PB barbel target achieved

Lee Swords has been trying to catch a 14lb-plus barbel for many years and last week finally achieved his goal when he landed this fine specimen from the River.

The Sheffield-based angler landed the fish, which weighed 14lb 1oz, during high water conditions on the Midlands river, after it picked up his paste-wrapped boilie hookbait.

It proved to be the highlight of a highly productive session for Lee, who also banked another barbel of 10lb, several chub and a dozen bream. All the fish were all beaten on a simple leger rig that was constructed from 12lb mainline an 11lb fluorocarbon hooklength.

“All of my best mates have had fish to over 15lb and it seemed like I was always going to be left behind, but now I’m catching them up. It’s such a great feeling to have finally broken my personal best,” Lee told Angling Times.