Hello and welcome to my monthly feature on Bankside’s new look website! As this is the first instalment in the series I thought I’d better start by giving you a bit of an introduction about me, my angling and what I’m planning to include in this article! Here we go then…!

I found it pretty hard going to be honest, I remember having a little 4lb fish first cast on my first trip, thinking “this is easy!” and then blanked for the next 2 months! I’d always been a still water angler and I really struggled to get my head around the Severn, it just looked like a huge, featureless expanse of water to me and I nearly gave up! But then my next fish tipped the scales at 13lb 2oz, which is still my PB and since then I’ve been obsessed with the Barbel! That fish was a total fluke but to me that’s the appeal of fishing the rivers-you never know whats going to turn up next, which is what drives me on when I’m standing in a foot of floodwater at five in the morning!

So what are you going to find in this article?Well, each month I’ll bring you a report of my Barbel fishing, with all the highs and lows of the season! Also I’ll try and cover a topical subject each month, baits, rigs, conditions and anything else I feel like rambling on about, so hopefully there will be something to interest everyone from the beginner to the more experienced Barbel man! And don’t forget to post your own opinions, reports, questions and photos on Banksides barbel forum! So that’s the intro done! As I write we’re halfway through the close season (getting withdrawal symptoms now!) so for my first instalment I thought I’d start from the beginning and write a bit about the sort of gear you’re going to need if you fancy getting on the Barbel in the new season.You can find kit on the market to suit all budgets but my advice is buy the best you can afford. Your gear will take some serious stick on the rivers, if you buy good kit and look after it then it will look after you!     

 Rods! 

There are loads of good rods on the market, it’s really just a case of picking a few up and finding one that feels right to you! Personally I use the Greys Prodigy Barbel in a 2lb test curve,I’ve given this rod some real punishment in heavy floodwater using leads up to 10oz and it’s never let me down.When choosing a rod just make sure it’s suitable for the rivers you plan to fish. On big rivers like the Severn in winter you really need a heavier test curve to cope with the powerful flow and big leads,but on smaller rivers a 1.5lb test will be fine.If you are not sure about investing in a new rod a soft through action carp rod will do a pretty good job but please don’t consider using heavy feeder type rods.They have too tippy an action,you’ll lose loads of fish through hook pulls. Reels! I always use Shimano Baitrunners simply because they are strong, reliable and the clutch system is spot on which is really important.The last thing you want is a sticking clutch,I’ve had this happen before using older reels and I’ve nearly ended up in the river with the fish!I use the 8000re model at the moment which is a big reel by Barbel fishing standards but I find it better for cranking back big leads and it feels fine on my rod. The only time I use the bait runner is when I’ve netted a fish and need to pay out some line.Please don’t be tempted to fish carp style with the bait runner on. You should always be sat right by your rod, if not holding it, so there’s really no need, and if you’re anywhere near snags you can’t afford to give a fish a head start.As with rods there’s plenty of good reels about,just pick one you like and make sure it’s man enough for the job! 

Line! 

On my reels I use 30lb Berkeley Whiplash braided line due to the extremely low diameter. This means it cuts through the water easier so you can get away with using less lead. It also gives you increased sensitivity at the rod tip due to the lack of stretch in the line. This lack of stretch makes it less forgiving than mono when playing fish so you really need to let the rod and clutch do all the work. I love using braid but then many people hate it so it’s whatever you feel comfortable with really. A quick word on fish safety, if you use braid use a leader between your hooklink and mainline as it could cut a fish if it rolls on the line or catches a fin while being played. It can cut your fingers too so be careful!If I used mono I would go for Berkely big game or GR60 in 12lb,or a good budget option is Daiwa sensor or Fox warrior. 

Other stuff! 

A good bankstick and rod rest set up is essential! Barbel takes can be vicious,and in flood conditions the water pressure alone can rip a rod of the rest especially if debris is collecting on the line. I use a Fox extendable storm pole for my front stick with a John Roberts windy rest and a short Fox stick with a John Roberts butt grip at the back. I find this setup rock solid even in the most extreme conditions. Luggage is a personal thing, I use Wychwood stuff because its cheap and durable but just find some gear that feels comfortable for those long treks down the riverbank! I wouldn’t buy a huge rucksack though, you’ll only stuff it with things you don’t really need and you’ll be knackered by the time you get to your swim! And don’t forget your unhooking mat! When it comes to choosing your end tackle just make sure your hooks are strong, your rigs are well tied and you shouldn’t have any problems.Hooks I can recommend are ESP Big-t and D-7 Raptors and Fox Arma Points,and I usually use ESP Stripteaze as a hooklink.The Sufix range of hooklink materials are good too. I always keep my rigs fairly simple but I’ll cover that in a later article. So that pretty much sums up the gear you’ll need to start fishing for Barbel! All the tackle I’ve talked about is available from Bankside,either direct from the shop or via this website. And remember if you are unsure about anything the Bankside Team is always on hand to sort you out with any advice you need! Well that’s my first article done! Thanks for reading, I hope its been of use to you! The new seasons getting ever closer(can’t wait!) so next time I can talk about fishing instead of tackle! 

Cheers,Andy.