Three barbel for 40lb despite the freeze

A series of harsh frosts looked like they were would ruin Gary Lucas’ chances of success following a long baiting campaign on the River Thames, but he defied the odds to land a trio of barbel for 40lb.

The London-based rod spent a month priming a potential hotspot with boilies and had pencilled in a date for his opening session.

Despite freezing cold temperatures hitting the area, he stuck to the original plan and headed to the swim for a short evening session.

Within 15-minutes casting out a 16mm boilie hookbait on a size 10 G-Force hook he had banked a barbel of 14lb 3oz and this was shortly followed by a fish of 14lb 11oz.

The impressive hat-trick was then completed with an 11lb 2oz barbel. He said: “I’ve fished the Thames for over 25 years and nights like this don’t come along very often.”

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