18lb TRENT BARBEL TOPS SUPER WEEK ON THE RIVERS
Another incredible week for barbel has seen an 18lb 1oz fish topping a list of huge specimens banked from rivers across the UK.
Colin Douglas made the drive down from the Scottish borders to fish the prolific River Trent worthwhile when he banked his first-ever double-figure barbel in the shape of the fish above, which is the second-largest specimen caught this season.
This wasn’t his only reason to celebrate as his session also produced two fish over 13lb, a 12-pounder and a handful of chub that all fell to Denham Baits Kranberry Enzyme boilies.
“I used to live in Cambridge so I often travel down the country to fish and see my friends, but I didn’t expect anything like this,” Colin told Angling Times.
“When my new ‘pb’ took off I was convinced I’d hooked a carp and it wasn’t until I got it in the net that I realised what a truly special barbel it was. I’m so glad I made the long drive down to the river.
“This season has been incredible for me as I’ve caught my biggest carp, zander and now barbel.”
Moving further down the country, Hertfordshire’s Steve Woodley also enjoyed a red letter day, but this time on the River Thames.
He banked three double-figure barbel with the biggest fish tipping the scales at 16lb 11oz.
Steve legered home-made 20mm boilies coupled with a small PVA bag filled with crushed baits, which also fooled barbel weighing 12lb 14oz and 12lb 4oz.
The River Trent also delivered the goods to Paul Mirfin when he banked a 16lb 8oz fish that he says was the hardest-fighting barbel he’s ever caught.
It was landed from an area that the 42-year-old from Nottingham pre-baited with Trent Baits shrimp boilies.
“I’ve baited the river every other night for the last month and it’s really paid off,” he said.
David Brice smashed his personal best for the species on the same river with a barbel weighing 16lb 7oz.
Boilies also did the trick for the specialist who smashed his personal best for the species by 2lb 15oz.
The River Derwent is famous for its big barbel and Derbyshire Angling Federation member Phil Needham fished meat over a bed of hempseed and casters to fool a 15lb 5oz specimen.
Last but certainly not least is Lincolnshire’s Nigel Bryans who fished a 3ft Twitch barrel bait wrapped in paste on a stretch of the River Nene to tempt a screaming take from a mint-conditioned 15lb 1oz barbel.
