How to enter Riverfest 2015
Riverfest 2015 is up and running and the race is on to win river matchfishing’s biggest prize.
This year’s event is bigger than ever with 24 qualifiers, and applications are now open to secure places in search of the massive £12,000 top purse this November.
“We’re delighted to have been able to increase the size of the competition, giving 240 more anglers the chance to qualify for the final,” said event creator , river maestro Dave Harrell.
“There are some great new venues as well as established favourites and we’ll have 12 more anglers in the final itself. It’s going to be a great competition!”
Angling Times readers can throw their hat into the ring by filling in the entry form printed each week in Angling Times. Unlike in previous years, tickets will be allocated on a random draw basis rather than first come, first served.
A three-week window for applications is now in operation, closing on Sunday, April 12. The list of successful applicants will then be published on the Angling Trust’s website, and payment for tickets will be collected after this time.
Entry is £25 per ticket, and anglers must pay for each successful entry. Failure to do so will result in their full allocation of tickets being withdrawn.
Any tickets left after the random draw will then be sold on a first come, first served basis.
For 2015 there will be more chances than ever to qualify, with several new venues and an increase in match sizes that will ultimately generate 12 more places in the final.
This takes place over the weekend of November 14 and 15 on the River Wye at Hereford, with spectators welcome to come and watch and an on-site bookmaker present on both days for anglers and the public to have a flutter.
How to apply...
To help ease the suspense as to whether you’re fishing or not, organsiers the Angling Trust has produced a timetable for how tickets will be allocated this year:
March 23 – April 12: RiverFest opens for entries
April 13 – April 14: Random draw takes place with results published on the Angling Trust website
April 15 – April 24: Angling Trust contacts successful entrants for ticket payment
April 27 – May 1: Tickets issued through the post
THE QUALIFIERS
SATURDAY JUNE 20 – RIVER CALDER, MIRFIELD, WEST YORKS
Chub are the dominant species in the early part of the season and its pretty much all floatfishing on the waggler or stick float.
SATURDAY JUNE 27 – RIVER SWALE, MORTON, NORTH YORKS
Floatfishing with maggots and casters on fancied chub pegs will lead the way but with colour, barbel will have a big say on the feeder.
SUNDAY JULY 5 – BRISTOL AVON, NEWBRIDGE TO SALTFORD
A river synonymous with bream on the feeder, but real mixed bags have ensured qualification in previous matches.
SUNDAY JULY 12 – RIVER TRENT, NEWARK DYKE, NOTTS
The Dyke holds specimen chub, barbel and some big bream but skimmers are the standard fare on groundbait feeder.
SUNDAY JULY 19 – RIVER TYNE, CORBRIDGE TO WYLAM
Could be a dace bonanza fishing the whip if the river is carrying extra water. Matches are usually won with 40lb-60lb.
SATURDAY JULY 25 – RIVER TRENT, HOLME MARSH, NOTTS
Traditionally a bream venue, 100lb will be possible for feeder anglers although barbel can show. They’re decent fish too.
SATURDAY AUGUST 1 – RIVER WEAVER, NORTHWICH, CHESHIRE
Slow and deep, the River Weaver is all about bream and last year’s qualifier saw a new match record set using Method feeder and mini boilies. Skimmers and roach will be the back-ups if the bream aren’t in the mood.
SATURDAY AUGUST 15 – RIVER SOAR, SUTTON BONINGTON, LEICS
Chopped worm is essential on the Soar and while the feeder for bream will be the main approach, eels, perch and tench can see you go through.
SUNDAY AUGUST 16 – RIVER YARE, LANGLEY, NORFOLK
Depending on the tide this could be won on bream or roach. If the slabs feed it’s a feeder job. On a roach day, polefishing maggots and casters could net you 40lb.
SATURDAY AUGUST 22 – RIVER TEES, BOWESFIELD, CLEVELAND
Expect bream on the feeder, although there are also lots of small fish that could win a harder section using the pole.
