RULES
Barbel Handling Code
Barbel Handling Code as recognised and endorsed by the Nottingham Piscatorial Society for our members fishing our waters.
- Suitable Tackle
When targeting barbel on our waters we ask you to use well-balanced tackle, aiming to land your barbel as quickly as possible, but without undue pressure or bullying.
Playing fish to exhaustion on light tackle causes unnecessary stress. We suggest a minimum suitable size (26” round or 30” triangle) deep, fine knotless meshed landing net and extending landing net pole,
an unhooking mat of suitable dimensions, a minimum of a through action rod of 1 1/2 lb test curve and ten pound line, with much heavier tackle and line advisable in snaggy swims or flood conditions.
- Barbel Handling
Always try to allow the barbel a few moments to recover at the water’s edge in your landing net before lifting it out onto a wet unhooking mat whilst you remove the hook.
Barbless hooks or those with barbs squeezed flat are easier to remove than barbed ones. Return the fish back to the water as soon as possible allowing as long as the fish needs, retaining it in the meshes
of the landing net until it is upright, fully recovered breathing and swimming strongly. Taking extra time in hot weather as the dissolved oxygen content is lower. Never attempt to beach a fish, or allow
it to rest on stones, gravel or hard ground. Always use wet hands to handle fish.
- Weighing and photogrpahy
Leave the fish in the water in the landing net meshes with plenty of room to breathe, while you prepare your equipment. Wet the weigh sling, and zero the scales. Prepare your camera equipment and then
transfer the fish to your chosen area. The fish should be held close to the ground for photography and never stand with a fish. Always return the fish to the water in your weigh sling or landing net rather
than carrying it.
- Keepnets
We would request that members or their guest do not use keepnets to retain barbel on any occasion. However NPS recognises that barbel are retained in keepnets during external matches. We appeal to
match anglers to use the largest barbel friendly nets they can and to position them where the fish can obtain maximum through flow of water and minimum overcrowding. Staking the closed end of the keepnet
up-river will greatly help in this matter. We also ask that where possible a weigh and release policy is considered where large fish in particular can be weighed individually in a soft sling and released
soon after capture. We would also ask that the competitors and Stewards ensure that all barbel are nursed so as they are fully recovered before release
General recommendations
- After your own safety, always consider the welfare of the fish above all else.
- Keep them out of water for the minimum time.
- Always use adequate, balanced tackle.
- Only pursue barbel in rivers, we are opposed to their stocking in stillwaters.
- All anglers are advised to join the Angling Trust.
- Take all your litter home, and enjoy your barbel fishing in wild, clean river surroundings!
A full copy of the code can be found on the Barbel Society's website