Autumn Barbel Prepare to Hit And Run

A Guide To F
Alan Stagg reveals why he or me September and October
signal the start of my autumn
around when rivers are in tiptop
condition can only help maximise your
thinks the autumn is best for barbel fishing. Over the last three chances, especially when time is tight.
years I have considered this to September sees the evenings start
barbel and advises that a short be prime time on my fishing calender to to draw in and at this time of the year

Autumn
session “hit and run” approach target this species. These are excellent
months for big fish anglers on our
it gets dark around 7:30pm. This fits
perfectly around the short session
is often the one to go for. rivers. The close season and the months fishing that I like to base my autumn
leading up to this time are vital in my approach around. Short sessions allow
big fish river preparation for the coming you to turn up before the light fades
season. This work is invaluable as I base giving time to prime a couple of areas
most of my autumn and winter months with a small amount of bait. This is
around my findings during this time. where the vital preparation work, if
Why is my fishing based around these carried out in the summer months, can

Barbel
two vital months, through to the end of be advantageous as I will already know
the season? As an angler who likes to where to place a bait that will give the
target many specimen fish of different best chance. Ideally I look to bait a
species, my time is usually spent in handful of likely areas and fish them in
pursuit of tench, bream and Crucian carp rotation throughout the evening.
during the early part of the season. At I usually plan to start in my first swim
this time thoughts of barbel are at the at dusk and will often not present a bait
very back of my mind. Why? Well, the until the light is fading fast. I usually
answer is simple. It lets the big fish that I give each swim 45 minutes to an hour
often target recover from spawning. The and during this time I look for any
big fish I target can, and often do, vacate indications of fish activity. This may be
their autumn/winter haunts, sometimes in the form of line bites, fish rolling or
swimming miles and often not returning even a bite. If the fish are acting in a
until well after the ordeal of spawning wary way and are hesitant to pick up the
has finished. Other fishes’ patterns hook-bait I often introduce a little more
are dictated by river conditions and big bait and revisit the swim later on in the
individual fish often move into certain evening. Resting a swim and allowing
stretches or areas of the river when the fish to gain confidence is usually
water levels are high in readiness for the rewarded. This tactic will often bring
autumn and winter months. an immediate response. If indications
are not forthcoming then I will move

September is, historically, a month

to the next swim. When fishing short
sessions I want to make the most of my
which is synonymous with rain. I time and maximise any opportunities.

en tim e m y sess ions when river Right Time, Right Place

oft
conditions are at their best and in the
I aim my sessions to be around four
hours long, basing them around the
ons are ideal.
autumn mild wet conditi
prime times I expect to get a bite, the
hours either side of darkness. I believe
in the saying that it is not how long you
An 11lb 8oz short session
Warm go fishing for but how often you go, a
barbel caught in fading light. Autumn Rain rule that has proven correct many times
September is, in the past. On countless occasions
historically, a month I have passed anglers on my arrival
which is synonymous complaining that little has happened
with rain. I often all day as they have sat in bright sunny
time my sessions conditions. As soon as the light
when river conditions fades the river will often come alive,
are at their best and a time when action can be expected.
in the autumn mild However, on some rivers dusk is not
wet conditions are always the key time to expect a bite.
ideal. Keeping an On a stretch of the River Kennet I fished
eye on the weather back in the mid ‘90s the best time I
is important and could expect some action was between
websites such as 2.00pm and 4.00pm, showing there are
Metcheck (www. exceptions to this rule. Early morning
metcheck.com) are sessions can also be productive. It is a
brilliant at giving common time when targeting tench and
up-to-date and bream and other specimen fish, but how
reliable information. many anglers make the effort to fish at
Basing sessions dawn when targeting barbel?

46|COARSE Fisherman |SEPTEMBER 2009 SEPTEMBER 2009 |COARSE Fisherman |47

 A few hours walking the river can be
Autumn Barbel rewarding and a lot can be learnt by anglers Prepare to Hit And Run
who are willing to put in the effort. believer in using the most reliable tackle I
can. After the hours of preparation work
that I often put into some of the fish I
good track record on the rivers I fish of
catching the big fish. Whilst walking the
banks this summer I have been feeding
Alan’s Top 5 . . .
catch, the last thing I want is to be let fish at very close quarters with SonuBaits Autumn Barbel Tips
down by an inferior item of tackle. My Crab and Crayfish boilies from their
reel lines are based on my ever reliable Action range, as well as a new prototype
GR60 in 10lb or 12lb breaking strain. I boily they have been working on. The
often use a short length of Plummet feeding reaction has been encouraging
lead core and a flying back lead above to say the least and these two baits
this as it helps keep the main line pinned will play a major part in my autumn and
to the bottom as well as offering extra winter barbel fishing this season.
abrasion resistance against any snaggy I am not a big fan of using pellets
situations. The last twelve months has as hook-baits. No-one can deny their
seen me field-testing the new coated effectiveness, however it seems such a

