Derwent leads the way for barbel giants

The Derbyshire Derwent continues to demonstrate that northern rivers are fast becoming the go-to fisheries for specimen anglers following the captures of two huge barbel.
Chris Martin notched up a new personal best after landing a huge 16lb 8oz specimen from one of the popular Earl of Harrington’s stretches at Derby.
Feeding broken Mad Baits Pandemic boilies, the 27-year-old targeted a deep swim and got the run he was waiting for after casting out a running lead rig with a hair-rigged boilie.
“I must have cast that bait right on its nose as the line had barely settled when the alarm sounded. The rod nearly went in, it was incredible,” he said.
Scott Birkinshaw slipped his net under a 13lb 6oz specimen, his fourth 13-pounder from the waterway this year. The fish fell to a 14mm halibut pellet on a groundbait feeder rig, also on the Earl of Harrington’s stretch.