Rivers go nuts for barbel
Television star Dean Macey was among the specialists who enjoyed barbel sessions to remember as Britain’s rivers continue to produce incredible sport for the species.
Leading the way was Reading’s Paul Rogers, whose three barbel from the River Lea’s Kings Weir Fishery totalled 40lb 13oz.
Paul hadn’t visited the venue for 44 years, but he enjoyed a session he will never forget that featured fish weighing 16lb 8oz, 12lb 15oz and 11lb 6oz.
He baited up with hemp and casters and then fished a small particle bait on a size 16 hook.
“This was just out of this world as the biggest is also a new personal best… I’m still buzzing,” Paul told Angling Times.
Another angler to smash his personal best was Widley’s Darrel Hughes during a visit to the Hampshire Avon.
He banked a 16lb 8oz barbel that took a paste-wrapped boilie coupled with a stringer of free offerings, from a swim he’d been baiting up prior to his visit.
Dean Macey described his trip to the River Trent as his ‘best barbel fishing session ever’
when he netted a hat-trick of 14lb-plus fish in an incredible 30-minute spell.
He feeder fished Mainline Activ8 boilies wrapped in matching paste, and netted two barbel at 14lb 4oz apiece and another of 14lb 1oz.
The presenter of hit TV shows The Big Fish Off and Fishing Allstars banked several other big barbel and a 6lb 14oz chub during his prolific three-night session in the company of friends.
“I’ve had a few red letter days in my time, but this was something else,” said Dean.
“I had two landing nets with me in anticipation of a frantic session but knew I’d look a complete idiot if I didn’t catch anything! I’m glad I did as I ended up with one 14lb barbel in the net and another on the hook. Crazy!
“This was the first time I’ve fished the Trent purely for my own pleasure – the other couple of times were during filming. What a venue!
Finally, Andy Ford, co-presenter of TV’s On The Bank – currently being broadcast on BT Sport – has netted one of the biggest barbel ever caught on film during a recent episode when he won the battle with a superb 15lb 4oz personal best.
It was taken from a stretch of the lower River Itchen, and fooled with a Sonubaits pellet.
