The barbel, a hardy and sporty fish from our European rivers

The barbel is a fish that has fascinated anglers for generations. In fact, this river fish with its distinctive appearance is also sly and shy than robust and combative. Although we often come across them by accident when fishing for trout or other fish in rivers, they are still a pleasant surprise every time. In this article we're going to find out what cyprinidhis natural habitat and techniques for fishing.

Characteristics of the barbel: a fascinating freshwater fish

The barbel Barbus barbus "is a freshwater fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family. It is a slender fish with a powerful body that enables it to swim in all European rivers. Its mouth is called protractile, i.e. is made up of articulated bony structures (maxillae and premaxillae) which allow rapid spread forward. This allows it to suck up its food from the bottom or attack prey by surprise.. Its mouth is adorned with four sensory barbelsgiving it its distinctive appearance.

Physical characteristics of the barbel

• Average length : 30 to 60 cm (can reach 1 m). This fish has a pronounced sexual dimorphism. Females are generally much larger and fatter than males.
• Average weight : 1 to 3 kg (up to 10 kg for exceptional specimens)
• Colour : greenish-brown back, golden flanks, white belly
• Fins Reddish in colour, particularly the caudal fin
• Scales : Relatively small and numerous

The barbel is also a fish with a long life expectancy. Given the right conditions, it can live for 15 to 20 years.

The eating habits of this fish

The babrbeau is an opportunistic fish with a fairly varied diet. In fact, this fish feeds mainly on :

1. Aquatic insect larvae
2. Small molluscs
3. To
4. Plant debris
5. Small fish, especially large specimens

This dietary diversity partly explains the resilience of the barbau in the face of environmental change.

Habitat and behaviour of the barbel

The barbau is a fish typical of watercourses with moderate to fast currents. Its preferred habitat is well-oxygenated rivers with gravelly or rocky bottoms..

Here's an overview of the barbel's favourite habitats:

Type of barbel habitat	Features	Advantages for barbels
Radiers	Shallow areas with fast currents	Rich in oxygen, abundant food
Pits	Deep areas with slower currents	Shelter, rest, hunting
Coats	Natural shelters along the riverbanks	Protection against predators, ambushes

The behaviour of barbel varies according to the season. In summer, this fish is particularly active. They take advantage of the warm waters to feed in abundance. In winter, on the other hand, they adopt a slower pace, settling into deeper areas of the river where the current is less strong. The breeding season generally runs from May to July. The males then develop nuptial tubers on their heads, a distinctive sign of their sexual maturity.

Barbel tend to group together in shoals, particularly young individuals. This strategy offers them better protection from predators and makes it easier to find food. Older specimens, on the other hand, often become more solitary and territorial.

How do you catch barbel?

The barbau is a very cunning fish that will put your nerves to the test. It is also a very combative fish, which makes it a formidable opponent Here are the main fishing techniques for this fish:

• Spearfishing : This is the ancestral technique for fishing barbel in rivers.
• The feeder fishing : Highly effective for attracting barbel with precise baiting. The feeder assembly keeps the bait in place even in strong currents.

• Lure fishing : This is, of course, our favourite type of fishing. It is very effective when fishing with a soft lure, scraping the bottom to trigger the reflex attack of a barbel. To fish for barbel on a lure, we use the same types of baits as those we use for our baits. lures than for trout fishinglike shads and crankbaits, animated near the bottom.

As for the choice of spots, we would advise you to concentrate on transition zones between fast and calm currents. The barbel also likes to lie in wait on the edges of natural obstacles.

We strongly encourage the practice of no-kill to preserve the populations of this magnificent fish.

Whether you're a novice or a seasoned angler, the barbau is always full of surprises and moments of intense satisfaction. So get your equipment ready, sharpen your patience and set off to meet this king of European rivers!