Page 10 - RIFFLE4-flip

P a g e | 9 down is a better prospect. I believe there are more magnified at these greater depths. Not other factors, many of which are rarely sure what that guy was smoking though… discussed, that have a far greater bearing on the likelihood of catching a barbel in the cold. For I have found that when the air temperature has example, hail or freezing rain will cool the water been stable, or rising, for the past few days and very quickly and this could possibly be washing the river is falling back to nearer normal levels down from further upstream. A freezing cold (after a flood or heavy rain), the barbel are often rise in the water level is likely to have a very actively feeding and moving about. I will stick different impact on the barbel, compared to my neck on the line and advocate that you get warmer rain that has washed down the river out on the bank with some optimism in these system. Therefore, it would seem to me that the conditions and especially if you have had a most important factor is where the clouds have prolonged, mild spell. But, although often blown in from prior to raining and their productive in my own experience, a river fining surrounding air temperature. In simple terms, is down in such conditions is certainly no it warmer rain from the south-west or freezing guarantee of good sport, particularly if the rain from the north-east? The logical follow on rainfall has made the barbel colder and very from this theory is that a river fining down after lethargic as a consequence, in which case the a freezing cold influx of water may be less likely river may fish better in a few days’ time. No to switch back on, when compared to a river hard and fast rules unfortunately – or should fining down after a warmer, southerly rainfall. It that be fortunately? also depends on the weather conditions over the period. In conditions that may appear Applying bait and methods in winter identical to the casual observer, on a single day considered in isolation and when the river is There is no singular ‘best’ method to catch ‘fining down’, in actual fact the river may be barbel in winter but there a few theories most getting steadily colder on one day and yet on people seem to generally agree upon, most of another day be getting warmer. This, in turn, which are common sense coupled with a bit of would explain to me why anglers have different general fishing experience. I will try and cover a experiences in conditions they consider very couple of these briefly before touching on a few similar and most people tend to form their views deeper points. as a direct result of their own experience. In short, if I have not been keeping track anyway, When the river runs low and clear then a then I will study the weather from the past few maggot feeder, coupled with finer tackle, is days, alongside the forecast and also check the generally considered a good method, especially air temperatures over that entire time period, if you have found a really good-looking spot and before going to the bankside. are prepared to sit and feed. Conversely, when the water is coloured many people reach for Numerous other factors may be a consideration something that smells to compensate for the throughout the year, such as farm chemicals fact it must be harder to see down there; washed in off the fields by the first rain in therefore the barbel will surely be relying on weeks. Barometric pressure is another minefield sniffing out the bait and need a good scent trail of conflicting opinions. I have even, bankside, to follow. had a deeper conversation relating to the fact that barbel have no pneumatic duct, unlike Luncheon meat is my preferred bait on small other species such as carp, and the likely bearing rivers but you can use halibut pellets or boilies if this would have on barbel in the context of you prefer. Meat and cheese pastes are great as deeper rivers, as surely the change in pressure is they eke out the flavour very effectively in cold conditions and most people will wrap a boilie in