The River Rother in South Yorkshire isn’t one of Britain’s most famous barbel venues, but this season, one angler has enjoyed exceptional sport on the waterway. Steve May, who lives 10 minutes from the intimate venue, smashed the river record with a 14lb 8oz fish, which he backed up with… Read more

Over recent weeks, Nigel Kennard has been targeting the barbel of the Hampshire Avon, and after spending time baiting a few swims, he was rewarded with this stunning 18lb 1oz fish. On the way to work most nights, he’s dropped a bit of bait into three swims, and on sessions… Read more

Andy Davies is predominantly a lure angler, targeting pike and zander, but this summer he’s focussed on the barbel of the lower Severn, with spectacular results. His best fish so far is this superb 17lb barbel, which he backed up with others of 15lb 4oz, 14lb 1oz, and 10lb 10oz…. Read more

This season, with his local Hampshire Avon out of sorts, two-time Drennan Cup champ Simon Daley decided to target barbel on the River Lea instead. It’s a venue he’s fished for the chub in the past, but with its exceptional barbel form last season, he decided it was time to… Read more

Following a two-year break from the venue, Paul Harriman marked his return to the River Colne in spectacular style by banking a new personal best barbel weighing 15lb 10oz. It came from an area where he had tasted success before back in 2023, and which he had prebaited lightly in… Read more

Having heard rumours of a large barbel in the upper Thames, Tom Humphreys fancied having a go for the fish, but with his second baby being born, he knew his angling opportunities would be limited. But, he embarked on a campaign that saw him sneaking out to fish in the… Read more