Martin Bowler on bait-and-wait: Clockwork feeding goes like clockwork

03 June 2008 16:44

Barbel have emerged as one of the nation’s most popular species, but what is the best way to catch them? Martin Bowler joins species expert Steve Pope to find out

Are barbel the new carp? For certain their popularity has grown massively over the last few years, with membership of the Barbel Society standing at well over 1,000. Stretches of river holding them are busier than ever, and pellets and boilies are being fed on the grand scale. We even have specific barbel products in just about every tackle shop.

A man better placed than me to address this phenomenon is BS chairman, Steve Pope. For over 10 years he has been in office, dealing with the fickle and sometimes difficult world of barbel. So when he offered me a trip to the River Kennet I could hardly refuse. Not only could I get an answer to my question, but also pick up some tips to add to my own repertoire.

Our dawn rendezvous began with a warm handshake and an excited Steve. For a man battered by the politics of angling, he is remarkably enthusiastic. The angry barbel activist has been replaced by a calmer, more statesmanlike figure.

Sure, he may have ruffled a few feathers along the way and I, for one, haven’t always agreed with him, but the barbel fishing world is better for his presence.

While we chewed the fat, Steve explained that over the last decade barbelling has moved away from a cult pursuit and into the mainstream. “We are in a better state than ever,” he summarised. “Barbel are plentiful, and big to boot.”

It would seem that there’s never been a better time to do battle with the prince of the river. Interesting as politics and opinions are, we both agreed that they pale into insignificance when compared to a day’s fishing. So without further ado we headed down the bank.

Over the last 20 years Steve has seen the Kennet barbel grow and grow, with double-figure fish not uncommon. Pellets and boilies have made a huge difference to the barbel’s diet. This protein-rich food is now introduced by nearly every angler fishing the river.

Each swim Steve pointed out looked mouthwatering, with overhanging trees, deep pools and thick weed beds. We were spoilt for choice. Unfortunately, the clarity of yesteryear has long gone – silt coloured the water, a by-product of the canal joining the river and the heavy boat traffic. But the barbel didn’t seem to mind and, with Steve’s expertise, it was no drawback that we couldn’t spot them. I therefore allowed him to pick the swims.

Steve’s was a hole behind an overhanging bush just off the flow. Mine was where the river deepened directly above a run of overhanging snaggy trees.

I watched Steve bait-up before doing the same in my own swim. The romantic notion of lobbing out a lump of meat and hoping for the best was replaced by a regime a headmaster would be proud of!

First, half-a-pint of Dynamite Baits 3mm Halibut pellets and a pint of casters were dropped into position. The swim was then rested for an hour, hopefully long enough for the barbel to gain confidence. The rig was lowered in and the swim checked for signs of fish.

Their presence may manifest itself as a line bite or a fish caught. If anything happens, Steve carries on fishing – if not, the rig is removed and another baiting session starts with four dropper loads of pellet, casters and Frenzied Hemp – the latter to draw fish from far afield.

The baiting and testing schedule is repeated on the hour until bites begin. Once the first barbel is caught, the swim is baited and rested for half an hour – this is done between each fish. According to Steve, this hectic schedule is vital if multiple catches are to be made during daylight hours.

So, with my programme organised, I returned to my swim. The bait-and-wait strategy requires discipline, something my impatient nature lacks.

By midday it was crunch time as I hadn’t had any signs of fish. My itchy feet were drawing me to a swim further downstream.

For 10 minutes I battled the demons before reeling in and moving. I still had faith in the approach, but I doubted my swim. Time still allowed me to follow Steve’s strategy, but now it was on a gravel bed hidden amid thick clumps of wafting weed.

Slowly the watch hand moved around the face until at last the 12 came round again. Gently my lead was lowered into position, a resounding ‘thud’ on the rod-tip indicating it had successfully passed through the weed. Close behind, four casters Superglued to a braided hair on a size 12 hook touched down, the nicked PVA mesh bag of pellet dispersing on impact.

The trap was set. Had I made the correct call? Doubt had little time to creep into my mind as a rod-wrenching, spool-spinning bite ensued. Walking downstream, I extracted the barbel from his lair by pulling with the weed, rather than against it. A seemingly locked solid fish can easily be released in this way. A bronze flank rolled in surrender in front of the net – the first victim of bait-and-wait, albeit in a new swim.

Fighting the urge to recast, I re-baited and sat on my hands for half-an-hour, adopting Steve’s approach. It took some self-control! I’m glad I kept to it, though, because within minutes I was again in action and a splendid big single headed in my direction.

Over the afternoon the plan worked like clockwork and I began to amass an impressive tally as numbers six, seven, eight and nine all rolled over in submission.

Steve, meanwhile, remained supremely confident. It came as no surprise that hours after the first dropper load had gone in, his tip dragged round and a barbel was hooked. Steve smiled – the first is always the hardest, he said. Now the floodgates would open.

I had enjoyed his company for the day – a good guy in angling who has put more back into barbel fishing than he’s ever taken out, giving us all a future we can look forward to.

» For more details on barbel fishing and the BS, go to www.barbelsociety.co.uk