SUNDAY AUGUST 23 - RIVER NENE, ORTON, CAMBS
Bream and skimmers on the feeder are likely but hemp roach and chopped worm fish like eels, perch and tench could also play a part.
SATURDAY AUGUST 29 – RIVER DON, SPROTBROUGH, SOUTH YORKS
Feeder anglers will get on well with the Don, targeting roach, skimmers, hybrids and a few proper bream, but only in the deeper sections.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5 – RIVER SEVERN, BEWDLEY, WORCS
An iconic bit of river packed with chub and barbel that responds to the feeder and either hemp and caster when it’s clear or pellets when coloured.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6 – RIVER GREAT OUSE, LITTLEPORT, CAMBS
Although the bream shoals are big, they’re also unreliable and it could be that a 15lb net of roach gets you through.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13 – RIVER WYE, BREINTON TO EIGN, HEREFORDSHIRE
You’d put your house on chub winning this qualifier, especially in low and clear conditions. Small fish are present, but not in sufficient numbers to challenge the expected 40lb weights.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19 – RIVER SEVERN, BRIDGNORTH, SHROPSHIRE
There are always some barbel to be caught on this section of river and it’s very similar to Bewdley inasmuch as pellets rule the scene following rain, swapping to maggots, casters and hemp in the feeder when the water is clear.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27 – RIVER TRENT, BURTON ON TRENT, STAFFS
This qualifier will be a classic small-fish match catching roach, perch, dace and the odd skimmer on the long pole or running line. Hemp can be particularly devastating at this time of year.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 – RIVER THAMES, MEDLEY, OXON
This is the time of year when the Thames is in full swing and bream shoals are numerous, along with big perch, chub and even a few tench on chopped worm.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 – RIVER SEVERN, UPTON ON SEVERN, WORCS
Under the right conditions this section could produce an astonishing weight of bream on the feeder, but you’d still want well over 50lb to do well. Small fish are also plentiful.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 11 – RIVER MEDWAY, BARMING, KENT
Making its RiverFest debut, this intimate part of the Medway ranges from deep, slow sections to narrower, faster pegs with chub and bream the big fish on offer.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 17 – WARKS AVON, ECKINGTON, WORCS
The section of the Avon that produced a stunning result last year, with two 120lb bream weights! Those fish can still figure to feeder tactics, especially with colour and extra water in the river.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 18 – RIVER SEVERN, SHREWSBURY, SHROPSHIRE
Roach, dace, perch and the odd chub and bream are still the fish to catch on the Quarry and County Ground sections. A range of float disciplines work on this part of the Severn.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24 – YORKSHIRE OUSE, HUNTER’S LODGE TO LINTON, NORTH YORKS
Regularly match fished but sometimes a tough nut, where the odd big fish could win the whole thing. Expect bream on the famed bungalows at Hunter’s Lodge.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1 – OLD RIVER NENE, MARCH, CAMBS
An out-and-out bread venue, fishing for roach and skimmers and aiming for 20lb-plus. Mild weather could see tench, perch and even the odd eel show on the wider bypass section.
THE FINAL
SATURDAY 14 AND SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER – RIVER WYE, HEREFORD, HEREFORDSHIRE
One of the finest stretches of UK river at this time of year with big barbel and chub plus masses of roach, dace and perch. Split over two days, anglers will fish one match on the upper reaches where big fish dominate. The other will be on the town stretch that’s packed with small fish on the float.
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Break your personal best at Langley Lakes
There aren’t many venues where you can catch 100lb of mixed fish one day and a 30lb carp the next – but that’s exactly what Lingley Lakes offers with its two stunning waters.
Comprising a Match Lake and a Specimen Lake, Lingley aims to meet anglers’ desires of breaking their personal bests. Whether it’s a weight or quantity record you’re after, this fishery certainly has the potential to do it thanks to the stocking of carp to over 30lbs, bream to 5lbs and barbel to 6lbs, as well as a host of other species too. Not only do the fish impress but the flora and fauna has also been shown special attention to ensure the scenery matches the same quality of fishing that many modern commercials offer.