1
Wait until the light is fading. In the
hook-links from Gardner Tackle, in common approach nowadays. However, autumn it’s best to get on the river
particular Sly Skin and Chod Skin in 10lb I do favour them in small 4mm and just after tea until it gets dark.
breaking strains. These have proved 6mm sizes when mixed with hemp as
very effective and I can honestly say my loose feed for priming swims. This
that I have yet to use another hook-link simple combination is a proven winner
The Key To Success Above: Visually Tackle And The Approach one rod as I don’t like the disturbance since I started using them, such is my and, apart from maggots at certain times
This short session fishing has become spotting fish Your tackle and bait should be ready of casting two rigs into the swim as this confidence in the product. Hooks are of the years, is a firm favourite.
known as ‘hit and run’ style of approach can give you the to pick up and go at the drop of a often puts fish on edge or causes them my ever faithful Talon Tip patterns, which
and is often well-suited for after-work confidence to hat. You never really know when an to vacate the swim. Remember, there is can deal with anything I am likely to hook Effectiveness
sessions or when there are a few hours fish swims when unexpected opportunity may arise and only a small window of opportunity for in the rivers I am fishing. This ‘hit and run’ style of approach
available to put a fish on the bank. the water is more you can grab a couple of hours fishing. a bite. Also, I don’t like the idea of two to autumn barbel fishing can be
There is one golden rule if you are to coloured and ideal I keep my tackle to a minimum (the lines running through the swim. I have Great Bait Believer devastatingly effective

2
succeed using this approach and that bare essentials). Forget about taking fished this way on some of the big fish I am a real believer in using considering it can sometimes Travel light. It pays to move
for fishing.
This ‘hit and run’ style to
swims on short sessions if you
is preparation. A few hours walking the the ‘might need’ items of tackle. If you stretches in the hope that two rods over the best quality bait when only take less than a few
aren’t catching.
river can be rewarding and a lot can be have walked the stretch of river you the course of an autumn/winter would targeting big fish. A good hours to put a big fish on the
learnt by anglers who are willing to put intend to fish you should have a good result in an increased number of bites. I quality bait will outperform autumn barbel fishing bank. Many anglers bemoan
in the effort. It allows the riverbed to idea of how it should be approached. experimented a little on several occasions one of a poorer quality time the fact that they don’t have
gly
be searched to find areas where fish A small bag of essentials, rod, net, last autumn and the fish acted very edgy, and time again. Boilies or can be devastatin enough time to spend on the
are likely to be hiding and to pinpoint seat etc, will allow you to stay mobile however when I removed one rod a bite barrel shape boilies are my bank fishing, but then don’t
presentable spots nearby where fish are and search out the fish and build up was often forthcoming. favourite autumn barbel bait. effective considering it consider popping to the river
likely to feed. Weed and reeds are likely a picture of the stretch quickly. In all my barbel fishing I like to keep They have everything a good when they have a couple of
to be in abundance on many stretches I usually carry two rods, one for fishing, my rigs as simple as possible, and none barbel bait needs, they are can take less than a spare hours. Many of my
at this time of year as they have had the
whole of summer to flourish. Take time
Below Right:
Alan uses a carp
which is a Fox Duo Lite Xtra barbel rod.
The other is a heavy carp rod that is ideal
more so than in the autumn. More often
than not the low, clear water situations of
small fish resistant, strong
smelling so fish can find them
few hours to put a big fish big fish captures have come
using this style of approach.

3
to find the small spots when not fishing rod to baitdropper for using as a baitdropper rod allowing summer barbel fishing will be behind us, in high water conditions, To demonstrate the On small and medium rivers, use
and reap the rewards during the prime feed into his bait to be accurately deposited into however weed will still be abundant and results are instant, they are on the bank. effectiveness of this style one rod. It’s just as effective and
big fish months. chosen swims. swims. I tend to choose to fish with just will test tackle to its limit. I am a great easily prepared and have a of fishing, last autumn I had much easier than two.
been concentrating on a low stock big
fish stretch of my local River Loddon.
Arriving late one evening I went about
preparing what had become two of my
favourite swims ready for an evening
assault. At dusk I settled into my first
choice swim and lowered a rig into my
pre-prepared run. The next 90 minutes
produced six bites resulting in chub

4
weighing 5lb 10oz and 6lb 5oz and Have your hook-lengths tied and
barbel of 9lb 6oz, 10lb 3oz and 11lb 8oz, ready to use. Store them in a rig
as well as one lost fish where the hook bin or rig wallet.
pulled soon after a thumping bite. I
don’t need to say that I didn’t get
round to fishing my second area
that evening which just goes to
show the effectiveness of this
style of fishing!
So, if you want to get the best
from your autumn barbel fishing
keep an eye on the weather, make

5
sure you know where you are going Use quality bait. Alan’s choice
to fish and don’t think that a lack of of hook-bait is Sonubaits Crab &
time means a lack of results. Afterall Crayfish boilies.
you’ll catch nothing sat at home. CF

48|COARSE Fisherman |SEPTEMBER 2009 SEPTEMBER 2009 |COARSE Fisherman |49