Tiny bait tempts massive fish

Stuart Walker enjoyed one of his best barbel moments ever when he banked this 13lb 10oz whiskers on an artificial maggot.

The Doncaster specialist resisted the temptation to cast in a hookbait straight away, and fed for three hours before finally flicking out his tiny offering.

“I got them feeding really well to the point where they were taking hemp and casters on the drop,” said Stuart.

“Even though I was using such a small hookbait and a 6ft hooklink the fish drifted away as soon as the rig was out there, but they soon came back. It’s not my biggest-ever barbel, but probably the most satisfying.”