I love all wildlife even when the pack your boots asking for more!
My once preferred way of fishing for barbel. But not anymore!
Another very nice day trotting on the river Trent. (Despite having to go back home to fetch my landing net.) Two barbel one just under 10lb, the other around 8lb. Both fell to a speci waggler in a swim of 7' deep. Both incredible fun on the float rod and pin. Feeding hemp and maggots for the best part of 5 hours paid off. I'm sure a big bag of fish is on the cards if I can just get the right swim and conditions. We need some decent rain, as the river is still painfully clear.
All fish regardless of size bring joy when trotting with a centrepin.
Back on the river and another blank! I really thought I'd cracked it after my last trip, but despite the conditions being unchanged, the barbel didn't play. Like all my trips good or bad, I try to analysis what happened when I get home.
First the water seemed even clearer, one friend I know swears you simply need some colour in the river. I'm sure that's true in part. But as I mentioned before, I think these fish are more nomadic than we think, and there are few outstanding barbel swims on the whole beat. They seem to turn up in most swims that get well fished. Clearly when trotting your looking for certain types of swims, with good depth and flow close in. Then your trying to get the fish to come to you by baiting with a constant stream of food.
I few swims up from me a angler ledgering with two rods also blanked. I could hear the constant splash of the big leads hitting the water, then the buzzers being set. The more I think about this style of fishing ( in particular during such low clear conditions ) the more I think trotting offers the best choice, providing your on fish. And that's the key, finding fish, it's difficult on the Trent as you simply cannot see fish in this part of the river.
What Float Should I Use?
In the past all my trotting has been done on small rivers with Loafer style floats, or simple peacock wagglers. When you first fish the river Trent, it seems daunting. Parts are very deep and quick, others deep and slow, I've yet to find any shallow swims, they do exist, but not on the club waters I fish currently. The barbel seem to prefer fast water to hold and feed in, I'm told they don't lay in slacks or eddies unless the river is in full spate.
The Trent has been famously known in the past for it's stick float fishing, mainly for silver fish like roach, bream, and bleak. It's anglers being some of the best in the country. Wind is a big factor on the river, it's wide so the wind can howl across it at times. I've tried the stick, but it's much more difficult fishing it effectively than I thought. The waggler is much easier to use, and stays on track in an almost constant wind the Trent seems to suffer.
On floats I cannot recommend those sold by Dave Harrell. (www.daveharrellangling.com) not only is the choice outstanding, but all come with a paragraph on what their for, and how to fish them. You can find a lot of interesting clips on YouTube done by Dave, and it's clear as well as being an innovator in float design, he is also a very creditable angler.
Two of his floats that stand out for me are his Wire stem stick floats, and Speci wagglers. They cover 90% of my Trent fishing. I only have to add a selection of his large top shallow sticks, and I'll be 100% sorted.
The difference between success and failure is such a thin line, in this case minutes.
I arrived at the fancied swim at 11.30am. With advice new in my mind from a discussion on the Barbel forum, I switched from a stick float to a Harrell speci waggler, and bait dropper-ed six large droppers of hemp and maggots, along with a few pellet, and small pieces of luncheon meat. Maybe total two pints.
From mid-day to 3.30pm nothing, not even a small roach or perch and it was now raining. I was just moments from packing up in truth, I never use a brolly on the Trent as they are so difficult to set up. I took a tea from the flask, and decided on one last cast. In fifty years of fishing, the last cast has never brought me a fish, but today the float disappeared.
The big fish moved out into the middle of the river, where the current was at it's strongest. Then it simply hung their. The new rod performed wonderfully, and at no time did I feel outgunned, but I did take my time, I simply could not bully this fish it was so strong. After maybe five minutes a stunning, thick beautiful barbel was in my large oval net. 11.lb 7oz was followed up with a 8.lb+ fish, then I lost one that left a large scale on the 14s spade hook, maybe fouled hooked.
My first long trotted Barbel from the River Trent.
After six blanks doing almost the same thing, a subtle change of float brought success. I'm pleased I have stick-ability in my character. I'm not a great thinker even though I do experiment, but sometimes you need a little help and advice? Thanks guy's.
I'm still at it, fishing the Trent for barbel, the fish are proving elusive however! I've had several trips armed with 4 pints of maggots, and pints of hemp each time, but apart from some nice roach and perch, the barbel have beaten me. I'm convinced it only matter of time, as the 'two rod in the air' boys are struggling too.
The fish in this part of the river are very mobile, and can turn up any place. Many more experienced trotting anglers tell me it's just a matter of time, and I'm doing the right thing. Feed on a regular basis making the barbel have it. Feed plenty, 6 pints of maggots and hemp, it's expensive fishing several times a week. There is an alternative I think and it's this..
One chap told me he feeds hemp, but instead of maggots he uses tiny pieces of luncheon meat, and the odd pellet. It has to be worth a try, as I only want one bite to get me going. Sweetcorn could be another cheaper alternative? I'm told the key is consistency of feeding something every cast, even if it's only 10 pieces of hemp, and 3 tiny cubes of meat. Next trip out I'm giving this a try, what can I lose?
The water is still amazingly clear still, and to date early October, we have had no appreciable amount of rain. The water is well fished, the barbel well feed, many of today's baits stay in tact for days so the barbel can feed anytime on day old baits. I'm guessing these wise fish know your about, no matter how quite you are.
I've found another nice long trotting video you may like, enjoy.
