Top venues for a monster barbel
RIVER AVON, BARFORD, WARKS
Barbel to 14lb come from below the weir on feeder and pellet tactics. The Dead Arm is a hotspot. Contact: Barford AA, 01564 777411 Prices: £45 a season, Barford AA
RIVER DERWENT, BORROWASH, DERBYS
Numerous barbel to 17lb are landed on this Earl of Harrington’s AC stretch outsideDerby. Contact: 01332 515353 Prices: £5 from Nathan’s of Derby
RIVER DON, DENABY MAIN, SOUTH YORKSHIRE
The big pool where the Dearne meets the Don is full of barbel. Try luncheon meat fished over hemp. Prices: £25 a year, Rotherham DUAA Contact: 01709 862558, Paul’s Tackle Centre
RIVER LEA, FISHER’S GREEN, WALTHAM ABBEY, ESSEX
Barbel are caught on feeder, lead and float. Along with some big bruisers there are also plenty of small fish. Contact: 07922 059950 Prices: Part of the Fisher’s Green Consortium of clubs – prices may vary
RIVER NENE, CASTOR, CAMBS
Fish to 14lb fall to meat and boilies on a flooding river will catch. Contact: 07702 440892 Prices: £5 on the bank, Peterborough DAA (no night fishing)
RIVER SEVERN, HAMPTON LOADE, SHROPSHIRE
Here are 50 pegs of prime barbel water six miles downstream of Bridgnorth on the left bank. The deeper pegs are winter hotspots for barbel to 12lb. Contact: Middle Severn Angling, 01746 769070 Prices: £6 a day on the bank, Kinver Freeliners AC
RIVER TRENT, COLLINGHAM, NOTTS
Collingham Weir is the place to be. Take casters, maggots and hemp. Boilies and pellets are a must too. Contact: 01636 892573 Prices: £5 a day on the bank, Collingham AA
RIVER WHARFE, TADCASTER, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Low and fairly pacey, the venue is suited to leger and feeder tactics. Contact: 01937 833262 Prices: £2.50 a day, Tadcaster AA
RIVER WYE, ROSS-ON-WYE, HEREFORDSHIRE
Swims at Ross attracts anglers from across the UK in search of their renowned barbel stocks. Contact: 01989 566986 Prices: £60 a year, Ross on Wye AC
ROYALTY FISHERY, CHRISTCHURCH, DORSET
The Royalty Fishery on the Hampshire Avon is full of big barbel to nearly 18lb. Roving with rolling meat is the number one tactic to catch them. Contact: Davis Tackle, 01202 485169 Prices: £12.50 a day from Davis Tackle