Match on the Avon throws up 10lb 6oz barbel

Sitting it out for barbel in river matches is a risky strategy but one which paid off for Ian Lillystone when he slipped his net under a 10lb 6oz specimen.

Fishing the Avon near Warwick, Ian waited four hours for the key bite during the Barford AA Winter League, on two 8mm halibut pellets hair-rigged on a size 14 hook. He fed 3mm pellets via a blockend feeder and used 10lb mainline and a 6lb hooklength.

Together with a few dace early on, Ian recorded 11lb 2oz and second place.