8 BRILLIANT BARBEL HOTSPOTS TO TRY...

Our pick of the in-form stretches

RIVER AVON, THE ROYALTY, HANTS

A real hotspot on the river right now, with fish into double figures from shallow swims. Contact: Davis Angling, 01202 485169 Prices: £12.50 from Davis Angling

RIVER LEA, FISHERS GREEN, WALTHAM ABBEY, ESSEX

Big fish paradise! Big baits fished close to cover will pay dividends, with barbel to a whopping 17lb on offer. Contact: Chris Bite, 07922 059950 Prices: Part of the Fishers Green Consortium of clubs, prices vary

RIVER NENE, PETERBOROUGH, CAMBS

The fishing has started to pick up with specimens to 10lb-plus from places such as Castor backwater and Orton Staunch weir. Contact: PDAA, 07815 555403 Prices: £5 on the bank, Peterborough DAA

RIVER RIBBLE, ELSTON, LANCS

You can spot the fish in the shallows on this stretch. Target them using light feeders or even the float. Specimens to double figures are taken here regularly. Contact: Ted Carter Preston 01772 253476 Prices: £30 a year, Wigan DAA

RIVER SEVERN, BUILDWAS, SHROPS

This area of the Severn has some of the biggest fish in the whole waterway, including ones well into double figures and is worth a look if you want a PB. Contact: Telford AA, 01952 590605 or Angling Surprise, 01952 616054 Prices: £4 from local tackle shops, Telford AA

RIVER SWALE, CUNDALL FARM, YORK, N YORKS

Barbel to 10lb-plus in this stretch, which is one of the hotspots of the region. A caster and hemp approach tends to work well early season and is producing now. Contact: 01423 360203 Prices: £6 a day from the farm

RIVER TRENT, HOLME, NEWARK, NOTTS

Fish have been showing in decent numbers so far this season, with 10lb fish regularly being caught on the feeder. Contact: Worksop DAA, 01909 486350 Prices: £4 a day on the bank, Worksop DAA

RIVER ROTHER, BEIGHTON, S YORKS

The stretch off Rotherham Road is full of fish and barbel averaging 5-6lb are resident along the whole length. Contact: Bankside Tackle, 0114 248 8177 Prices: Free fishing