River Trent produces 11lb barbel to schoolboy

This big barbel just goes to show that age counts for nothing when it comes to angling. The 11lb fish was caught by 11-year-old Mathew Chester, when the Barnsley schoolboy was fishing the tidal stretch of the Trent with his uncle, Chris Smith.

“We started the session at 6.30am and it was hard fishing,” said Chris.

“Mathew did very well and took two other small barbel before the big one took his bait at 6pm. His patience never failed all day.” Mathew beat his big barbel using 11lb line straight through to a size 10 Drennan Super Specialist hook, fishing hair-rigged halibut pellet over a bed of hemp, pellets and groundbait.