A PREDATOR hunter smashed his PB barbel record by 6 lb when he landed a brace of big doubles on an overnighter, using meat directly attached to the hook.
Adam Lawson, a domestic appliance engineer from Derbyshire, was fishing his local River Trent and caught the biggest barbel first, going 15 lb 8 oz, followed an hour later by another of 14 lb 11 oz.
The 38-year-old explained: “I usually only target the pike and zander but thought I’d have one rod out on meat for a change and I’m really pleased that I did.
“I had met a barbel man last week who recommended I try two big pieces of luncheon meat if I wanted to give them a go and it certainly worked for me.
“I put one rod out with a deadbait for my normal target species and the other with the meat.
“The river was in excellent condition for barbel fishing, coloured with a lot of water pushing through which is why I decided to give it a go,” he added.
Barbel action after dark
“I had the biggest one at about 9.30 pm and the other maybe around 11 pm and also briefly hooked into another biggie in the early hours.
“The irony was that of my preferred species I only had a small jack the following morning.
“The fishery is a club water where there are also lakes and most of the members seem to prefer fishing them which leaves a fair amount of space for me and my mates on the river.
“My best zander from the stretch came last September and was at least 14 lb but I was gutted I had left the scales behind having changed the batteries, so will never know,” Adam concluded.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.