ANDY CLARK has fished his local River Lea for over 40 years and after a two-year break he returned in style to take this PB 15 lb 12 oz barbel.
The 55-year-old operations director from Waltham Abbey, Essex, told Angler’s Mail all about his impressive barbel catch.
Andy said: “I returned this year after attending a tour with the head bailiff Eric Whorne. It’s to Eric whom I am indebted with this catch – including taking the photos.
“I baited the swim with hemp, pellets and a small amount of boilies around 8pm and did not return to fish until 9.30 pm.
“At 10.15pm I felt the line pull viciously out of my hand whilst touch-legering and I connected with what I immediately realised was a good fish.
“After a five minute battle including negotiating some dangerous snags I netted her.
“I used an original 10 ft Simpson’s barbel stalking rod and with a single Sticky Baits 12 mm Krill boilie wrapped in matching paste on a long hair rig.
“I caught an 8 lb 2 oz chub out of this same swim in 2011 so will be fishing it again in the future,” he added.
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