Tie Mick Brown's Method Feeder Rig for Barbel

Geplaatst Wit Vis Tactiek at Sep 24, 2010

All-round specimen ace Mick Brown shows you how to tie his Barbel Method Feeder rig.

Most people assume that Method Feeders are just for carp but top specialist angler Mick Brown has had some outstanding results when using the tactic for barbel on flowing water.

It's a devastating technique, particularly when the water is up and a bit coloured. Barbel are very adept at locating the ball of feed as it slowly breaks down and bites can be really vicious as the fish attack the pellet hook bait dangling enticingly below the ball of bait.

Here's how Mick sets up the rig:

Step 1 - Tie a small (10mm) over-hand loop in the end of a 60cm piece of line (I use 10lb Fluorocarbon), this will form the hair loop.

Step 2 - You need to use a strong but small hook for barbel. My favourite is the Drennan Carbon Specimen is a size 12 or 14..

Step 3 - I like to have the hook bait (a Dynamite 10mm Hair-Rigable Pellet) sitting just below the bend of the hook. To get the hair length right, thread the hook on to the line and then adjust the position you get everything lined up.

Step 4 - I make seven or eight turns around the hook shank to make a knotless knot. Thread the line back down through the eye of the hook and the knot is finished - simple as that!.

Step 5 - Carefully push a baiting needle through the Hair-Rigable Pellet and thread it on to the hair loop

Step 6 - Add a hair-stop to the loop to lock the pellet in place. You will find it much easy to handle a strip of hair stops like this than one at a time. Then simply snip off the stop and pull the line tight.

Step 7 - At the other end of the hook length I tie on a size 8 swivel using a Palomar knot - one of the strongest knots there is.

Step 8 - The finished hair-rig should look like this. The bait is sitting just below the bend of the hook, making it very easy for the barbel to suck in both the pellet and the hook in one go.

Step 9 - Thread an inline method feeder on to your main line. I tend to use 12lb line as a loaded feeder can weigh upwards of 4oz's and puts a lot of stress on the line and rod.

Step 10 - Tie the hook length swivel to the main line using a four turn grinner knot and pull the swivel into the soft rubber end of the feeder so that it is semi-fixed in place

Step 11 - Mould a handful of my barbel method mix groundbait around the feeder and make a small groove in one side. Next lay the hook bait and hook in the groove and then add a swab of bait to cover the hookbait, concealing it in the ball.

Step 12 - The rig is very tangle free and the groundbait will start to break down straight away, releasing the hookbait in about ten minutes. When the barbel are feeding they will often come up to the feeder and dislodge lumps of bait bringing instant savage bites!