The River Rother in West Sussex had its barbel record smashed with a 16 lb 12 oz fish reported to Dave Chambers.

Derbyshire’s River Derwent has produced a stunning 15 lb 8 oz beard to Christopher Martin (pictured), who is sponsored by Fishermania.

Meanwhile in the North West, Jerry Gleeson shattered his own river record for the River Goyt with a 14 lb 8 oz sample, beating his own record of 12 lb 14 oz set during an Angler’s Mail Action Replay feature.

For lots more on great barbel and river catches, grab this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

And get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

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Whilst most have struggled to get any action with static approaches and larger baits St. Albans, Hertfordshire-based Keith has had some winter awesome results topped by a 17 lb 15 oz cracker.

But that’s not his only biggie, as he has just revealed! He had several other barbel into double-figures during December, when nobody was catching, and he started 2011 with a 13 lb 11 oz cracker.

The Verulam AC member, who also has a lifetime tally of 85 roach over 2 lb, has targeted a Bedfordshire river and kept an eye out for what he deems perfect barbel conditions.

For the full amazing story, including Keith Top Six winter barbel tips, check out this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

Tiny Edd Wren caught the fish which is nearly as tall as he is during a trip to the river at Colwick in Nottinghamshire with his father Phillip.

It’s almost certainly the biggest ever barbel landed by a youngster of his tender age.

Successful tactics for Edd who has just started at Carlton Central School in his home town of Nottingham was Dynamite Baits’ luncheon meat hair-rigged on a size 8 barbless hook to 10 lb Daiwa Sensor line fished with a fishmeal groundbait filled feeder.

For the full story and a different photograph of the monster, read this week’s issue of Angler’s Mail magazine, out Tuesday, November 23 for one week.

Captor Simon Asbury, 34, is the man to write himself into the East Midlands river’s record books. The previous best of 17 lb 6 oz was set by Jim Ufton.

To read Simon’s account of the capture plus full catch photo of this midlands marvel grab a copy of this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

Phil was fishing the club consortium controlled Fishers Green stretch of the river where he was hoping to catch some chub, when he added another 10 lb-plusser to his lengthy list.

He nabbed the beard on a 10mm boilie on a hair rig with a size 16 Pallatrax The Hook.

For Phil’s full account, stunning catch picture and a list of his river bests read this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

And to prove his special small pellet methods work, Pete caught the huge whopper – seen on our cover – to order!

You’ll be impressed by the Tackle Up feature and learn loads. And as a bonus – why not watch Pete in action with Martin Bowler for the acclaimed Channel 4 series, Catching The Impossible. He appeared in episode 5.

You can watch it again online… just click HERE

Cover star Pete Reading fishes for barbel in the magazine - and at the link we've given you here. Enjoy!

A new fish welfare warning has gone out as we have now had the official driest start to the spring and summer for 70 years, and our rivers are set to get even lower again.

And barbel experts have appealed for ultra cautious fish care for the fragile species.

To find out exactly how you should look after this fragile species read this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.