This steady spiral into obsession all started a few years ago for me while fishing with a friend, Joel from Albion Angling. He filmed and documented our first barbel using this method, which led to the creation of BeeMouse Fishing to provide all the essentials for anyone interested in trying it.
Despite what you may think, barbel can be quite easy to catch on the fly, often out-fishing other more conventional methods. This I find especially true on venues that are heavily pressured, some of my best days have come when other anglers say the river is fishing slow.
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Location
This method can be used on any river with enough pace for your chosen fly to trickle along the riverbed. As long as barbel are present, it’s definitely worth investing some time in this approach. A good local knowledge of the river is a massive advantage and will save a lot of time searching for the barbel’s holding areas.
Remember, there is no bait or attractant used, so you need to be confident in your swim choice! You are looking for a swim that holds barbel but also provides conditions suitable for presenting the fly as naturally as possible in the flow. My personal favorite conditions for this method are mid-fast flows among turbulent boulder sections. However, I have caught more than my fair share from deeper, steady glides.
WANT TO CATCH BARBEL WITH CONVENTIONAL TACTICS? CHECK OUT THIS SUPERB GUIDE HERE...
The tackle required
Fly fishing for barbel can be approached similarly to Euro nymph or French nymph style. Most barbel fly anglers utilise the squirmy worm with a heavy bead head pattern, myself included. However other patterns are also very successful including the peeping caddis. This is without doubt some of the most exhilarating and rewarding angling experiences on offer anywhere in the UK!
The setup is fairly simple. I use a 5wt rod (or above, depending on the location) coupled with a floating fly line with a mono leader attached at the end. Again, tailor this to the size of your quarry. An important aspect is using an indicator, much like a float; it not only helps me identify a bite but also allows me to keep an eye on the fly to ensure it is moving downstream at the correct pace.
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How to present the fly
Once you have located a likely swim, start by casting upstream and running your nymph along the bottom through the swim. Try to maintain contact with the nymph at all times, using your inline strike indicator to determine roughly where it is on the bottom. You should be able to feel the "tick tick" of the nymph through your rod as it works through the swim. If not, additional weight may be needed.
This can be achieved with a split shot; however, I personally feel that this could potentially create a weakness in the setup. I've opted for small tungsten sliders on the line wrapped in tungsten putty, which eliminates any potential line damage from the split shot and reduces the potential for snagging. If the putty becomes caught between rocks or snagged during a fight, it will simply pull off the line under pressure.
Work the swim by trying different lines and keep repeating until you are satisfied that there’s definitely nothing there willing to feed on what you’re offering. If and when you do manage to net yourself a fish from a swim, invest more time in that area, as where there’s one, there’s likely more. I have caught several barbel from the same small swim within an hour.
IF YOU WANT TACKLE TO START CATCHING BARBEL ON THE FLY, CHECK OUT THIS GUIDE HERE...
Top tips
Spot the fish:
Look for signs of fish being present, such as flashing, rolling, or breaching. A good set of polariSed glasses will give you a massive advantage and also help when wading.
Take your time:
When you have waded into your swim, take a few minutes to watch the water and see if the fish are willing to give away their location.
Overcast:
Overshoot the area you intend to fish. This will give your nymph time to reach the bottom in your swim and reduce the chance of spooking your target.
Approach from below:
Where and when possible, try to approach your swim from downstream to minimize the chance of being spotted and spooking the fish.
Don’t put the brakes on:
I have lost a lot of fish by trying to stop them. Trying to stop big fish in fast water will only result in a hook pull at best.
