Respected Midlands big fish angler Phil Smith has set a new barbel record for the River Anker with a mighty 15lb 4oz fish. Phil, who has now caught 15lb barbel from five different UK rivers, had blanked on his previous session on the water but decided to give it another go after taking the water temperature.

“I had intended to go to a local commercial fishery after the perch, but the temperature was 12 degrees Celsius making me change my mind and go after barbel,” said Phil, who used an open ended feeder packed with hemp and pellets and a Dynamite Baits Monster Crab boilie on the hook.
The fish beats the previous river record by just one ounce.