We don't hear of many barbel being caught from Hampshire’s River Itchen, but there are clearly some impressive fish in the southern chalk stream, and this 15lb 4oz specimen must surely rank as one of the biggest.
FANCY CATCHING A BIG BARBEL YOURSELF? CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE ON THE BEST SPOTS TO FISH.
Cliff Kinch landed it on an early morning session, with the bite coming at 5.30am... despite the fact that six ‘wild swimmers’ had passed through his swim just 15 minutes beforehand!
It took a 12mm boilie fished over pellet loosefeed, presented on a 10ins hooklink and a running leger set-up.
The catch, which Cliff described as his ‘fish of a lifetime', is just reward for his persistence in targeting the low stock of barbel in the stretch over the past year.
WANT TO TRY BARBEL FISHING FOR THE FIRST TIME? CHECK OUT THIS GUIDE ON HOW TO GET STARTED.
This page is a free example of the amazing content Angling Times Members get every single week. Becoming an Angling Times Member gives you access to award-winning magazine content, member rewards, our back issue archives, bonus content and more! Join our fishing community and find out more today!