Despite being stocked on a few occasions by the Environment Agency, the hard-fighting species has always struggled to establish itself on the river in the east of the Midland Angler region.

However, fish are a starting to come through with anglers reporting whiskers from 2lb 8oz to 8lb and the swims below Orton Staunch in the city the hotspot.

And following the carp deaths at Oundle, Midland Angler has learnt of four barbel being caught there this season, the biggest going 12lb 2oz, a massive fish for the river.

For the full story see the current issue of Midland Angler