High and coloured Thames throws up a monster barbel

After blanking on a previous trip, Doug Penny exacted revenge on his return to a stretch of the Thames by banking this 17lb 1oz barbel. 

The 61-year-old, from Reading, hit the jackpot after targeting a stretch that was running high and coloured following rain.

“I had the bite a couple of hours after dark and I knew it was a special fish from the off,” he said. 

“It’s only my second year on the river and I’ve now had a Thames PB just 12oz short of my all-time best, which came from the River Loddon 12 years ago.”

Doug’s huge fish fell to a paste-wrapped boilie fished alongside freebies and pellets.

Doug Penny and his 17lb 1oz Thames barbel