COOLER WEATHER PROMPTS BARBEL FEEDING SPREE!
Five fish over 15lb from all over the UK bode well for autumn sport
CATCH reports of five monster barbel over the 15lb barrier just go to prove that conditions are spot-on right now for one of the nation’s favourite river fish.
Despite much of the country still seeing very little rainfall, the drop in air temperature has made a significant difference over the last two weeks and, as a result, the number of specimen barbel catches has soared.
The largest of the five barbel reported fell to Dan Gale (main picture, right) in the form of this stunning 16lb 9oz example.
The Hampshire-based specimen hunter, who received a Drennan Cup weekly award for a 3lb 8oz rudd in last week’s Angling Times, continued his impressive run of form when a recent trip to the River Itchen turned into gold.
Speaking about his catch, Dan revealed: “I believe this to be the largest barbel in the river, albeit not a record for the waterway at its current weight.
“I hooked it just after dark using an adapted inline feeder filled with halibut pellets, along with a single 6mm pellet on a size 12 hook. “This was fished on to a small gravel patch in a clearing between weed beds.
“Although it seemed to take an age to bring it to the net, most of the fight involved the fish moving from one weed bed to another without making any strong runs.
“When I finally got her into the net I couldn’t believe my eyes.” Here’s the pick of last week’s barbel catches...