Links to Barbel Fishing Products

Here are a few links to the products that I use for my barbel fishing, click the underlined links to go to the page for the product.

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Rods

BFW Torrix
The Torrix blank is superb and copes very well with a broad range of barbel fishing situations. I have 2 BFW Torrix rods with a 2lb test curve both built by Bob Gill, who is a master rod builder.The 2lb test curve rod is equally at home in floods with 6oz feeders as well as fishing with 1 oz close in on a small river.  The rod is superb when playing fish, especially when they lunge under the rod tip, the Torrix just soaks it up. Like all good rods you stop noticing it after a while; it becomes another transparent fishing tool.
One other thing, when Bob Gill builds these rods they look absolutely stunning!
BFW iPower
The iPower is a softer more through actioned blank than the Torrix and comes as a twin tip rod with both a 2lb and a 1.75 lb test curve. The blank has a greater butt diameter than the Torrix but is considerably softer. In my opinion it is more suited to fishing small to medium rivers; the 1.75lb test curve tip is excellent for the Yorkshire rivers unless they are really flooded, in which case I'll be on the Trent! The 2lb test curve tip is great for fishing close in snaggy swims, it will stop anything and just keeps bending. I have one of these made by Bob Gill and I'll never part with it, unless someone offers me a lot of money and I see something that I want even more :-)
Peregrine Specialist Floodwater Barbel Rod Mk II
I am a big fan of this rod, it has by far the best casting action of anything I own and I find it easy to lob a 6oz feeder to the far bank of the Trent. Also nice and soft when playing fish under the rod tip. The rod has nice big rings and very soft spliced in tip which is excellent in flood conditions; the tip progressively bends as the weed on the line builds up which helps prevent the lead from dislodging. Recommended!

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Reels

Shimano 5000 XTEA Super Baitrunner
I tried a few of the cheaper baitrunners, including the ones from Shimano (5000 GTE-C) and found the clutch to be jerky and eratic at best. Not so with the 5000 XTEA. This is a great barbel fishing reel for most situations; it has a silky smooth clutch, good line lay and a totally reliable baitrunner facility.

Okuma Sheffield