How to Catch BARBEL in Floodwater Conditions!

If you're not confident fishing in floodwater conditions - Join me to see how I read the river conditions and flow, select a peg and approach fishing for barbel when river levels are high.
This video originated from a conversation in a local tackle shop where a guy I was talking didn't know how to adapt to fishing in floodwater or when the level is high. Hopefully this video will help if you are unsure and give you some extra confidence to go out and get a few bites in these conditions.
The equipment & bait I used is as follows -
Rods - Korum 1.75lb TC Barbel Rods
Reels - Shimano ST4000 Baitrunners
Line - ESP Syncro 12lb
Rigs - Running rig with 8lb flouro hooklength
Hook - Size 8 wide gape
Bait - CKO 14mm pellets from Vortex Baits plus luncheon meat soaked in CKO liquid food.
Hope the video helps.
#barbel #barbelfishing #riverfishing #foodwaterfishing #riversevern #shrewsburyfishing #vortexbaits #vortex #CKO #korum #korumfishing #shrewsburytownfisheries #STF

[@Red_Snappa]

My fav Angling Blog. Sharing your river-craft knowledge is fantastic Rob. Years of experience being passed on. The vast majority of viewers will already 'have' that same knowledge. The new anglers will really appreciate you passing these tips on....Well done pal.

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks very much - Grateful for the kind words.. Helping out new anglers is the name of the game 👍🎣

[@Accyboom]

Love this video. Glad you put away the myth that you need mega heavy weights to hold bottom in floods (trent aside). It's all about peg choice as you say. I remember Tony Miles telling me years ago he was fishing the Severn in full spate and he was holding bottom with 2.5 oz lead.

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks! We’ve had plenty of opportunities to fish floodwater conditions this winter 🤯 🌧️ 🎣

[@MichaelLutt]

Only subbed to ur channel recently Rob. So informative and picking up more tips from you. Great videos. Keep em coming Rob

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Michael - Plenty more videos to follow 👍🎣

[@MrTim207]

I’ve watched thousands of barbel videos on KZbin but only just found your channel. I like your relaxed but informative style, great advice and useful tips. Subbed and look forward to more 😊

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Tim - Glad you like them 👍🎣

[@MarkJones-sq6vy]

Spot on Rob. Great video

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks very much 🙏👍

[@iainbriggs7963]

Great vid as always!! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@RobsAngling]

Cheers Iain - Thanks very much 👍🎣

[@raymondadams579]

I'm booked on the Wye in two days time and it is really tanking through. I thought I had no chance whatsoever but you've really given me hope. I just wish I had watched your excellent video before I bought those 5oz feeders this afternoon.

[@RobsAngling]

Glad it helps.. Good luck and remember to stay stage.. The banks will likely be very slippery. 👍🎣

[@andrewjackson9603]

There's some very good information in there Rob. Very nicely presented and excellent film quality. I totally agree about your view on tackle selection. I don't know what people do with their 5 oz and more leads! Wish I was there now but no chance now til winter. 👍

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Andrew.. Hopefully you get out there soon 🤞🎣

[@markward8216]

Very informative and entertaining. Well done Rob

[@RobsAngling]

Cheers Mark - Thanks very much 🙏👍🎣

[@MidlandAngler]

Enjoyable , informative and well delivered videos Rob ..

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks! Glad you like them 👍🎣🙏

[@silentangling]

Great informative vid. You're really making me want to visit the Severn the more I watch. Thanks for sharing

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks - It’s well worth a visit! Good luck when you make it🤞🙏🎣

[@markweaver47]

Great watch as always buddy 👍🏼

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Mark - Catch up soon 👍🎣

[@user-kz5cw8xj8u]

Quality n happy New year 🙏 tight line's brother. I know my stuff but even watching this and clear explanations I learned brother n that's what angling is all about 🙏

[@RobsAngling]

Happy new year also! Glad the video helped. Good luck on the banks 👍🎣

[@miltonwright9596]

this was really helpfull really well explained thank you

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks - Glad it was helpful 👍🎣

[@markjoyce1720]

Some fantastic knowledge ,tips, and information passed on there Rob . Thanks for sharing well done.👍🎣🎣🎣

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Mark 👍🎣

[@jptully6810]

Perfect video, exactly what I needed to know. Been finding it hard to find good explanations of water craft cheers

[@RobsAngling]

Glad it helps - Good luck out there 👍🎣

[@kevbrindle2236]

Nice one Rob,your vids are always on the money

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Kev.. Hope you’re having a few yourself 👍🎣

[@mwsports]

Another belter 🎉

[@RobsAngling]

Cheers Mat 👍🎣

[@deanwestwood7686]

Some nice tips there , cheers

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Dean 👍🎣

[@thebarbelproject]

Good video Rob 👍🏻

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks very much 👍🎣

[@jasoncluley4927]

I shall be implementing those tactics tomorrow Rob another good watch 😊 👍🏻

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Jason - Best of luck. Hope you have a few 👍🎣

[@jasoncluley4927]

@@RobsAngling two Chubb had a few hours on Danery this morning 👍

[@CyberFishing]

Banging Barbel 🙌🏻 Definitely have to take notes 😂 Nice video mate

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks very much 🙏🎣

[@tonymatthews2987]

All on the downstream rod nice one Rob good to see them coming out. You cant beat it when you get one that you cant get off the bottom. Usually doubles that just plod them smaller ones scream off.

[@RobsAngling]

Cheers Tony.. There should be some good ones about over the next few weeks 🤞👍🎣

[@tonymatthews2987]

​@@RobsAnglingI'm going tomorrow Rob farther downstream I know where you fished mate ❤ I went a few weeks back when it was up was good mate 💪

[@marcuscherry3579]

Can't beat a Mexican chicken wrap!!! All aside Rob really enjoyed watching this.

