THIS 17lb 5oz barbel, caught by Waterlooville angler Darrel Hughes from his local Hampshire Avon, is a prime example of what this iconic venue has to offer.
Darrel had found the fishing tricky there this season, but this time he baited up half-a-dozen spots and worked his way between them. After landing a 12-pounder early in the week, he returned to where he’d been feeding hemp and a few crushed boilies. With the river a foot up after rainfall, conditions were ideal, and soon his rod slammed round and he was into a powerful fish.
His size 8 Super Specialist hook held firm, and before long his new PB lay in the net. Darren fished a trimmed-down 18mm boilie below a 3oz inline lead, using a 2oz backlead to keep everything pinned down.
Darrel Hughes - 17lb 5oz barbel