Top tips to catch more river fish on meat fishing baits

I’VE always loved rolling meat for barbel. It can be one of the most enjoyable ways to catch fish and one of the cheapest too.

Here are some simple tips and edges that will help you catch more on meat fishing baits:

1. GET ON THE SAUSAGE

And no, I don’t mean sausage meat, I mean Spicy Sausage flavour. I use the Sonubaits.com Flavour Shaker and just give the cubed meat a good coating in the stuff. This pungent, garlicky, spicy meaty smell has a proven track record for barbel and on meat, it’s awesome.

2. GET ON SOME POWERFUL TACKLE

I use the Korum Xpert end tackle because it’s so strong it’s ridiculous! 8lb or 10lb Power Mono with a size 10 Xpert Specimen is perfect in my book. This hook is super sharp, super strong and just the right pattern to grab in a barbel’s mouth. They’ve been a revelation in my fishing over the last few months – what a great hook.

3. KEEP IT SIMPLE

Simple rigs work, so don’t overcomplicate things. A good running setup with a small lead, or a simple link ledger is fine.

4. KEEP MOVING SWIMS

Rolling meat is a roving man’s game and you’ll soon know if the barbel are around because your rod will get ripped out of your hands! Note in this picture above that I’m keeping back from the water’s edge as I try this run. Moments later I had a barbel on the end!

5. DON’T BE SCARED OF BIG HOOKBAITS

Barbel have got big mouthes and they love a big chunk of meat. I’ve caught really small barbel on baits as big as a golf ball so don’t be shy. You can always scale it down if the fish are being shy, but you’ll find on waters that haven’t been battered on meat, you’ll get your best results on big baits.

6. EXPLORE NEW AREAS

When you’re roving you don’t need to fish the comfy swims, you can fish anywhere!

I caught the duo at the top of this blog under a small raft not far from the bank – an area any static angler wouldn’t have explored as getting a chair set up down there would’ve been impossible.

Be careful, of course, but search out those special spots – and keep them secret!

There you have it… some simple advice that will go a long way!

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