Big fish of all species go on the feed

Specimen anglers have never had it better if recent catch reports are anything to go by – with monster barbel, chub, roach, perch and pike all making an appearance of late. 

Here are three catch reports from the past week to get you in the mood for the weekend ahead…

Brett Longthorne | 16lb 6oz barbel

A large slack close to the bank on a rising River Trent provided Brett Longthorne with a new personal best barbel in the form of this sublime 16lb 6oz specimen.

Arriving to his chosen stretch on the tidal river early on a Saturday morning, Brett had been fishing for around two hours when he got the bite.

The big Trent fish fell to a Nutrabaits River Plus boilie presented on a rig made with a 6oz lead to hold bottom.

Alan Rio | 3lb 1oz roach

A drop-back bite saw Alan Rio strike into this stunning 3lb 1oz roach personal best. 

The all-rounder baited a spot on an undisclosed gravel pit with a pint of maggots at 60 yards to gain a response.

“I quickly weighed the fish, which registered at 3lb 1oz on my scales – my first-ever 3lb roach!” he said.

Alan used 50g feeders and 4lb Drennan Supplex tied to a Drennan Super Specialist size 18 hook baited with maggots.

Simon Baker | 7lb 4oz chub

A weeked trip in search of a huge chub couldn’t have gone any sweeter for Simon Baker when he slipped the net under a brace of fish for 14lb 6oz. 

The larger of the two weighed 7lb 4oz and fell to maggots trotted along a stretch of the River Lea in Hertfordshire.

He said: “I had a fantastic two days of fishing and ended the trip with 15 chub, including the two sevens and a pair of sixes.”