Near British Record Barbel

MIDLANDS BIG FISH specialist Tony Miles has laid claim to the UK’s second biggest ever barbel in the shape of a 19lb 2oz brute from the Great Ouse.

The Coventry specialist was not fishing Adam’s Mill and says it is a different fish from the one that currently holds the record. But although admitting it came from the middle Ouse, he’s keeping mum about exactly where.

The fish caps an impressive fortnight for Tony, who had set a new personal best only two weeks beforehand with an 18lb 4oz barbel from the same stretch. On that day he also had a mighty 6lb 7oz chub from a flooded and coloured river.

Tony took both fish on a hair rigged John Baker paste bait, fished on a size 6 Drennan Continental hook in conjunction with a semi fixed 2oz lead, a nine inch Dacron hooklength and 10lb mainline. The biggest fish falls only 4oz short of the British record and is thought to be the second biggest ever landed in the UK.

“On the day I took the ’18’ I was fishing a classic flood water swim created by a cattle drink and it was one of those rare days on the river when the fish were readily feeding,” said Tony.

“Normally you are looking for one bite if you’re lucky, but on that day I’d already had a few chub before I landed the six pounder just before dark. The big barbel came about two hours later. It fought like a tiger but there were no nearby snags and I had it under control all the way.

“I hooked the 19-pounder mid afternoon, which is unusual on the Ouse as most fish come at night. It came from a swim about a quarter of a mile from where I’d landed the 18-pounder and it was certainly a different fish.

“What’s exciting is that it’s not one of the two fish that has held the record before, which means there are at least three barbel capable of setting a new mark,” he added.

“Although there’s every chance of a 20-pounder being landed it’s my personal belief that the barbel in the Ouse are topping out now – although I did say that three years ago!”

For the full story and pictures don’t miss April’s issue of Midland Angler magazine, out on March 11.