Julian Barnes had a mega barbel session on the Trent to end the season, landing 19 fish, of which 14 of were doubles! The biggest of the bunch was this lovely 17lb 15oz specimen, which backed up by further fish of 17lb 9oz and 15lb 9oz! He told us “I… Read more

A return to his old stomping grounds on the River Lea at King’s Weir paid off in style for Mark Hewett, when he caught this 19lb 9oz barbel towards the end of the season. It fell to a bunch of maggots fished on a size 10 hook alongside an in-line… Read more

Alfie Lane has enjoyed a great season on southern rivers, and he ended it in fine style with this 18lb 12oz fish from the Hampshire Avon. Having seen that water temperatures were creeping up, he arrived on the river and was surprised to find his stretch of choice empty. Settling… Read more

Having spent two nights without a bite, Alan Taylor’s efforts paid off in style when he landed this 19lb barbel mid March. Alan was fishing on the River Trent at Bob’s Island, where he sat it out in the popular point swim. Despite cold nights, Alan persevered with the fishing,… Read more

Phil White’s river campaign had, in his own words, been a poor one, until his tip pulled around one evening session at the end of the season and he landed this barbel of 21lb 5oz. It’s the second biggest ever reported and would have been a new British Record if… Read more

Fernando Costa hadn’t fished much over the last few seasons due to work commitments and some health issues, but early March he visited the Colne and landed this 16lb 5oz barbel. Fishing with his friend Rui Pedro (both are London-based chefs, originally from Portugal), the pair arrived on Saturday morning,… Read more