Maggots are a bait that many barbel anglers reach for in the winter, and Paul Cockfield showed just why on a recent trip to the River Kennet, where he landed fish of 17lb 11oz and 13lb 3oz. Targeting a stretch near Newbury, the 60-year-old used a bait dropper to introduce… Read more

With the River Trent carrying extra water, Jonathan Holdsworth has enjoyed a phenomenal spell of zander fishing, landing this specimen of 17lb 15oz alongside numerous other huge fish. Fishing during the hours of darkness, Johathan has noticed that the zander have recently moved into a certain area of the river…. Read more

Having struggled to hold bottom during a trip to a flooded River Itchen, Rikki Barrett was thinking of going home for some sleep after an all-nighter the day before. But he decided on one last cast to a bit of slack water in the margin and, around five minutes later,… Read more

On a trip to the River Itchen, Damian Archer enjoyed a remarkable spell of action during which he landed barbel of 16lb 2oz and 12lb exactly in less than an hour’s fishing! Prior to the session he’d kept a close eye on the weather forecast, and with heavy rain falling,… Read more

Britain’s biggest-ever barbel has hit the bank again, but this time, it weighed an almighty 23lb. Caught by Nathan Buckingham, it’s the same River Lea fish that had just been confirmed as a British Record for Simon Baker, which he landed in autumn last year at a ratified weight of… Read more

When he was 13 years old, Rob Pocock landed his very first barbel – a fish of 9lb 8oz – from the Old River Lea. At the time, he could never have imagined landing one over 10lb bigger, but on a recent return to the venue he did just that… Read more