SOME COARSE SPECIES YOU MAY ENCOUNTER BARBEL Barbus Barbus Barbels are group of small carp-like freshwater fish, almost all of the genus Barbus. They are usually found in gravel and rocky-bottomed slow-flowing waters with high dissolved oxygen content. A typical adult barbel will range from 25 to 100 cm in length and weigh anywhere between 200 g and 10 kg, although weights of 200 g are more common. Babies weigh 100- 150 g. Barbel roe is poisonous and causes vomiting and diarrhoea in some people. The name Barbel derived from the Latin barba, meaning beard a reference to the two pairs of barbs — a longer pair pointing forwards and slightly down positioned — on the side of the mouth. The Barbel lives predominantly on the bed of fast flowing rivers feeding on various bottom dwelling creatures; larger fish also catch crayfish, molluscs and small fish. A powerful fighter, the Barbel is built for speed. With it's streamline body and large, deeply forked caudal fin, it has the ability and agility to present itself as a truly formidable opponent for any angler. The Barbel has a noticeably long, low, cylindrical head and body, olive green to dark greyish blue back, lighter sides and a white belly. The sides of adult fish have a golden lustre whilst the young fish have dark spots and are sometimes mottled. Its mouth has four barbules and it's eyes are situated high up on it's head. The front ray of the dorsal fin is hard and thick with a clearly toothed edged for which care needs to be taken to prevent it snagging on netting. Baits are varied from casual feeding with the use of swim-feeders and legered baits, sitting and waiting for that rod-bending bite to stalking; stealthily walking the bank, gazing through the water with Polaroid's and a selection of baits to hand. Whilst some results can be had with the first method, it can also be a hit and miss affair. The better catches coming from steady, consistent feeding and careful selection of the swim - long gravel glides fringed by beds of flowing weed. Strong tackle being the order of the day. The second method is the favoured one especially if the larger, specimen is the target. Careful observation can pick out the Barbel in between weed beds sometimes accompanied by one or two others. Again strong tackle is required. A bait, dropped ahead of the fish with a small leger and allowed to be carried into the Barbel's feeding area, can have some heart-stopping results. Pre-bait a swim with particle baits, seed, corn, diced luncheon meat, and then return to fish similar over the chosen area. Keep a low profile and try not to disturb the water too much. Wait and watch, the bite may start with a twitch of the rod tip or line, and if the Barbel is confident, result in your rod being wrenched from it's rest or hand. A good bait for Barbel in any location is caster fished over a bed of hemp seed. This usually accounts for quite a few Barbel. However, if the fishery you are fishing is stocked with small silver fish it may be worthwhile switching to a large chunk of luncheon meat flavoured with chilli or curry powder at this time of year. All information sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom (Accessed 2003) BLEAK Alburnus Alburnus The Common Bleak is a small pelagic fish that occurs in Western England. It mainly prefers open waters where there is an inflow of food from places like pumping stations or weirs. It is also found in streams and in clear standing waters and can be very numerous in lakes. Often known simply as the Bleak, this name can refer to any species of “Alburnus”. The Bleak has a flat elongated body with a pointed head and small mouth that is turned upwards. The anal fin has 18 to 23 fin rays. Its body is a silvery shiny color and the fins are colorless and pointed. Its maximum length is about 10 inches. In Europe this species can be confused with many other fish species. In England the young bleak can be confused with Bream. It lives in great schools and feeds upon small mollusks, insects that fall in the water, insect larvae, worms, small shellfish and plant detritus. The bleak spawns near the shore in shallow waters. The Bleak is an important food source for predatory fish. It is more sensitive to pollution then other cyprinids. BREAM Abramis Brama The Common Bream has a strikingly deep body with highly compressed sides and a distinctive mouth. Its dark back frequently has a greenish tinge with silvery grey sides and a whitish belly. Young fish are silvery, while the older Bream are dark and often have a golden lustre on their sides. Bream generally are found in large shoals, especially when young, favouring deep, slow or still water. The Bream can live to the ripe old age of 20 - 25 years. Predominantly feeding on the soft bottom of ponds, lakes and the lower reaches of rivers, the Bream can be caught with legered baits or laying on with a waggler. Bream tend to shoal and move casually around looking for food. Large catches result from heavy feeding, effectively laying down a carpet of bait and ground-bait whereupon the shoal once finding the food will stay either till disturbed or having 'mopped up' the food when they will move on. Baits such as Redworm and Castor can be used together quite successfully. Maggots, pinkies and chopped worm mixed in with Ground-bait used liberally can provide a feeding ground for the shoal. The Bream has not got a reputation though as a fighting fish, generally coming to the net with little resistance. Once a shoal starts to feed, any fish hooked needs to be pulled away from the remainder quickly, otherwise the shoal will be spooked and will move on. Large weights can be caught provided the shoal stays over the feeding ground. A fairly consistent method is an open-end feeder filled with a ground-bait mix combined with a hook length of 18 - 24 inches. Once cast in and the feeder reaches the bottom, take up the slack in the line and then pull the rod a further 18 inches or so. This will place the hook over the ground-bait. All information sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom (Accessed 2003) COMMON CARP Cyprinus Carpio Carpio The Common Carp, Leather Carp and Mirror Carp are all the same species and are native to Asia which have been introduced to every part of the world with the exception of the Middle East and the poles. Wild common carp are typically slimmer than domesticated forms, with body length about four times body height, red flesh, and a forward-protruding mouth. Although tolerant of most conditions, Common Carp, Leather Carp and Mirror Carp prefer large bodies of slow or standing water and soft, vegetative sediments. As schooling fish, they prefer to be in groups of five or more. They naturally live in temperate climates in fresh or slightly brackish water with a pH of 6.5–9.0 and salinity up to about 0.5%, and temperatures of 3 to 35°C. The ideal temperature is 23 to 30°C, with spawning beginning at 17–18°C; they easily survive winter in a frozen-over pond, as long as some free water remains below the ice. Carp are able to tolerate water with very low oxygen levels, by gulping air at the surface. Common carp, Leather Carp and Mirror Carp are omnivorous. They can eat a vegetarian diet of water plants, but prefer to scavenge the bottom for insects, crustaceans (including zooplankton), crawfish, and benthic worms. The Carp family were originally introduced to the UK by the Romans, the majority of which were probably caught in the Danube before being transported across Europe. Centuries of selective breeding have produced the present day deep-bellied and high backed Carp that we are most familiar with today. They can be found in ponds, lakes and slow flowing rivers where they have become an icon for today's fisherman, whether it be the specialist or pleasure angler. The larger specimens can be found in long established lakes, often secreted away, containing a good source of natural food. They are often used as a stock fish in privately owned and club owned waters because of their sporting prowess and agility, presenting the captor with a formidable opponent. Most large Carp have been christened with nicknames by their captors. Some carp are bottom feeders as well as surface. You're best bet is to see if carp are 'cruising' on the surface, jumping out of the water or just taking flies off the surface (which means a dry fly would be best) if you see any of these things its best to use a floating bait if ducks are present then try to fish close to lilies if if there are no ducks then cast mainly anywhere and throw in some floating bait around yours. But if there are no signs of surface carp then either float fish (on bottom if loose feeding) or midwater if using smelly bait or ledgering. Popular carp baits are boilies, worms, maggots, bread (paste,crust,or flake) luncheon,and sweetcorn. Bottom fishing methods are varied, every angler having his or her favorite method but without doubt, a successful method is an attractive bait suspended or floated just off the bed of the water.