Match Lake
An ‘L’ shaped lake with 29 pegs and three central islands all between 8-10m out – making the pole an ideal method to use here. The water is relatively murky but this does not affect the fishing which is simply fantastic. It’s stocked primarily with barbel, roach, tench, bream and carp, which are bred from FrontFish UK. Some of these juvenile fish have been recently transferred from the Specimen Lake into the Match Lake and are in fin-perfect condition. All the pegs here can reach the island and this is where you want to start your session. Switch between the pole and feeder with corn and pellet and then maggot shallow in open water to find the roach – which go to 1lb here. The edge line with paste or a soft pellet could be good for a bigger carp or barbel as well.
Specimen Lake
This carp only water is two acres in size with two islands, making it perfect for those anglers who like small, intimate lakes with decent features and big fish to target. It currently has ten pegs but only six anglers are allowed to fish at any one time, which adds to the overall exclusive feel this lake carries. This is very much deserved as these stunning carp are bred from FrontFish UK which specialises in producing immaculate looking specimens for fisheries.
You’ll struggle to bank a carp under the 17lb barrier here, and many of the original 32 specimens are now believed to weigh in excess of 30lbs – meaning every bite could be your new personal best. The islands and the two underwater peaks either side of the point are the best places to target, with straight leads, pellet PVA bags and double 8mm pineapple boilies currently proving the hot tactic.
Prices: £6.50 a day (Match Lake), £15 a day (Specimen Lake)
Contact: 01772 861901 or visit www.langleylakes.co.uk
Location: Langley Lakes, Langley Lane, Goosnargh, Preston, PR3 2JP
Rules: All anglers must use landing nets provided, no fixed method feeders, barbless hooks only, no night fishing, no cat or dog meat, sacks not allowed, no bait boats, no fires, no rods to be left unattended.
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The river season goes out with a bang!
One of the most prolific closing weeks of the river season ever proved why more anglers are returning to UK rivers as countless huge specimens and record-breaking catches hit the bank.
Match angler Andy Sharp became the envy of the specimen fishing world when he trotted maggots on 3lb line to bank the biggest chub of the season that tipped the scales at 8lb 4oz.
He was happily catching small dace and roach under the far bank vegetation on the famous King’s Weir stretch of the River Lea in Hertfordshire when the huge fish took his double maggot mounted on a size 18 hook.
“The river started to come up and that’s when all hell broke loose as I lost a big chub and then soon after I hooked another monster that turned out to be this 8lb 4oz fish,” said Andy.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played a fish so carefully in my life because I was using such light gear in a very snaggy swim. I was shocked when I saw how big this fish was.
There were no surprise specimens in store for Ray Ravenhall during a session on the Warwickshire Avon, but he made history when he took a record-breaking 198lb 6oz net of bream.
The Chairman of Worcester and District United Anglers Association fished the feeder filled with groundbait, casters and chopped worms to land 49lb bream averaging 4lb apiece at the clubs stretch at Pensham during a five-hour contest.
It’s a catch that beats the previous best for the stretch that stood at 135lb and was caught 10 years ago.
“This was an amazing end to the season and if I hadn’t lost a fish on the final whistle I would have caught made a ‘double ton’, but who can complain after a day’s fishing like this,” said Ray.
“It’s been an incredible year for the rivers as more and more anglers are have been making a return to running water.”
The last cast of Paul Elt’s river campaign saw him smash his barbel personal best when he won the battle with a superb 16lb 3oz specimen during a session on a tributary of the River Ouse.
The Dynamite Baits and Drennan-backed specialist from St Neots, Cambs, hair-rigged a small piece of legered meat that was flavoured with ‘The Crave’ and fished in conjunction with a pva bag filled with finely chopped pieces of the same bait.
“I looked over my shoulder as the sun began to set and thought to myself this is the time for a bite and I looked back at the rod, the tip twitched and I was in. I couldn’t have written it any better,” said Paul.
