MEAT FEAST FOR THAMES BEST BARBEL
Old-school approach pays for giant whiskers
Dave Broady, 19lb 8oz barbel, River Thames IN JANUARY Dave Broady shunned the standard pellet and boilie approach in favour of an old-school hookbait to bank a new record Thames barbel weighing 19lb 8oz.
Dave landed the fish of his life when it picked up a cube of luncheon meat straight out of the tin, which he fished in conjunction with a maggot feeder packed with shredded meat.
“My biggest barbel before this was a River Kennet fish of 14lb 10oz,” said Dave. “This one, however, is in a league all of its own and to catch a river record is just incredible.” The captor used 10lb mainline straight through to a size 12 hook.
“I’ve been chasing barbel all over the UK for 20-odd years, but I never thought I’d be lifting any barbel this heavy out of a river in my landing net,” he added.