Plate V
Barbel
Barbus barbus
The barbel is the eponymous indicator fish of the barbel zone and a hard-fighting, bottom-oriented shoaling fish of fast-flowing, gravelly river stretches. It occurs naturally in the Franconian Saale and, thanks to its torpedo shape, holds close to the bottom while saving energy – on gravel banks, current edges and behind stones as well as in the undercurrents of weirs and bridges. It is mostly active at dusk and night, grubbing for invertebrates.
How to identify it
The reliable feature is four barbels on the snout-like, inferior mouth with thick, fleshy lips. Added to this are an elongated, almost cylindrical body and, in older fish, a serrated hard ray in the dorsal fin.
Look-alikes
Confusion arises mainly with young barbel: the gudgeon has only two barbels and stays small, while the nase has no barbels at all and a sharp-edged, transverse horny lip. When in doubt, count the barbels – four mean barbel.
Tip
The hard-fighting barbel responds well to ledgering or feeder fishing with corn, worm or pellets; take care in the kitchen, as the roe and the surrounding belly flesh are toxic and must be removed.
This profile is provided without guarantee; biological details and especially closed season / minimum size must be checked against the current AVBayFiG and your permit before relying on them. Rules & closed seasons.