A River Trent predator angler was left stunned this past week when his lure was hit by one of the river’s famed big barbel.
Matthew Hope was lure fishing on a Pride of Derby club stretch of the Midlands river, when a double figure barbel took a liking to his Texas-rigged Z-Man Crusteaz lure, which he aimed to catch perch with.
FANCY CATCHING A BIG BARBEL YOURSELF? HERE'S THE BEST SPOTS TO DO IT.
“When I hooked the fish, it felt like a snag,” he told us.
“Only when it started to move did I know I had something big, that definitely wasn’t a pike or a zander.”
Matthew then endured a 10-minute battle with the powerful fish on his light 3-12g perch rod, which included some tense moments, as the fish targeted a snag halfway across the river.
“She was eventually netted and was easily a personal best barbel,” he said.
“It was hooked square in the mouth, my best catch this season and easily the most intense fight I’ve had on a lure rod.”
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