Having driven three hours to the river Trent from his home in Surrey, Brian Charles was on the brink of a blank after a two-night session towards the end of the river season. But just as he was packing up, his rod hammered over and he landed this barbel of 19lb 8oz.
With the river over the banks, Brian hadn’t had a touch all session, although a mate he was fishing with had landed a few barbel to 9lb.
Fearing he’d go home empty handed, Brian started packing away his bed chair and bivvy, when he suddenly heard a beep on his bite alarm.
Turning over, his rod was arched over, and after a 10-minute battle, he had the fish in the net.
Unaware of its size, Brian asked his friend to help with the pictures, and when he went to lift the fish out, he realised he’d landed something special. Although he usually fished boilies, it was a piece of luncheon meat that produced the bite on this occasion.
Well done Brian!