Barbel are hard fighting fish that can become exhausted if not fished for with the correct tackle, and may have difficulty maintaining their equilibrium on release if not treated properly once landed.

You should always aim to land your barbel as quickly as possible. To this end a rod with a minimum test curve of 1.25lb and at east eight pound line is recommended - if ten pound fish are expected then a test curve of 1.75lb and 10lb line are safer minimums, with heavier tackle still being advisable in snaggy swims, during floodwater conditions or where larger fish are sought.

Line strength should be balanced to the rod's test curve, more powerful rods requiring heavier line. If using mono multiply the test curve by at least six to determine the line strength (e.g. 2lb test curve x 6 gives 12lb line breaking strain). If using braid this formula doesn't apply and a factor of 12 or 15 will get you nearer to a balanced setup - this is explained in the line section of this site.

Think about where you will land your fish before fishing, so that you can net a played out fish in safety. A large, deep, knotless meshed landing net is best. The choice of a round or triangular frame is up to you. A long, telescopic or multi-section landing net pole can be an advantage in some swims. Never attempt to beach a fish, or allow it to rest on stones, gravel or hard ground.

Once netted, leave the fish in the water in the landing net while you ensure that your unhooking equipment (and sling, scales and camera if you intend weighing and photographing the fish) are ready to hand.

Fish which are not going to be weighed or photographed can be unhooked while in the landing net in the water - if you are able to do this without risk to yourself. If the fish is to be weighed, or you cannot get down to the water then transfer the fish, still in the net, to a wet unhooking mat or an area of soft grass where you can remove the hook.

When carrying a fish in a landing net always hold the frame horizontally as this is a secure way of holding the net and prevents the fish being bent as can happen if the net is held vertically. Do not lift a net containing a fish by the pole alone as the joint may fracture, not only costing you money, but possibly dropping the fish on the ground.

Unless fishery rules dictate otherwise, using barbed or barbless hooks is a personal choice. However, barbless hooks, or hooks with barbs squeezed flat, are easier to remove than barbed ones. While barbless hooks can often be removed by using your fingers, even micro barbed hooks should be removed with forceps. If the hook is difficult to remove then cut the line and thread out the hook, point first, if necessary. A small pair of strong side cutters would be useful for cutting the eye off a hook that is to be removed in this way. Check the mouth for any other hooks and remove any that are present.

Never release a barbel until it is fully recovered, retaining it in the meshes of the landing net until it is upright, if necessary, and breathing and swimming strongly. Take extra care in hot weather when water temperatures are higher and the dissolved oxygen content is lower but still take care in colder conditions, and always in heavily coloured water, as excessive time out of the water can increase recovery time no matter what the water conditions.

Weighing and photography should take place on a flat area close to the water. Prepare your camera equipment and wet the weigh sling, which should be large enough to contain the fish easily, then zero the scales with the wet sling attached.

Carefully remove the barbel from the net on the unhooking mat into the wet weigh sling - ensuring its fins are not twisted. Always use wet hands to handle fish. At all times when handling a barbel take care that its dorsal spine does not get damaged. Once weighed the fish can be carried back to the river in the weigh sling or lowered onto the unhooking mat prior to photographing.

The fish should be held above the unhooking mat, close to the ground for photography. You should not stand with a fish for a photograph, nor should you carry it back to the water unless it is safely contained in a landing net or weigh sling.

After taking a few photographs (as quickly as you can), return the fish to the net or sling and carry it to the water. Position the fish to face upriver and allow as a long a period of recovery as is necessary. There should be a good flow of water through the mouth and gills. Encourage the fish to position itself upright and maintain balance. The fish must not be released until you are certain that it has sufficient strength to swim strongly in the current. Sometimes a barbel may swim off just a few yards and lie up in weed for some time. So long as it remains upright and is not swept away by the current there is no cause for concern. Nonetheless, always be prepared to recover a barbel that has apparently swum off okay only to float belly-up some distance downstream.

Provided they give you clear vision of the fish at all times retention tubes can be a valuable aid to barbel recovery. But they must be well staked out and allow a good flow of ogygenated water through them at all times.

Occasionally fish may need to be retained for witnessing or, if fishing alone, to allow you time to set up your camera equipment, but this should be for the shortest time possible. Remember, only one fish may be retained in a single tube or sack by law.

When retaining a fish check regularly to ensure that it is upright. A fish that rolls on its back will require more time before release, and may even die if not attended to.

The two most important things you can do to reduce a barbel's recovery time on return to the water are to play it for as short a time as possible and to have it out of the water as briefly as you can.

Some of this text is based on the Barbel Society's Barbel Handling Code which also forms the basis for the
Barbel Playing and Handling Code (PDF file) issued by the Fish Welfare Group.