Moving north and the little-known River Goyt in the North West produced only its second fish to ever top the 14lb mark, which was banked by local specialist Jerry Gleeson.
He kicked off his session with a 10lb 5oz fish and then a switch from a straight lead to a feeder filled with pellets saw him land the impressive fish with an imitation piece of bread from The Hook Bait Company.
The 2014/15 season will be remembered by many as one of the best ever for big perch and Watford’s Stuart Court proved why when he landed his best ever haul of the species.
The Watford-based specialist netted a brace of fish that weighed 4lb exactly and two other perch at 3lb 13 oz and 3lb 10 oz after he baited a swim on the River Lea with chopped worms and alternated a feeder and straight lead tactics with a worm hookbait.
Sticking with the predator theme and the River Thames further proved its pike fishing credentials when Martin House smashed his personal best with a huge 28lb fish.
Fish weighing 21lb and 13lb also fell to the Surrey angler when he fished a sardine on size 8 trebles.
Two days fishing on the famous River Wye gave Adam Fisher the perfect end to the season when he was rewarded with a trio of 20lb-plus pike.
The 36-year-old fished float-legered sardines to take fish of 22lb 8oz, 22lb 3oz and 21lb 12oz, plus another of 17lb 8oz, from the margins of the river and slacks behind bushes.
Angling Dreams fishing guide Adam, used Esox trace wire with size 4 and 6 hooks and 50lb braid and admitted to the loss of a monster which said ‘felt like a sunken canoe’.
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15lb barbel from the River Kennet at night
Rising specimen star Louis Slade showed off his credentials when he banked this 15lb barbel from the River Kennet.
The Reading-based youngster found his local stretch of the waterway holding plenty of colour and legered meat coated in CC Moore Chilli Hemp oil to add extra scent.
Having recorded a mountain of data relating to the best time to get a bite, the Fox-backed rod was confident of scoring a couple of hours after darkness had arrived and he told Angling Times: “I’d landed a fish at 7.30pm a few sessions before in similar conditions and wanted to have my rig in the water at that time.”
“Incredibly, the rod went round at exactly that time again and after giving a good account of itself I slipped the net under it,” he added.
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Barbel boost for northern rivers
A campaign to boost stocks of big barbel in Northern rivers has been hailed a massive success this week.
Research on a number of popular fisheries has revealed impressive growth rates of the species following several five-year stocking programmes designed to improve specimen fishing on the rivers Ouse, Swale, Derwent, Dearne and Aire.
Historically venues across the Midlands and down into the southern regions have dominated the big fish scene, but that trend could soon change thanks to a series of forward-thinking initiatives by local fishing clubs and the Environment Agency designed to boost numbers of big fish.
Officials at Leeds & District Amalgamated Society of Anglers (DASA) has undertaken annual stockings on the Yorkshire Ouse for the last six years with recent catch reports show that a large proportion of these are piling on weight.
And it’s a trend that’s being mirrored in other projects that are now baring fruit proving why more and more specimen anglers could soon be turning their attentions to rivers in the North.
Club committee member Eddie Harrison believes it is only a matter of time before the venue starts producing double-figure specimens and he told Angling Times: “The Midlands and southern rivers get all the attention, but that could all be about to as these fish push towards double figures in the coming years.”
“Barbel numbers were on the decline and we wanted to make a big effort to re-establish the species in this great river over the last five years and the recent growth has been extremely impressive with fish weighing over five times bigger than they were when we put them.”
Several other waters in the region have benefitted from similar schemes, with barbel in the Aire, Dearne, Swale and Yorkshire Derwent also boasting similar growth rates.
Well respected big barbel angler Adrian Eves believes the current trend will make river angling in the north a more attractive proposition for specimen anglers and he said: “There is a growing interest in barbel fishing throughout the UK and big fish in these waters could be a catalyst to get more people on the riverbank and into specimen fishing.”
“We want more people to have the chance to catch a personal best barbel close to home and this has the potential to make that a reality.”
