Bedfordshire river produces 16lb 12oz barbel

A short three hour session on a cold winters day was all the time David Rainbow needed to bank this fine 16lb 12oz barbel.

Fishing on a stretch of river in Bedfordshire, the Biggleswade pensioner decided to target a deep fast flowing area known for holding big fish, using a running maggot feeder with double red-maggot on a size 14 Drennan Specialist hook.

After a short and spirited scrap lasting five minutes he netted the fish which beat his previous best for the species of 15lb 10oz.

“When I first struck into it I thought it was a chub as it didn’t charge off like a barbel,” he said. “My wife only allowed me to fish for a few hours so I didn’t stay long after catching the fish but I went home a very happy man.”