This season, Simon Daley is aiming to catch a truly big barbel from three different rivers. After landing a fish of 17lb 9oz from the Lea in late summer, he’s now ticked the second river off his list after landing this impressive 18lb 11oz specimen from the Hampshire Avon.
The fish is known to be the Avon’s biggest, having been caught at a weight of 21lb 5oz late last season. Simon was expecting the fish to weigh around the 20lb mark at this time of year but believes the unusual conditions we’ve had so far this season are the reason that it’s still down in weight.The fish was caught from a spot Simon had cleared in the weed, and an area that he’s had a few other barbel to 15lb 8oz on over the past few weeks. His usual tactics of a homemade hookbait presented on a short hooklink and size 10 hook below a 2oz inline lead did the damage.
Well done Simon!