Listen to the Song – King of the Current
The complete lyrics are included in the companion book, Our Jewels in the Water, allowing readers to follow every song while learning about Britain’s remarkable freshwater fish.
Enjoying the music?
The companion book Our Jewels in the Water includes the full lyrics, additional stories, exclusive photographs and beautiful illustrations for every species.
The Barbel
King of the Current
“Built for the fastest waters and blessed with incredible strength, the Barbel is the undisputed king of Britain’s flowing rivers.”
Species Profile
The Barbel (Barbus barbus) is one of Britain’s most powerful freshwater fish. With its long muscular body, bronze flanks and distinctive whisker-like barbels around its mouth, it is perfectly adapted for life in fast-flowing rivers.
Every part of the Barbel’s body has evolved to cope with strong currents. Its streamlined shape allows it to hold position where many other fish would struggle, while its sensitive barbels help it locate food hidden among gravel and stones.
For countless anglers, hooking a large Barbel is one of freshwater fishing’s greatest thrills.
Clive’s Story
Whenever I think of Barbel, I remember one thing above everything else…
Power.
The first run of a hooked Barbel is something no angler ever forgets.
The float disappears—or the rod tip lunges forward—and suddenly the fish is heading downstream with incredible determination. For a few moments, you’re no longer in control. The Barbel is.
Many wonderful days were spent on rivers where Barbel ruled the current. Every fish demanded respect, not only because of its strength but because of the environment in which it lived. Fast water leaves little room for mistakes.
Landing a good Barbel always felt like an achievement that had to be earned.
Natural History
Barbel inhabit medium to large rivers with clean, well-oxygenated water and gravel bottoms.
They feed almost entirely on the riverbed, using their four sensitive barbels to detect insect larvae, freshwater shrimps, worms, snails and other food hidden beneath stones.
As they mature, Barbel become increasingly powerful, often reaching double-figure weights in suitable rivers.
During the spawning season they seek shallow gravel runs where oxygen-rich water flows constantly over their eggs, giving the next generation the best possible start in life.
Interesting Facts
- Scientific name: Barbus barbus
- Family: Cyprinidae (Carp Family)
- Average size: 4–8 lb
- Specimen size: Double-figure fish are common in some rivers
- Habitat: Fast-flowing rivers with gravel beds
- Diet: Worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, snails and aquatic life
- Lifespan: Up to 20 years
- Status: Widespread in suitable British rivers
Behind the Song
When writing King of the Current, I wanted the music to capture both power and grace.
The Barbel isn’t an aggressive fish.
It simply belongs to the river in a way few other species do.
Everything about it reflects strength, balance and determination. The melody mirrors the relentless pull of a powerful fish against the current, while the lyrics celebrate one of Britain’s greatest river species.
Watch the Video
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Conservation
Barbel rely upon healthy rivers with clean gravel beds and unpolluted water.
Silt, pollution and river engineering can destroy spawning grounds that have existed for generations.
Protecting natural river flows and improving water quality will ensure that future anglers experience the unforgettable power of a wild Barbel.
Clive’s Reflection
The Barbel has always reminded me that true strength rarely comes with noise.
It doesn’t leap like a Salmon or chase prey like a Pike.
Instead, it quietly masters one of the toughest environments in our rivers.
Every encounter with a Barbel leaves an angler with enormous respect—not only for the fish itself, but for the powerful rivers that shaped it.
“Only the strongest can truly become King of the Current.”
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