How To Tie A Simple Barbel Fishing Combi Rig | Chris Haydon
Barbel fishing doesn’t have to be complicated, but sometimes a few reasoned Rig tweaks can get you bonus bites. That certainly was the case for OMC's Media Editorial Manager Chris Haydon on a recent visit to the River Wye, where he found a Rig that turned knocks into three foot twitches - the Barbel Combi Rig!
For me, barbel fishing has always been about keeping it simple with Rigs. Usually this means a Running Feeder Rig with a long 3ft-plus Fluorocarbon Hooklink and a simple Knotless Knot. There are, however, times when that tactic needs adjusting slightly to win extra bites.
On a recent Media/Product trip to the Wye, I found myself in just the situation where I needed to adjust my classic Barbel Rig to try and turn the strange knocks I was getting into savage pull rounds.
I think the need for this change really was because I wasn't using a Swimfeeder, instead opting to mould paste round our new Deckz Leads. This meant bait was not exploding off downstream, more staying in the area of the Lead, pulling barbel right towards it. For flooded rivers these Leads are fantastic at really focusing the attraction in the area of your Rig - the paste stays in them for ages!
With this in mind, I needed a shorter Hooklink, so I thought now was the perfect time to experiment with a Rig I'd seen used elsewhere for barbel - The Combi Rig. With the new Kickback Linkz to hand, I could knock one up easily...
- Attach a Deckz Lead to our Vitabitz Run Rig Kit so your Deckz Lead is running freely on the Dancefloor Mainline.
- Tie on a Vitabitz Size 8 QC Swivel.
- Loop the KIckback Linkz Hooklink onto the Swivel and push over the incorporated Blend Tungsten Anti Tangle Sleeve.
- Using our Ammo Braid, I tie a short 3-4 inch Knotless Knot Hair Rig with a Twisted Figure of Eight Loop at one end.
- Loop this onto the Dog Bone Clip end of the Kickback Linkz (you could also tie direct.)
- You now have an awesome Barbel Combi Rig.
The change on this Rig was pretty significant. Any indications soon developed into typical savage bites. Not a change I'd commonly consider necessary for the Wye, but certainly on lower stocked smaller rivers, these adjustments could make all the difference.
For me, the combination of the stiff Fluorocarbon keeping everything tight away from the Lead and the supple Braid keeping the Hookbait looking natural makes perfect sense - and you won't find a simpler way to tie it.
Give this Rig a go on your next barbel fishing trip - it might just surprise you!
Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC Family in the spring of 2024, after six years working for the UK's number 1 fishing publication, the Angling Times. He is a keen Coarse and Carp Fishing All-rounder, fishing in the South West region, including the famous Cotswold Water Park.
