Fantastic week for barbel fishing and close season looms

Anglers are taking advantage of milder weather and finishing the river season in fine style, with numbers of monster barbel and chub landed.

Biggest barbel of the week was caught by James Upton, who landed one of 17lb 15oz from a stretch of the Upper Trent.

Arriving at the river for an evening session, it took James only two casts before he hooked the giant fish, which is believed to be one of the biggest ever caught from the upper reaches.

The 59-year old said: “As soon as I hooked it, I knew it was a decent fish as it moved away solidly. I could not believe it when the scales went round to over 17lb – I had to check them twice. There was such impressive depth to the fish.”

James caught his Trent whisker on a running feeder rig and a bait mix consisting of groundbait, pellets and fishmeal boilies.

Christopher Mendelsohn - 16lb 6oz barbel

Christopher Mendelsohn has been in fine form on the River Trent and has now landed his fifth 16lb-plus fish of the season – this cracking 16lb 6oz barbel.

Fishing a slacker area on the middle river, Christopher caught four other double-figure barbel along with the 16-pounder. 

The rig he used consisted of a 5oz lead attached to a lead clip system presented on 12lb line.

Christopher’s top tip – “In high water, try fishing out of the main flow. This will avoid any debris that will be coming down the river.”

Paul Potter - 16lb 9oz barbel

Hinders-backed Paul Potter battled through snags on the Hampshire Avon to eventually land this beautiful 16lb 9oz pb barbel.

Paul was spending a week targeting the Hampshire river’s wary fish, but lost a few to hook-pulls before landing the big girl.

Paul got the barbel feeding over beds of Hinders hemp, Elips pellets and crushed Barbel Bomb dumbells, all glugged in Hinders Fish Pro.

Paul’s top tip – “Snags hold fish, but it’s best to fish above or below them for safety’s sake.”