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Catch from the margins at Buttonhole Lake
A mixed stocking policy is a ticket to guaranteed action throughout the year and Buttonhole Lake certainly subscribes to this policy.
The Cambridgeshire fishery faces intense competition from its local rivals but it is certainly holding its own, with specimen sized examples of various species.
Roach to almost 2lb, bream up to 8lb and barbel over the 9lb mark are all plentiful, with the biggest carp in the venue weighing in at just under 20lb.
Half of the pegs have an island to fish towards, with the rest situated in open water. A big net of silverfish can be taken from almost any swim on maggot or caster presented at half depth, although pegs 4, 9 and 18-21 are renowned for the bigger fish.
Pole fishing works well with pellet and corn for the lumps, switching to the straight lead with flavoured meat or a big 8mm pellet if the fish are sat in the middle of the open water.
There’s rarely a dull day at Buttonhole and the rising temperatures have given sport an even bigger boost.
Prices: £6 a day
Contact: Call Richard on 01945 430629.
Location: Buttonhole Lake, Rands Drove, Marshland St James, Wisbech, Cambs, PE14 8EY
Facilities: Parking and toilets
Rules: No boilies or keepnets, barbless hooks only
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Start spring at Barnburgh Lakes
If cold weather has hampered your fishing trip recently then look no further than Barnburgh Lakes in Doncaster where anglers are filling their boots. Built up over three waters, the fishery specialises in stocking winter species such as ide, barbel, roach and bream as well as varieties of carp to help keep your rod bent this weekend. With parking directly next to your peg, what more can you ask for? Here’s a breakdown of the lakes:
LAKE ONE (32 pegs)
Also known as the Top Lake, this water has a ‘triangle’ shaped island at its base around 14m out - making it an ideal candidate for pole and feeder enthusiasts. Expect to catch barbel, ide, roach and F1s steadily and the odd bonus tench, skimmer and carp, which go to 20lbs. Casting a feeder to the island with the fisheries own pellets often works well, with fishing down the track at 8m also a good alternative.
LAKE TWO (23 pegs)
A popular water in the colder months as this middle lake is only stocked with silverfish. Maggot and caster shallow work well for the roach although matchmen prefer to fish on the deck at 5m where the side bank slopes off. Again, the fisheries own pellets work well as all lakes are regularly fed with them so it’s worth picking some up from the onsite bait shop. Hair-rigged chopped worm also works well in the middle of the lake for barbel and bream where the water is much deeper.
LAKE THREE (25 pegs)
This water is located at the bottom end of the fishery and like Lake One also has a central island at around 14m out. This structure is key for many anglers who fish the lake as it slopes off to around 4ft deep in places. Pole, waggler or feeder in conjunction with pellets will all do well here, with a number of big F1s regularly taken down the edge in warmer weather to boot. Match nets will include mostly F1s with commons, mirrors and silvers to add.
Prices: £5 a day, £4 concessions
Contact: 07752 528 086 or visit www.barnburghlakes.co.uk
Location: Barnburgh Lakes, Ludwell Hill, Barnburgh, Doncaster, DN5 7EE
Rules: Barbless hooks only, max size 14, Barnburgh feed pellets only, BAIT BANS - No boillies, trout pellets, cat or dog meat, nuts, No floating poles or floating baits (including bread) a float must be used, Ground bait only in cup or feeder, Free running feeders only - no method feeders or bagging wagglers.
Facilities: Toilets, on-site bait shop, disabled access, waterside parking.
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Head to the River Severn at Bewdley for a big barbel
One of the most on form river stretches in the Midlands at the moment is the Severn at Bewdley. This stretch has not only been producing the usual nets of barbel and chub but anglers have been reporting bags of roach and dace to 20lb plus too.
With the levels back to normal the Kidderminster District Angling Association stretches are an excellent option for a spot of running water fishing before the official closed season starts. For the barbel a long cast of the feeder into the deeper channels works a treat. Hookbait can be your own choice but many anglers opt for an 8mm halibut pellet such as the Severn Valley Angling Products versions or even meat. The fish go to over 10lb so don’t fish too light a mainline of 8-10lb should be fine.