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks Marcus! Happy hunting down at Greggs! 👍🤣

[@uglymugangling5389]

Nice vid rob, we’re down at Hampton Loade at the unicorn in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed it’s not too flooded but this vid will help choosing a swim

[@RobsAngling]

Thank very much - Good luck at HL.. It’s been fishing well down there so hopefully you’ll be having a few 👍🎣

[@paulroberts2625]

RobsAngling.. aka The barbel anglers bible! Brilliant videos and full of info for us newbies. 1 question please..would you ever consider using a short length of lead core to prevent abrasion near the feeder/lead in snaggy swims?

[@RobsAngling]

Hi Paul, I wouldn’t recommend that myself. A good quality abrasion resistant mono for mainline and then a fluorocarbon hook link would always be my recommendation as will be fine. Tight lines 👍🎣

[@bizbizley]

A good tip is with ‘known’ fish holding areas simply fish two or three pegs down. I was at Arley earlier for a walk, and it’s as red as the flooded Teme gets at the moment.

[@marshallart113]

Well informative vid pal as per .. I watched it while I'm twitch less on the avon with only 2 bream to my name .. and my sons just landed a pearl at 15.2... on my vortex and my ground bait so technically my fish I think 😅😅

[@RobsAngling]

That’s a cracker - He’s had a result there 👌🔥🎣

[@martinweaverallroundangling]

Try fishing that swim with 1.75s when the waters topping the bank they'll be bent round like you've got a fish on Rob. Although the waters up when you check the levels its within normal range, it needs anofher 2-3 foot on it to be in flood. Nicely done though its a great stretch.

[@RobsAngling]

I’d likely be fishing a different peg if that was the case. 👍

[@martinweaverallroundangling]

@@RobsAngling thats a great swim where you was when the rivers up nice steep bank the Barbel tuck themselves into the edge. Last year just a bit further up you could see where they had come up into the field and started digging after the water breached the banks and receded back. Also as you walk past the 2 white markers from the farm about 20 yards or so past the 2nd white marker just before a thicket of willows overhang the river before the boundary gate, good area for flood Barbel again nice steep bank into a deep edge just before the trees.

[@BlackCountryPiker]

Some great tips there Rob, thanks for sharing.

[@RobsAngling]

Thanks mate - I’ve been picking a few up from your channel trying to improve my lure fishing which is in need of improvement! 🤣🎣👍

[@BlackCountryPiker]

@@RobsAngling 👍😂 I’m probably not the one to learn from 😂

[@dezmcgregor8169]

On a small river I fish the barbel are in the main flow or move into the main flow because fishing the slack caused by a over hanging tree doesn't get me the bites.

[@adamstocker7648]

Hi, you selected the swim due to the bush slowing down the flow etc, fully understand that but then you seemed to be casting way downstream of the aforementioned bush. Could you explain ?

[@RobsAngling]

Hi Adam, I had my upstream rod near to the bush initially.. I moved both rods further down the slack during the session as the bites were all coming from the downstream area 👍🎣

[@adamstocker7648]

Thx for replying, so would you say you were fishing toward the end of the slack water nearer the fast flowing water ?

[@RobsAngling]

@@adamstocker7648 I was catching about half way down the slack and 1-2 rods lengths out from the bank on that specific day. The level will likely be different one day to the next though so no day is ever the same 👍🎣

[@davidhughes4804]

Very informative is that BAA Water

[@RobsAngling]

Hi David, this was on a Shrewsbury Town Fisheries stretch 👍

[@sleafordsnooker4701]

was you using cocoons or boosted pellets as bait rob

[@RobsAngling]

Hi mate, I put a note in the description as I should have included that in the vid. It was 2 on 14mm pellet and the last one on a cube of meat 👍

[@ashleypickering34]

What net handles that mate

[@RobsAngling]

It’s an old Leeda 2.5m net handle.. I’ve had that about 8-10 years I’d say.

[@Accyboom]

You ever got yourself in a mess using two rods for barbel in flood water conditions?

[@RobsAngling]

I only fish swims with plenty of room to play any fish away from the other line. 👍

[@paulpace2129]

wait bait you took with you

[@RobsAngling]

Hi Paul, I should have mentioned that - A couple to pellet and one on the meat. 👍

[@martinweaverallroundangling]

You see how your having to hold your rod almozt 2 ft up the butt section and the rod is bent pretty much to your hand shows that 2lb tc plus may have been beneficial especially when you dont want a prolonged fight with the Barbel as they are in that slack for a reason, that is to rest. Its also pretty deep in that margin and you coukd do with a bit more power to get them up off bottom.

[@RobsAngling]

I prefer softer TC rods myself - It’s all down to personal preference though. 👍🎣

[@nuzzi7794]

Rod is hardly bending close to his hand😂 no one wants to be fishing with a broom stick destroying a barbels mouth

[@martinweaverallroundangling]

@@nuzzi7794 research rod physics

[@andrewjackson9603]

Nonsense!

[@martinweaverallroundangling]

@@andrewjackson9603 I own all in that range apart ftom the Big river rod, Google - Barbel rod physics you might learn something 👍

[@user-we7vm9ds6n]

Can I just ask why you sit so far away from your rods

[@RobsAngling]

I wear glasses most of the time so it’s easier on my eyes to be watching the tips against a background of anything other than a bright sky. 👍

[@kaimichael5444]

Hi Rob some brilliant tips. I'm always anxious fishing flodded river. I won't be now I've watched this. I've also switched to vortex baits. What u catch on cko?? Frankfurters??

[@RobsAngling]

Glad it helps - I prefer CKO myself however the Frankfurter is still a cracking bait. Good luck 👍🎣