The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

It's so tough to estimate barbel weights from their length alone.

I had a 30 inch fish that weighed 8lb on the nose and a month or two later (from the same pool) a fish a fraction shorter that weighed over thirteen. The second fish had a belly on it like a pig from Ho Chi Minh...

I had this fish several years ago which was 30" and when I saw its length I was sure it was going to be my first double but it only weighed 8lb 14oz.



Likewise I once had a carp that was 33" but only weighed 14.5lb!

That's a very lean barbel Snape .. What time of year did you catch it ?. I'm guessing early in the season because I'd expect a fish that long to gain another couple of pounds by Feb / March.

CWK wrote:That's a very lean barbel Snape .. What time of year did you catch it ?. I'm guessing early in the season because I'd expect a fish that long to gain another couple of pounds by Feb / March.

It was caught in early August. It was very lean so I would like to have seen it in early March.

So I have finally managed to post a few pics of the fish in question so here they are.

This is the best pic of the fish and me (my dads not much of a photographer)

This shows the condition of the fish.

This shows the girth as it was very solid looking fish

On the scales it went 13.4lb but when I looked at the scales they front was cracked but not touching the needle of dial so maybe this is accurate. I think this may be accurate as after measuring the fish against my rod butt it was a smidge under 32" long.

What do you guys think?

I'll grab the camera and show you a photo of a typical double from the same section for comparison.

As promised this shows a typical scraper double for comparison. Although the cameral angle is better on this one.

Its certainly a solid fish.

Superb fish....I envy you guys who have such wonderful barbel fishing close by....

SK your more than welcome to visit anytime. We have quite a selection of rivers here from tiny stream to the huge tidal Trent. You have to catch a big barbel to experience the power as it is mind blowing, I would say the give so much in the fight than carp.

I'm seriusly thinking of travelling up to your neck of the woods next year, and with the kind offers I've had I could probably spend a week fishing wth different friends every day.