For a mixed net of smaller fish though its simple stick float and maggot tactics which are working well at the moment from most pegs but caster and hemp will help you attract more quality fish. The upper reaches of the town lengths are deeper and this is where it is best to find the roach. A long rod with a stick float is best suited to catching up to 20lb of prime redfins, predominantly coming on maggots fished on a size 20 hook or maybe an 18 to 0.10mm hook lengths. It's very pleasant sport when the river is spot on and carrying a little colour. The pegs opposite the Environment Agency’s level station are a hotspot for perch where pole and chopped worm tactics can account for nets of fish to over 2lb.
River Severn, Bewdley, Worcs
Prices: £6 a day on the bank Kidderminster AA, pegs are on the right hand bank above and below the town bridge.
Contact: Bewdley Tackle & Leisure, 01299 403386
Location: Dowles Road Bewdley Town, Worcs, DY12 2EE
Rules: No litter, no fires
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The secret life of barbel revealed
A ground-breaking study into the secret lives of specimen barbel has revealed revolutionary data that will give anglers the knowledge to put more fish on the bank.
A three-year research project funded by the Environment Agency and undertaken by Hull International Fisheries Institute, saw state-of-the-art radio tags attached to stocks of river barbel to pinpoint their exact movements and this week Angling Times can exclusively lift the lid on the amazing findings.
The study, which is one of the first of its kind, has not only revealed exactly which features the species can be found in at what time of the year, but also to what extent they are influenced by water temperature and river flow.
Ground-breaking data gathered from tags attached to barbel located in the River Great Ouse in Bedfordshire have also proved to scientists how far barbel can travel in a day as well as the habitats they prefer during different times of the year - arming anglers with exact knowledge of how to locate them at their chosen venue.
The detailed thesis, which was undertaken by Dr Karen Twine, now Fisheries Technical Officer for the EA, also revealed vital information about favoured spawning grounds that will in turn assist clubs and river trusts with the future conservation of the species.
“This is some of the most detailed and accurate information we’ve ever collected regarding the movements and ecology of the species,” Karen told Angling Times.
“The project came about after the Environment Agency heard from the anglers on the Ouse that fewer barbel were being caught. This, coupled with the fact that fisheries surveys by the Environment Agency weren’t finding many small barbel, made the fisheries team question why. We designed a series of investigations to look at the life cycle of the barbel, but the radio tracking is what people find most interesting.”
“The tags revealed that in winter, the majority of barbel were located in vegetated areas where there is a high presence of fine sediment on the river bed.”
“They also preferred slower paced water that gives fish the chance to conserve energy when the river levels were generally higher.”
“In summer, more fish were found in shallower, faster flowing channels with a greater abundance of gravel and in autumn gravel stretches were vacated by barbel, which were seen moving back into the more vegetated areas. “
“Overhanging features were proved to be the species preferred habitat though, as fish were found in these areas 64% of the entire two-year study time.”
The revolutionary research also revealed the distances that the species travelled.
Some barbel had a home range, which is measured by length of river between the fish’s most upstream and downstream recorded locations, as high as four miles with individual fish using up to 83% of their available river stretch and moving as much as 3619 yards per day.
River temperatures and flow were also vital factors in the barbel’s behaviour.
“The movements of wild barbel were significantly influenced by temperature and flow of the river, with the optimum temperature range being when the water is between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius,” Karen continued.
“Some of the findings support what anglers have always believed, but there were also a few surprises. Within the timescale available I think that we were able to identify some good places to start with protecting the species, and offer practical outputs to get things moving. Habitat improvement projects on the upper Ouse have already begun as a result of this study.”
Chairman of the Barbel Society, Steve Pope, believes the new found knowledge could go a long way to helping barbel anglers catch more fish.
“This study tells us exactly where and when barbel are spending their time, which is such vital information for anglers.
“We all know that location is the key in any form of river fishing and data like this will help reduce the amount of blanks experienced by angler, who just don’t know where to find the fish in their local stretches” he said.
