Barbel considered by many anglers to be one of the most splendid and powerful fighting fish in the river, very streamlined with eyes set high on a wide tapering head, there are four barbules two on the snout and one each side of the mouth which has a downward curve making it perfect for bottom feeding, along the back it is an olive green to greyish blue, with flanks of yellowy golden bronze going down the sides to the paler creamy coloured underside, the lower fins can be slightly tinged with red.

Being predominately a bottom feeding fish they prefer fast moving rivers, weir pools and deep holes that have a hard  bed where they can hunt out there natural food which consist of crustaceans, caddis larvae, minnows, frogs, snails, crayfish, and any insect life.

They love to lie beneath the thick weedy undergrowth.

Spawning takes place in early summer when the water temperature has warmed up this is usually between the months of May and July. They feed for most of the year, autumn can be a favorite time for many barbel anglers, but as there metabolism slows down during the harder winter months so does there food intake.

Best fishing, early morning and late evening during summer and autumn. The specimen weight for barbel is 10lbs. Fishing for Barbel you need good strong tackle.

Fishing Method; Float, Ledger, Feeder.

Best Baits; Boilies, pellet, sausage, luncheon meat,
 
British Record:  21lb 1ozs.
Caught by:   Grayhame King, Great Ouse. 2006

Barbel:

Family: Cyprinidae.

I hope that you found something helpful or of an interest to you in this Fish Fact Section.

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