The Barbel Show 2012

Ricky3112 · #81 (**permalink**) 22-10-2011, 22:43

Originally Posted by ChrisD

I think its a great idea....and thats what makes all forms of angling interesting people willing to try new ideas theories. Although new to Barbel fishing having spent the last 20 years in coarse fish free area ( Highlands) i did a lot of research in my capacity as a fisheries biologist and member of the National Anguilla Club, rubby dubby is something that is used in order to take advantage of the eels sense of smell. However as an attractant without feeding a lot of people simply soak cotton wool in blood/oil and pack a large mesh feeder with it.

I am not sure about the biology of barbel as i said a new target species for me but obviously they have a keen sense sense of smell that much is obvious to me. How sensitive is it??? An eel i do know has probably the most acute being able to sense 1ml of scent in a water body 58 times the size of lake constance.

Very, very interesting post. I have know idea how acute barbel's scent glads are but all I know is this method works. Although I have found out when putting my notes together that whilst the scent coming from the rubby dubby keeps the barbel coming from downstream and coming right onto the source. They will eventually get bored after half an hour or so and swim off because of no food coming from it. Of course it does bring others in but the same thing happens, I believe they need fed small amounts while using this bag of scent/oil also so small pellets and fishy boilies (chops) will be used in my demonstration. Opened my eyes to eels though, very interesting.

Ricky3112 · #82 (**permalink**) 30-10-2011, 23:01

First day using my "Rubby Dubby" boilies and whilst everyone else on the stretch blanked I had a real beautifully conditioned 10Lbs 2oz barbel. It looked bigger and felt bigger I reckon my scales are off, need to invest in some new ones, me thinks. You guys should do well field testing them for me and I seriously hope you catch them like this to give me the clarification I need that the Rubby Dubby and the boilies used in conjunction will be BIG one day. I hope to bring this forward during a feature for IYCF in the Summer for more people to try.

Full report on my blog later....