Barbus plebejus
Season calendar
- Season
- April, July–October
- Water temperature
- 12–22 °C
- Spawning
- May–June
- Behaviour
- Daytime bottom forager
Techniques
- Bottom rig
- feeder
- heavy nymph
Rules
- Minimum size 30 cm, closed season 1 May to 30 June. It gathers on gravel bars to spawn then, so leave it alone.
Timing
- July to October: activity rises with water temperature and it feeds by day.
- On hot summer days even the midday hours can produce.
Where
- Gravel-and-rock bottoms immediately below fast water.
- Bridge piers and the scoured edges of the main channel.
Technique
- Sliding-lead bottom rig with worm, sweetcorn or cheese.
- Use a feeder to hold the shoal in one place.
- On the fly, a heavy 3.5-4 mm tungsten-bead nymph drifted on the bottom.
- Release quickly; it tires easily in warm water.
Frequently asked
- When is the best time to catch italian barbel?
- The productive window for italian barbel runs April, July–October. May–June is the spawning period; releasing your catch during these months is strongly advised.
- What water temperature does italian barbel feed in?
- Italian barbel is most active between 12 and 22 °C. Outside that band its feeding rate drops off.
- How do you fish for italian barbel?
- Common methods: Bottom rig, feeder, heavy nymph.