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 still running low, there were only a handful of ‘fishable’ swims, with Lee targeting a spot a rod-length out under a fallen tree.
After a couple of hours fishing his rod was nearly pulled in, and what followed was the hardest fight he’s ever had from a fish.
Well done Lee!