How To Catch A Barbel In South Africa
I’m hoping that this will enable you to achieve your personal best on the sharptooth catfish, which is something that many South African fishermen strive for.
Catching a Barbel
Let’s start with the bait you’ll use for large barbel; in this case, a whole fish will serve as the bait. Many large barbel have been caught on full fish after being lost. The ideal fish to utilize is common carp; try to avoid utilizing native fish, particularly yellowfish and mudfish. Since a huge Barbel can easily pick up a carp between 20 and 30 centimeters in length, you will need to catch one of those.
It is imperative that you have heavy enough tackle and lots of rope before we continue.On your Barbel setup, the line capacity and the knots are rigorously verified. A strong, pulling rod (the longer the rod, the better), a multiplier or big coffee grinder reel, at least 20 pounds of main line, and a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader are required in terms of tackle. Keep in mind that the heavier the better, as you might be aiming for a theoretically record-breaking Barbel!
Returning to the baiting up, you have two choices for the type of trace to employ. Depending on the size of the carp, a 6/0 circular hook with a 40cm leader works well for smaller carp, while a double “J Hook” trace with around a 5–10 cm space between the hooks works best for larger carp both hooks. Either leave one of the hooks trailing or snell the first hook before tying the second. For this use, size 6/0 to 8/0 hooks are ideal for catching large catfish. As you line up the carp, place the circle or two j hooks where necessary. You may also need a few cable ties to hold the bait in place. When using j hooks, insert the first hook through the carp’s nose or head so that it is proud and facing up. Cut off the ends, secure with a toothpick, and finish. Put the second hook through the fish’s back or stomach and tighten it once more. the more compact Fish pierced the head of the carp with a round hook.
Now poke a few tiny holes in the fish’s stomach and gill plates. You’re nearly ready. Now, based on the state of the water, the wind, and the rain, you can either fish this bait weightlessly or with a small bottle sinker. The sinker should be as light as possible. Another option is to use tiny running ball sinkers.
Paddle out to where you want to fish while setting your reel to freespool or a loose drag setting. Lay the bait down and paddle home… You now adjust your drag as necessary and wait. When they are picked up, these larger baits frequently take a while, but when they are, let the barbel run with them.Prior to tightening up (on a circle hook) or setting the hook by striking (with the J Hooks), let the baits sit for up to 30 seconds. Allow the fish to consume as much line as he desires to exhaust him. If you start to lose a lot of line or you become tangled up, go out and retrieve the barbel using a rubber duck or canoe, winding slowly into the fish as you go.
What kind of bait works best to catch barbel?
Top Baits
Maggots, sausage, and luncheon meat are all good lures. Barbel frequently hide out in holes throughout the day, necessitating the use of fine tackle and small baits to lure them out. In general, worms are thought to be the finest bait for barbel.
What time of day is ideal for barbel fishing?
The ideal times to capture barbel are in the early morning or late evening till twilight. While you do have a chance to catch them in the middle of the day, fishing for them in the wee hours is unquestionably more fruitful.
On a river, where do you cast for barbel?
You can locate barbel practically anyplace on smaller rivers with low or normal water levels, from slow deep pools to quick shallow glides, and everywhere in between. However, I have discovered that barbel prefer to be near some kind of cover, whether it is weed, rafts, submerged snags, or overhanging trees.
