YORK-BASED Environment Agency worker Matt Smith has landed one of the biggest Ouse barbel of the season from an undisclosed stretch of the river upstream of York.

Flood defence worker Smith has access to all the latest river level information and was able to pick his moment to perfection.

After waiting for the recent floods to subside to a manageable level, he tackled his favourite stretch on a mild evening earlier this week.

After a small fish of 5lb and the loss of a bigger specimen, things were looking grim until dusk began to fall. In the increasing autumnal gloom his home-made paste offering was snapped up by a superb fish of 10lb 4oz that was banked after a short and spirited battle.

His evening was to finish in style with another big fish over 8lb falling to the same tactics as he was about to pack away for the evening.

Match anglers on the Ouse this weekend are unlikely to find themselves doing battle with any barbel as most of the action is on the river downstream of York.

The top event is Sunday's Tower Trophy, which should draw a good entry to the Donkey Woods, Fulford and the Palace Ings.

Further rain in midweek is likely to see the river still above normal level and coloured.

With air and water temperatures still well above the seasonal norm, the stage looks set for bream and skimmers to make their presence felt in numbers for the first time this autumn.

The only other bookings this weekend are on the Ouse at Poppleton where Cygnet visit and Shepherds who pay what might be a final visit to Redhouse Lagoon.

Updated: 10:58 Friday, November 04, 2005