Big summer barbel on the feed
The seemingly endless stream of big summer barbel being produced by rivers nation-wide has shown no sign of slowing up this week with a host of anglers smashing their personal bests.
League One footballer Tommy Rowe continued his fine run of River Nene specimens with this new personal best 15lb 9oz fish from a stretch of the waterway at Elton, Cambs.
Fishing a spot close to where a small backwater joins the main river, the Peterborough United skipper used his favourite polony hookbait on a size 10 barbless hook over crushed boilies and pellets.
“The water was very clear so I used a long hooklink to avoid spooking the fish,” said the 24-year old, who originally hails from Manchester. “Like most of the other barbel I’ve caught from the river, it’s a real hook-and-hold job as there are so many snags.”
Also cashing in on the action was Barry Jarvis who smashed his personal best by 10lb when his two-and-a-half year quest to catch a barbel from the River Ivel ended with the capture of a 16lb 4oz specimen.
Targeting a stretch in Bedfordshire, he used a bait dropper to introduce a bed of hemp, pellets and broken boilies then presented a simple running lead rig baited with two trimmed-down 16mm Mainline Squid boilies mounted on a size 8 hook over the top.
“I went to bait the river up with my brother and the intention was to put a bit in, get a good night’s sleep and return at first light, but he insisted on going straight home and getting the gear. I wasn’t too keen at all.” Barry told Angling Times.
“But at 1.30 am I changed my tune when the water erupted and the best fight of my life ended in the capture that has really shocked me.”
“There aren’t many barbel in this small stretch of river, which is why it’s taken me over two years to get one! The average size is incredible, though, and I know there are much bigger fish here.”