First Barbel of the New River Season

My first barbel of the new river season came on 17th June, squeezed into a return visit before work. It all started with a quick session on the 16th, when I caught a chub and spotted a few nice barbel gliding over my spot. I was pleased with the chub, but those barbel gave me a very good reason to get back!

A chub to start the season

A quick trip was enough to get things moving on opening day. A chub is always a welcome start, and I certainly wasn't disappointed to have one kick off my river season. If you enjoy targeting both species, there's more in my article on chub and barbel fishing on small rivers.

A reason to return before work

The real talking point was seeing those barbel moving over the spot. Watching fish on the river gives you something that no amount of guessing can: confirmation that they're there. It doesn't guarantee a bite, of course, but it was enough to make a return visit very tempting.

So, on the 17th, I got back before work and managed that first barbel. Two short sessions, a chub and then a barbel — I'll happily take that as a start! It's the sort of result that reminds me why even a small window on the bank can be worth taking.

Making short river sessions count

My main takeaway from these trips is simple: keep your eyes open as well as watching for bites. The chub made the first visit worthwhile, and the barbel sighting gave the next visit a clear purpose. For more river inspiration, have a read of roving for barbel, or explore my separate article on barbel fishing with meat and pellet.

I've also included Korum and Sonubaits, the brands tagged in my original update, for anyone wanting to browse their ranges.

I hope you've had a good start to the season too. If you're heading down to the river this weekend, I hope you catch a few!