This season, two-time Drennan Cup winner Simon Daley set out to catch a truly big barbel from three different rivers and has just completed the challenge in style with this 16lb 9oz fish.

Having already landed fish of 18lb 11oz from the Hampshire Avon and 17lb 9oz from the River Lea, the Hampshire angler turned his attention to the River Itchen.

Despite falling temperatures, heavy rain and a rising river told him there was a chance of a fish, so he headed out for an evening session. Simon opted for a single piece of garlic flavoured luncheon meat as his hookbait, knowing that the bait is hard to beat in the conditions.

This was fished on a 2ft hooklink below a 5oz lead, with Simon also deploying a backlead to keep his mainline pinned down and reduce the chance of being wiped out by debris flowing downstream.

It wasn’t long before Simon landed a barbel of 11lb 5oz, which he was pleased enough with, however, knowing there was the chance of another bite in the conditions, he decided to stay on until 10pm. At 9:30pm, he had a screaming bite from a fish that put up a great fight in the powerful flow before being netted. At 16lb 9oz, it was a fantastic result and a fish he was rightly buzzing with.