Fish Specials - Barbel

Common Name - Common Barbel
Latin Name - Barbus Barbus
Family - Cyprinidae
Weight - > 22 lbs.
UK Record - 21 lbs 1 oz (Great Ouse 2006)

The Common Barbel is a very popular sport fish in the UK and is one of our most powerful river fish. It is found in most rivers, however it is more prolific on the River Trent, Kennet, Hampshire Avon, Wye, Severn, Teme, Wensum & Great Ouse. Some lakes and ponds also carry Barbel.

The Barbel has a long streamlined body which is normally a dark bronze colour and it has 4 barbules, 2 either side of its mouth which it uses uses to locate food.

The Common Barbel eats most natural foods and can be caught with rod and line using sweetcorn, luncheon meat, tares, boilies, trout pellets, worms, maggots, casters, bread and black slugs. The bait is best trotted natural through the swim or fished using a feeder/ledger rig. Groundbait such as Hemp are great attractants for Barbel.