With most big roach on the River Trent caught by barbel anglers these days, Martin Abonyi has been targeting the species with scaled-down feeder tactics this season, using small pellets on the hook, and had great success. Over the past three weeks he’s landed a hat-trick of two-pounders, the biggest… Read more

Many anglers fish for a lifetime without laying hands on a 16lb barbel, but on Lee Edmond-Hiett’s very first session for the species, he caught this fish of 16lb 8oz! It’s his first-ever barbel and was caught from the River Itchen, Southampton, on a cheesy garlic dumbbell. With the river… Read more

Over the past 3 years, Connor Bell has been targeting the big barbel in the River Dee and on a recent session, he did just that! Landing this lovely 15lb 4oz specimen. He told us “With the waterway running low and clear at the time, scaling down and being as… Read more

Last season, the River Lea produced a run of barbel catches for the history books, capped by a new British Record. Although it hasn’t hit quite the same heights yet this year, its inhabitants are certainly starting to stir, as Julian Barnes found on a recent session when he landed… 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

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