First barbel of season is a personal best

Ollie Jenkinson’s first barbel of the season proved to be a fish to remember when he won the battle with a 15lb 4oz personal-best specimen.

A simple, light leger rig with a meat hookbait flicked into a swim on a Midlands river just before darkness did the trick when the huge fish almost wrenched the 16-year-old’s rod off the rest.

“All I can say is that I’m glad I was sitting right next to my rod because it was by far the most savage take I’ve ever had from a barbel and something I will never forget,” said Ollie.