Despite the Tidal Trent having not produced as many big fish as expected this season, Kevin Charman has kept the faith – and was rewarded for his determination with this huge 18lb 8oz barbel.
The Hampshire angler found the river fining down after recent floods, but still struggled to buy a bite, despite reports of decent fishing in the days leading up to his trip.
After regularly casting with a big bait-up feeder packed with scalded pellets and a few hookbait samples, his rod-tip eventually hooped over.
He lifted into a fish that gave a slow, deep and powerful fight, before the huge barbel surfaced.
It beats his previous PB by nearly 3lb, and was caught on a 12mm dumbell boilie wrapped in paste, alongside a small PVA bag.
This was fished below a 5oz gripper lead, into which he’d also pressed some paste to help boost the attraction to the barbel in the coloured water, which certainly proved effective.
BARBEL FISHING CAN BE A WAITING GAME, SIT COMFORTABLY IN ONE OF THE BEST FISHING CHAIRS.
