River record
barbel falls to maggots
THREE red maggots were the key to catching a record-breaking barbel from the River Itchen.
It weighed 16lb 10oz, smashes the current river best by 2lb 2oz, and was taken by 68-year-old Terry Lathwell from a swim on the lower river.
The giant also sets a new personal best for the Verulam Angling Club member from Borehamwood, Herts, whose simple feeder tactics also fooled another big barbel of 12lb.
“I always fish for barbel with maggot hookbaits and basic feeder tactics. I think too many anglers go straight to boilies and pellets, so maggots are now something a little bit different that the fish don’t see every day,” he said.
“The frame of the fish was hard to believe and it made my 30ins landing net look a bit inadequate.
“The fish had to fold a bit before I could bring it to the bank, it was so thick across the back.”
Terry used a rig constructed from 12lb Korum Reflo and a size 12 Drennan Super Specialist hook.
His Itchen record supersedes the current river best that weighed 14lb 8oz and was caught in 2014.
Good friend and respected big barbel angler Dave Currell, who’s banked specimens to over 20lb, was there to witness Terry’s historic capture.
“Dave told me that he didn’t even realise that the barbel went that big in this river,” Terry continued.
“My previous biggest barbel was a River Ivel fish weighing 15lb 2oz, which was a fish I was and still am very proud of, but this really is something else.”