The Thames barbel have proved a tricky adversary for Duncan Hayward so far this season, and he'd endured a dozen blanks before finally landing this 16lb 9oz fish.
Duncan was fishing a prebaited area but had nothing to show for his efforts on his latest outing before his clutch ripped off and his rod arched round in the early hours of the morning.
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A hairy fight under the rod tip ensued, making Duncan nervous after waiting so long for a bite, but thankfully all went to plan and he duly landed what is his second-biggest barbel ever.
It fell to a double boilie hookbait fished snowman style, which he wrapped in paste and presented over pellets and chopped and whole boilies.
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