The new evidence, which also gave examples of the ideal conditions and habitats for the spawning of wild barbel, will now be used by the EA for undertaking habit work on river stretches as well as when restocking venues.
The Barbel Society has also recognised the research by funding a continuation of Dr Twine’s work through a national study of UK barbel stocks by Ph.D students from Loughborough University and research on diet and stocking by a student from Bournemouth University.
“Hopefully the next leg of the study will help us to understand why stocks of the species on certain rivers are not as prolific as on others and allow us to understand what is required in order for us to maintain those stocks,” Steve continued.
“These are very exciting times for barbel anglers and the future of the species.”
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Two double-figure barbel in a row
A prebaiting campaign finally paid off for Adrian Eves when he landed a brace of barbel to 14lb 6oz from the River Kennet.
Having piled in several generous helpings of Dynamite Baits The Crave boilies leading up to the session, the Fox-backed angler was confident he could locate one of the venue’s elusive double figure specimens.
Using a single boilie wrapped in paste, his hunch paid off when an 11lb 13oz fish found the bait just before dark arrived.
But the action didn’t stop there, with the biggest of the duo falling to the same approach a few hours later.
His successful rig incorporated 15lb Fox Camotex stiff hooklength material and a size 8 S2 Kuro hook.
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Biggest barbel in Britain hits bank at 19lb 9oz
This is the picture of what is believed to be the biggest barbel in the UK.
The record shaking specimen, weighing 19lb 9oz, was caught by big fish angler Thomas Finney from an undisclosed stretch of Southern river.
The photo was posted on social media site, Facebook, by the 24-year-old who just four days earlier registered his previous personal best with a 16lb 6oz specimen.
His latest catch is the South African’s fifth barbel over 15lb this season and is thought to be the same fish landed by Dave Currell back in March 2013 when it tipped the scales at a jaw dropping 20lb 7oz as reported in the Angling Times.
Tom visited the river late in the afternoon but with the temperature at close to freezing he found the going hard with just one 3lb fish to show for his efforts.
He then moved to a snaggy swim what he called ‘a tackle graveyard’ which was littered with submerged tree branches and weed.
To combat the snags he tied his garlic spam hookbait to his lead with PVA string before casting tight to a raft of debris.
Within minutes his tipped bent over and he was wrestling with the huge fish, falling over three times in an attempt to follow the monster specimen down river.
After a long scrap the fish eventually surfaced at which point Tom knew he had a new personal best in the bag, a fish which he had been targeting for two seasons and larger than the 19lb 1oz River Trent fish landed by Daniel Jamson back in November; a catch also reported on the pages of this newspaper.
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Four boilie trick leads to 17lb 1oz barbel
A baiting strategy based around just four boilies at a time has accounted for an incredible run of big barbel topped by this 17lb 1 oz specimen.
Stewart Barnes only began targeting a pressured River Ouse tributary in Bedfordshire late last year and he’s now smashed his personal best for the species three times in four months and he says it’s due to the fact that he does things a little bit differently to the rest.
To ensure the resident barbel hone straight in on his hookbaits, the warehouse manager from Hemel Hempstead will loosefeed just a single boilie and two halves into his chosen swim before lowering his simple rig into the river.
“When a river is fished as much as this you have to do something different so I never feed any more than one-and-a-half baits by hand and then a tiny pva bag of crumb,” Stewart told Angling Times.
“I take a small pot that contains around 10 baits to the bank with me and this helps me maintain my disclipline as then I’m not tempted to feed any more as I’m convinced that this minimal approach to feeding has been the key to my success.”
The 41-year-old’s recent run of form has also seen him bank barbel topping the scales at 15lb 6oz, 14lb 7oz, 13lb 3oz, 10lb 2oz, countless smaller fish and also five chub over the 5lb mark to a best of 5lb 10oz.
Stewart is a field tester for the Hook Bait Company and all of his fish have fallen to their Barbel 5 Boilies fished on a ‘combi rig’
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