THE Warwickshire Avon barbel record has been smashed for the second time in a fortnight with the capture of this 18lb 6oz giant by Craig O’Brien, comfortably beating the 17lb 14oz fish we reported only last week. It came from a stretch rumoured to have produced an 18lb-plus barbel, but its existence had always been doubted…. until now!
Finding the river in great condition, Craig fed a few spots before settling into his session. A short while later he noticed a bow wave erupt, and seeing no sign of otters he suspected a big fish might have caused it. Twenty minutes later his rod ripped off, and the fish ran 70 yards downriver at the start of what was to prove an epic battle.
Craig used a Shimano Isolate LM94 boilie hookbait below a below a feeder filled with 2mm pellets.
