Current Drennan Cup holder Simon Daley has been on fire since his cup win last year, but this 16lb 12oz barbel he caught on a recent session is the pick of his catches this season.

Deciding to go to the Hampshire Avon after work, Simon dropped into a swim he’d been baiting but for a reason he couldn’t quite put his finger on, he ‘wasn’t feeling it’, so went to look elsewhere.

Noticing an area where the gravel was cleaner, he settled in the new swim and had a chub on a homemade boilie before things went quiet. At 10:30pm he was about to pack up but thought he’d wait for an extra 10 minutes, and he’s glad he did, as the rod slammed over just as he was putting his gear away.

The fish stripped line of a tight clutch, and he finally netted he describes as ‘the longest barbel’ he’s ever caught. Simon believes the fish has the potential of weighing 19lb later in the season and ranks it as one of his best barbel captures. .