It’s already been a season to remember on the big barbel front, with the Dorset Stour now chipping in with its own landmark fish after Alfie Lane banked an 18lb 3oz specimen.
The fish equals the river record and was caught on a trimmed-down boilie fished over a mixture of broken boilies and garlic pellets. Alfie had timed his session with the river rising a few degrees and had the bite an hour after positioning his rig, which incorporated a fluorocarbon hooklink and a backlead. The fish fought powerfully, making strong runs in the main flow, before he was able to bring it to the waiting net.
Well done Alfie!