Barbel Elbow

Barbel Elbow

By Steve Stayner

With such an accessible wealth of Barbel angling experience available nowadays, you would think choosing a rod would be easy. The fact is, however, that both Barbel angling tactics and the tackle we choose to fish for them are going through somewhat of a transition period. Personally, I welcome many aspects of such a radical facelift - especially concerning the updated advice on tackle strength - and you only need to read my article on snag fishing to become familiar with some of my opinions, particularly regarding rods.

Even so, loaded with the appropriate some of money in readiness to scour the market, many of us should now be Barbel-educated enough to know what we require from our choice of rod. We should know immediately we bend into that sweet progressive through action that we feel certain would stop any Big Barbel in its tracks. Of course, at this point we can't be totally sure of the rod's capabilities because pulling at the tip is merely a shop assistant, undoubtedly doing his inadequate best to act like a Barbel. When we leave the shop, having purchased the rod, we feel so sure that we have considered everything and definitely made the right choice. All we need to convince ourselves is some real arm-aching action from a real Big Barbel - or two. Talking of arm ache, the remainder of this true story is about just that and may well offer readers some serious food for thought.

Arm-ache

My 1998/99 season began rather well with an opening day catch of ten snag-swim Barbel, including beauties of 10.10. 9.01 and 8.08. Not a bad way to christen a new D.I.Y rod built during the closed season. I'm sure we all take a great deal of pleasure from landing our first few fish on any new rod, but, believe me, the pleasure is multiplied many times when using a rod you have built yourself!

As the season progressed, the fishing inevitably became harder. In fact, during the seventeen years I have fished exclusively for the species, I have yet to experience any season so difficult as that of 98/99 - and neither do I want to! Nevertheless, I was still managing to capture the odd 8.Lb+ fish to cause a little arm ache, and by the time August arrived my arm was beginning to ache even whilst I wasn't fishing. Moreover, the pain was spreading from the base of my right index and third fingers, across the hand and up the forearm to the elbow. A couple of weeks later, merely making a fist with my right hand was enough to send spasmodic pain right up to the elbow; in turn my sleep-pattern was disturbed with a dull 'tooth-ache' kind of pain down the forearm. By that time I was becoming a little concerned, because we all know what the right arm is for (No, you mucky lot, not that), landing Barbel and swilling the odd jar, or two.

What a racket; or is slim really beautiful?

Apparently, my symptoms were down to a condition that often effects racket sportsmen, known as 'Tennis Elbow' or repetitive strain. With my own interest in tennis extending no further than watching the odd match on TV, having never suffered with this complaint before, I was completely baffled as to what was the cause. It turned out this condition often results from repeatedly grasping hold of something that is too low in diameter, and is the reason tennis coaches go to great lengths to ensure that any racket fits snugly into a pupil's hand.

I know this isn't tennis, but there are parallels. These days, in fishing rod design, slim is most definitely regarded as being beautiful, and many blanks are slimmer than an index finger at the handle end of the butt section. In many instances, build quality has never been better, and many rods (by design) draw the attention of the potential customer by their attractiveness alone. Whippings and overall finish can be first class and on many occasions a nice super-slim fixed reel seat and handle completes a beautiful product.

If slim is beautiful, then fat is fabulous!

Resulting from medical advice, I looked closely at how I had constructed my rod handle and how (and where) I held the rod whilst playing fish. After choosing a super-slim Harrison blank, I had opted for an 18mm 'carp style' reel seat and duplon handle. Whilst playing fish, I had the habit (as many anglers do) of holding the rod at the seat with the reel stem resting between my right index and second finger. My choice of seat did not offer a comfortable holding position forward of the winch fitting and, with hindsight, my decision to fit it proved to be a mistake.

To help deal with the immense power of these super-fish, I feel it's absolutely crucial that whilst playing them we are able to hold the rod comfortably above the real seat. My first priority was to increase the diameter of the handle in this area. I knew roughly what was needed but couldn't find what I had in mind. One or two manufacturers, however, do make something similar and all that was needed was a little adaptation. The fatter handle would have to extent both above and below the reel seat because in some instances while playing Barbel it is necessary to pass the rod quickly across the body. To do this, the angler must temporarily grasp the rod below the seat, which effectively gives a shorter handle. Consequently, to have reduced the diameter too soon would have defeated the objective I was aiming to achieve.

The finished product (shown above) may look a little odd when compared to some of the more conventional slimmer seats. But it's my answer to 'Barbel Elbow;' a condition which can, and often does, effect Barbel anglers who are possibly holding rod handles that are too low in diameter for their hands! Of course, this could be mere coincidence. But, within two weeks of these alterations, my symptoms completely disappeared and have not returned.

Summary

It would be easy for readers to assume that I am against a slim design for a rod handle, but this could not be further from the truth. Indeed, it is all down to personal preference and the tactics adopted by the angler for the species he's chosen to target. In this case, the species is our beloved Barbel, a fish, which, for whatever reason, appears to be increasing in overall size and gaining extra power - if that's possible?

To deal with this power both adequately and comfortably, then it surely follows that our rod should be fitted with a reel seat purposely designed for our individual needs rather than something any current trend suggests is more aesthetically pleasing. The winch reel seat fitted to your own choice of rod may well look nice but does it effectively serve its purpose, which extends far beyond that of merely holding your reel firmly in place?

Today, in all walks of life, we are told what is good for us, what is bad for us, and what we should or should not use. Sometimes it pays us to question what we are told is best for us because it isn't always so. Remember, what is suitably good for one individual may well be bad for the next. Choose your next fishing rod, and the design of its handle, very carefully; after all, it is an extension of 'your' arm and nobody else's!

An additional point for readers to note is that Harrison Advanced Rods now fit this reel seat design as a slightly more expensive, optional custom-built extra. The company will welcome any enquiries from those anglers who may be genuinely interested. Stockists of Harrison rods should also be able to help.
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Steve Stayner