Hi Mike,
The Wensum fish was caught by Steve Keer, not me, I'm still waiting for one that size! Like the great majority of us.
I would dearly love to catch a sixteen from the Severn, having had some pretty big fish from there and also the privilege of seeing Howard's record sixteen plusser that is my dream. However I'm off on the Ouse until the end of the season so you never know, but even if I get lucky it won't feel the same as if it were the Severn.
Going back to the previous postings imo the anglers are the first link.The Ouse, Wensum and Medway all had one thing in common, a low head of barbel.Once the bait goes in thats it, a barbel's requirement to sustain its very existence is extremely low, so when you consider the amount of extra it finds served up on its table and the little amount of energy required to help itself to this feast it's not surprising we are seeing these heavyweights.
With our knowledge and experience over the years it looks like barbel will get to about 16 - 17lbs in a natural environment. By natural I mean reasonable stocks, average angling pressure, average amounts of food and a clean healthy environment.
Barbel are not getting any longer, skeletal growth has not changed,they are putting it all on around the girth, some would say they are just getting fat!
Tight lines,
Steve.