Nene barbel pair go 31lb

One of the UK’s fastest up-and-coming big barbel rivers has produced a brace of specimens with a combined weight of 31lb 7oz.

Steve Russell smashed his personal best for the species when he slipped the net under this fin-perfect 16lb 6oz specimen during a session on the River Nene.

This year the venue has produced its best ever form for the species and certainly proved that it’s big barbel credentials compare with the likes of the Rivers Avon, Kennet, Derwent and Trent when the Oxfordshire specialist backed up his new ‘pb’ with a fish weighing 15lb 1oz.

In order to ensure that his rig was presented perfectly among the weed on the river bed Steve threaded his 15lb Drennan braided hooklink through the middle of a PVA bag and both fish were fooled with two CC Moore 10 mm Meteor boilies.

It’s a catch that comes just a few weeks after he banked a 15lb 5oz barbel from the same venue.

“This river has been in such great form this year and I can’t wait until winter to see how much these fish put on when they reach their optimum weights,” Steve told Angling Times.
“I arrived early in the morning and only had one small barbel to show for my efforts, but as soon as the light began to fade my rod was literally ripped off the rest by this huge fish that put up such an epic fight.”

“The advantage of threading your hooklink into the bag as opposed to just nicking the hook through it is that ensures nothing gets caught up especially when you casting into weedy areas.

“It’s a 160-mile round trip to get to this river, but it’s worth every bit of effort because there are so many big fish to target.”