George Slingsby 17lb 3oz Barbel

After several unsuccessful months, Buckinghamshire angler George Slingsby finally managed a barbel from the Thames, in the shape of this 17lb 3oz fish.

He’d been fishing three times a week without any joy, but knowing the barbel in the stretch were big, he remained motivated. This fish fell to a chunk of spam, and George says it dragged him up and down the river in an ‘unbelievable’ 10-minute fight and describes it as the best moment of his angling life.

Well done George!