The biggest-ever Severn barbel has been banked by Tom Wood, who slipped the net under this magnificent fish of 17lb 9oz.
It came from the lower river and shatters not only the 16lb 11oz official best, but also the river’s unofficial 17lb 4oz record. Tom has fished the venue hard over the last four years, landing barbel to 14lb 2oz. But, as soon he hooked this latest fish, he knew he was connected to something rather special.
Arriving at 8pm, he found the river fining down after a big rise, with the level eight inches below where it had been the previous day. He targeted a marginal spot by an overhanging tree which he’d been prebaiting, and went down a boilie-only route, fishing an 18mm Amino Marine bait in a bid to avoid the chub.
The bite came just 30 minutes after he’d cast out, and was his first of the session. After realising the sheer size of the fish he was attached to, Tom stayed on top of things throughout the fight, knowing that if he let it run, he’d risk losing it. Once it reached the net, such was the length of his prize that he struggled to land it initially, but thankfully it was soon safely in the mesh.
YOU NEED ONE OF THE BEST RODS FOR BARBEL FISHING IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAME BIG FISH LIKE THIS!
