm not the only one it's snapped off, if the line was snapped down by the hook I would be thinking Pike, but yesterday it snapped the main line. Bear in mind the small river is only about 15 foot across and the bushes over hang about half way, so I only have about 7 or 8 foot in which to present the bait, which I am using 22mm Halibut pellets. When it grabs the bait it runs straight away to the back of the bushes. I'll tell you what it reminds me of, when I used to fish the dams in Cyprus, when a big Cat fish got hooked, it's that type of smash and grab take. But I think the chances of a Big cat fish being in this little river is pretty remote.

Ah you need to go upstream and away from the bush and get him or her (usually her) to follow the source that way you could lure it away and be able to get the fish exactly where you'd want. If it is hungry it will follow trust me, they have great smelling and feeling tools do Barbel. Get the Barbel where it's comfortable to play and you'll stand more chance of landing it. Make sure your main line is new and not old, shouldn't be snapping. Then tighten clutch a bit and hit it and hold it. But because you have a little leeway you could be less severe on the fish as you would in the other spot and will stand a bit better chance of getting it out.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Ricky

Thanx for the reply, I will try that, but I think I will wait till my braided line arrives before having another go for it, just to cut down the risk of loosing it again.

sounds like your going to have to bully it a bit dave, ricky is right though your fishing for it to close to its home,are you fishing right opposite the bush it lives under ? if so try up or down stream then you can apply lots of side strain,are the break offs clean or freyed if they're clean then i'd change you line as said 15lb shouldn't snap like that,if its snapping you on snags then you have to lure it away from them, fish locked up and 'hook n hold' let the rod do the work.best of luck with it hope to see a fine pic of it soon

cheers

kev.

Hi mate, it seems to always head directly to the bend in the river, in the corner where the bushes are the thickest, which is about 30 feet from where I fish, it always runs down stream. the problem I have, is there is no spots upstream that are suitable for playing or landing the fish, because of the ammount of trees over hanging the river.
The line is new this year, so shouldn't snap when it runs, but the fish runs so hard, it seems 15lb isn't enough.

well dave,get on the braid must be a right lunker to snap new 15lb line unless its been marked up wrong,either way i'd have someone with you who takes good photo's lol,so are you hooking it 30 feet from its snag and it runs 30 feet back to the snag or are you casting 30 feet to it? i recently snapped 15lb line on the strike but i had my clutch set to tight,is this whats happening to you i wonder,if not then this is a very special fish and worth putting some hours in to catch.

I reckon your gonna have to put some hours into going to this swim and not wetting a line.
Plenty of pre feeding the swim in an open area as possible so that the fish begins to feel comfortable feeding where you want it.

As for the line snapping i guess braid is the only thing you can try if its snapping mono like cotton.

Good luck and i look forward to seeing pics.

Originally Posted by kev1911

well dave,get on the braid must be a right lunker to snap new 15lb line unless its been marked up wrong,either way i'd have someone with you who takes good photo's lol,so are you hooking it 30 feet from its snag and it runs 30 feet back to the snag or are you casting 30 feet to it? i recently snapped 15lb line on the strike but i had my clutch set to tight,is this whats happening to you i wonder,if not then this is a very special fish and worth putting some hours in to catch.

Yeah the drag is set pretty tight as I need to stop it,s run. I'm casting in the open about 30 feet from where it runs to.
The strike was fine, until it went, thats when the line snapped, it probably went about 20 feet before the line gave in.

The amazing thing is, if it is there, it will take the hook bait within 5 mins of it going in. This last time it got me off guard as I was rolling a fag lol and I snatched at it in panic.

The thing is, if it was on a bigger river like the Trent, I don't think the 15lb line would be a problem as you can let it run and slowly tighten the drag, but on this small river, it's not possible as there is snags and over hanging trees everywhere.

I've had fish upto 8lb on this line not a problem.

I think I'm going to become obsessed with catching this one lol