Barbel on soft lures

Blog Rodhouse

15 Feb 2024

The Barbel is a member of the Cyprinidae family (as are most whitefish), and as it grows it readily adopts a predatory behavior. With its mouth directed downwards, it feeds mainly on the bottom, made up of stones, gravel and sand. They can be fished specifically with soft lures, using shrimp imitations for example, on specific spots where they gather in large numbers, particularly in late spring and early summer. These spots are often dam bottoms or riffles, highly oxygenated areas with a high food supply. Fishing for Barbel is similar to that for Zander / Pike-perch, with a few subtleties. A heavier assembly is needed to keep the lure glued to the substrate, or even let it roll along the bottom. With this in mind, a Texan assembly is a plus in crowded places. A ball or olive sliding over a Texan hook is perfect. The touch is quite typical, as you frequently feel two very distinct Tocs. It seems to land on the lure before engulfing it! What follows is a battle of power and endurance, as the Barbel is without doubt the fish with the best weight/power ratio in freshwater... All in all, a real pleasure!

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Suitable blanks

In this context, the blank used is of the utmost importance. It must enable you to perform extremely precise actions in terms of amplitude and reactivity, and must allow the finest perception of contact with the bottom and detection of the subtlest touches. A blank between 7 and 8 feet, with a fast or X-fast action and real resonance qualities, is the perfect choice. We've selected 3 extremely resonant Blanks for Bottom bouncing.

Rodbuilders' republic Statement 724 Original 2m18 5-25g. A blank that is both very fast and precise in animation but not 'trippy'. An outstanding blank in terms of resonance and lightness. It's great for scraping with leaded heads up to 15g.
Rodbuilders' republic Statement 725 Original 2m18 7-35g. More powerful than the 724 but just as resonant, the 725 is ideal for scraping up to 25g lead heads.
Rodbuilders' republic Statement 766 Original Size: 2m28 10-40g. It is very comfortable even in its low range and retains an amazing resonance. Its length allows better control of animation.

SKU

Statement 724 Original

(23)

202,10€

Select

Resonance

Throwing distance

Accurate animation

Power reserve

SKU

Statement 725 Original

(4)

212,10€

Select

Resonance

Throwing distance

Accurate animation

Power reserve

SKU

Statement 766 Original

(15)

231,00€

Select

Resonance

Throwing distance

Accurate animation

Power reserve

Compatible rings

We offer 3 Fuji Guide packs in different finishes, to suit different budgets and frequencies of use. The first segment of the range is occupied by Alconite ceramic Guides with Inox frame, offering excellent value for money and occasional use. The Guide frame is made of Inox with an anti-corrosion coating. The Alconite ceramic provides good glide and heat dissipation for the braid. Take care, however, not to spool dry fly braid onto these guides. The second level of the range is occupied by SIC ceramic and Inox-framed Guides. In this Guide range, the frame is still made of coated stainless steel, but the ceramic is made of Fuji SIC, which offers better glide and greater resistance. Finally, the top of the Fuji range is represented by the Titanium-Torzite Guides. The Titanium frame is much lighter and, above all, totally insensitive to corrosion. The ceramic is made from Torzite, another Fuji proprietary material that enables the braid to glide perfectly over the ceramic. This high-performance ceramic requires less material, enabling the use of smaller tunnel Guides. Less weight = greater sensitivity and performance.