Dave Harman, in my opinion the best specimen angler in Surrey, has been at it again, landing a river record for the Dorset Stour with a fantastic 18lb 1oz barbel, writes Ray Robson.

Dave, of Addlestone, demonstrated his tremendous patience, as it was his only bite during a two-day session.

He told the angling press: "I had been trickling in bait since I arrived at the start of the session, and had been baiting up every time I fished it since November.

"The river was about a foot up on its normal winter level and visibility was good, so I was able to hold bottom on the far bank with 6oz of lead.

"I was fishing with a PVA bag of broken boilies and pellets, all soaked in crayfish extract.

"My missus hates the smell of it if I open it in the house but the fish like it."

Dave used Carp Company's Icelandic red caviar and cranberry boilies on the hook.

The dip in water temperatures has had its effect on many local stillwaters, but that did not stop Fulham's Adam White from chancing his arm on the Basingstoke Canal, and he was rewarded with a personal best perch of a super stripey that weighed in at 3lb 04oz.

Adam had been pestered by tiny roach so changed his rig to a size 12 hook and half a dozen maggots to put them off, and along came the greedy perch.

Sutton's Alan Marchbank also ignored the poor weather to bank a fine 9lb 01oz barbel from the Thames at Richmond.

Alan legered halibut pellet for his biggest barbel yet and backed it up with a 3lb chub from his only two bites.