I have seen some of these vids before and checked the one's I haven't seen before.
Though all vids show how to call barbel I must admit that there is a few key aspects missing from there technique.
Here follows a few key tips with regards to calling barbel;
- firstly use the right rod. I am a strong believer of using Blue Marlin Bigshot calling rods for calling, not only because they are very strong but also because they are stiff and give of the right sound when calling. I have seen a few variations of calling rods, but most of them are either to flexible or don't have enough back bone thus allowing it to brake when you hook into a brute.
- secondly one must remember that you are trying to imitate a bird/fish struggling in the water so your calling should reflect this. Some venues with little fishing pressure will allow an angler to call as they want and still deliver fish, but most venues barbel will be hesitant to take your lure if your technique is not natural. Thus give eratic 'plonses' and 'calls'. Istead of repetitively plonsing your lure give 2-4 plonses and then let your lure sink below the spot you plonsed.
- anglers often plons a lot without letting the lure sink below the spot they called. This leads to them missing strikes as the barbel come to take the lure but get spooked or find nothing to take. So after you plonsed your lure let it sink down and give the barbel a time to strike it (especially at Bloemhof the barbel tend to take your lure when you let it suspend for 3 secs). Plons can be vertical or via swinging the lure and then letting it hit the water, varies from venue to venue which method is prefered.
- how hard you must plons or call depends on the venue you fish, some venue's barbel prefer louder calling and plonses (Bloemhof) and other likes it very soft (Rust de Winter). Usually its a good idea to start of softly and call harder as time passes. If you see barbel spook (mudclouds/swirls/bubbleclouds) when you start calling harder, this indicates that they prefer it softer.
- call next to structure if possible and in the shade as this is where barbel lay to stay out of fish eagles sight. If you see lots of barbel turning in shallow pans you can try calling in open water.
- try calling in different depths, sometimes the barbel prefer taking your lure just below the surface and other times they want it deeper down.
- the depth you stick your rodtip in when calling will influence how far barbel will pick up the vibrasion. Thus if you get no strikes after calling softly, stick in your rodtip deeper into the water and start calling to call barbel from far away to your lure. Calls must be quick eratic horizontal movement of your rod tip.
- Use decent loodkop or pumkinseeds when calling, if you use a lure with small hooks you will have a lot of misstrikes (like in some of the vids). I prefer Lume Fast Sinking Pumkinseeds, the bigger version works better
- I have seen how barbel under 10kg snap 100lb braid on the take, for this reason I use 150lb braid and have never been snapped on this line.
Catching barbel on calling is great fun and proudly South African, therefor I urge all anglers to give it a whirl. My father and I have caught 50+ barbel on calling in one day, just giving the stats for the sceptics