By Paul Hiom

A very dark spot on the lower Severn

Barbel fishing has increasingly become synonymous with night fishing as many barbel tend to go on the feed after dusk and sometimes continue well into the small hours of early morning. In some instances and on some rivers, daytime or rather daylight fishing is a complete waste of time. This is of course not always the case, however it does mean that the best way to enjoy successful or even consistent barbel fishing is to be prepared to fish well into darkness.

Fishing at night is a very different prospect to daytime fishing and whilst there is very little difference in how you tackle up for barbel at night, it is very important to be prepared. What I mean by being prepared is that you have to plan your night trips in order to make sure that all aspects of your personal safety, comfort and barbel welfare are given consideration and are fully catered for before you start fishing.

Firstly, make sure that you can night fish the stretch of river that you intend fishing; oddly there are still some antiquated clubs who do not allow night fishing; although in fairness this could be down to the land owners wishes. Secondly there is no point going night fishing if you are scared of the dark. Sounds obvious and you might well laugh, but you'd be surprised at the number of people who, not having been night fishing before are totally unprepared for the sounds of nature such as screaming foxes, hunting owls, screeching heron, bats flying to within an inch of their face, rabbits being attacked and killed by stoats or weasels, water rats scurrying under foot, mink calling to each other from across the river and otters swimming or walking the river banks and landing their kill a few meters up or down stream from your fishing position. This is fishing in the real wilds of the British countryside and to the newcomer it can be pretty hair-raising. I consider it a privilege to be in the company of our wildlife, but someone new to night fishing might well be frightened off by such activity. It is a good idea to try night fishing with friends until you feel confident, especially younger anglers.

If you plan to night fish on your own, it makes sense to tell someone where you are going, roughly what time roughly you plan to be back and take a mobile phone with you in case of unseen difficulties. Most mobile networks offer fairly good coverage these days even in the most remote areas. Leave your phone in your tackle bag in case you fall in. Just as a further example, no one wants to be in the middle of nowhere on a freezing cold night with a car that wont start at 2am. Avoid driving your car into muddy fields if you plan to night fish, it might get stuck and the farmer might not be best pleased to be woken up by the AA, Green Flag or RAC breakdown van flashing lights all over his livestock whilst towing you out. Take spare clothes and a towel in case of an unforeseen dip in the river and make sure that once in your swim, you can get out again after heavy rainfall as slippery high banks are almost impossible to traverse with all your fishing kit on your back, especially in the dark when you cant see very well even with a head torch. A knotted rope tied to a tree or dog spike at the top of the bank is a useful aid in these circumstances and will help you pull yourself up the bank, should the need arise.

Being comfortable is essential to enjoyable night fishing. Make sure you are waterproof, have plenty of layers, a hot flask or the ability to make a brew. Also make sure you have taken enough food with you. A cold, thirsty or hungry angler is not a focused angler. Avoid alcohol at all costs when night fishing near rivers.

Your fishing area should be organized with everything that you need close to hand and usually that will be your landing net, unhooking mat, forceps, weighing scales and sling. Other items that you should keep close are bait, baiting needles, scissors and a penknife. Make sure there are no obstacles on the floor, between you and your rods. Occasionally (although I try to avoid it) you will need a torch when landing fish and you cant hold a rod, landing net and a torch without getting into a bit of a contortion, so invest in a reliable head torch. A head torch is almost vital for re-baiting, useful when unhooking and necessary for making up rigs at night if your hooks get blunted or worse still when smashed up by a good fish or a bad snag. Think about where you are fishing and make sure that you can safely return your barbel or retain them in a barbel tube or sling without over extending yourself. I have gone head first into the River Severn at night trying to peg an extra long bank stick into the silty margins. Fortunately for me, it was summer and a warm evening, but still a bit of a shock to the system. In winter it can be life threatening.

When fishing static, it is useful to use starlights or fluorescent isotopes on your rod tips to help indicate developing bites. Trying to watch your rod at night without these lights is virtually impossible and the old fashioned method of shining a torch on your rod tips may either scare fish, wildlife or annoy others fishing in the vicinity. Sit close to your rods, just in case of problems (such as forgetting to switch your Baitrunner on). Bite alarms have their uses, especially if like me, you have a tendency to nod off or take forty winks, but have some respect for others by keeping the volume down to a respectable level. When touch ledgering at night I do away with a tip light as I find they become a distraction to the sensitivity and timing of my reactions to interest from potential fish. Another important factor to consider when night roving several swims is to make sure you know each swim well enough not to get caught out by tricky bank side vegetation, sloping dry or wet paths and any other obstacles that might cause you to slide or tumble down towards the river. Himalayan balsam on the Teme and Lower Severn is a classic example of vegetation that can cause you to slide when you tread on it. Steps that are dug out can be difficult to see at night and can cause a nasty fall if missed.

Taking photographs should always be a last resort, unless of course you have caught a good or important fish. Set up your camera and tripod whilst your barbel is recovering in the river, retained either in a landing net, tube or sling. Assuming you use a digital camera, take a few shots of the portrait area first to make sure your photo will come out fairly much as expected. Don't try to take self-portrait photographs straight after unhooking as you will waste too much time clambering around setting things up and your prize barbel will be gasping its life away. Clear a path to the photo area before lifting your fish out of the river to avoid any potential falls. Place your fish (which may be lively after resting) on a mat, set the auto timer on your camera and position yourself for the shot, unless using a remote of course. Try to get your picture right first time to avoid delays returning fish and remember to smile. Be quick to photograph your barbel and get it back into the river as quickly as possible to minimize nursing and stress.

Finally, make sure you know your way back to the car at the end of your night session. Many of us have been there and have gone around in circles trying to find the right stile, gate or gap in the hedge. There's no worse feeling than being lost at the end of a tiring barbel session.

Footnote:
Some of the more popular locations have suffered the odd car break in and even the occasional attack on anglers night fishing near to car parks or returning to their cars. Try to avoid areas with a reputation for trouble. In all my time night fishing, I have never personally had any problems. If you hear any activity that concerns you, don't try to confront the perpetrators. If you fear for your safety, call the Police if possible or wait for the perpetrators to leave. If you are confronted on the riverbank at night, be prepared and think about how you might respond to a physical attack. An escape route is preferable, however, you may be restricted and self-defence may be the only option available. Remember that self-defence is a legal right and if your life is at risk, you must take appropriate action to protect yourself. Our personalities and personal experiences usually dictate how we cope in these circumstances, but whichever option you chose, try to remain calm and level headed.