Trent hits top barbel form

The River Trent has been in red hot form and early September has been no different – with numerous double-figure barbel banked. Here’s the pick of the bunch from the latest catches...

Ian Potts 17lb 1oz 

MACCLESFIELD-based angler Ian Potts couldn’t believe his luck when he banked a new personal best barbel at 16lb 13oz, to only go and catch it again two days later at 17lb 1oz!

The 43-year-old free-lined a chunk of meat into the weir at Gunthorpe and struck when he received two taps on his fifth run through the swim.

He said: “All hell broke out and it was a good seven minutes before I managed to get her to the net. When I lifted her I couldn’t believe it was the same barbel!”

Jay Elliot 14lb barbel 

Recasting every 45 minutes was the key to the capture of this exquisite 14lb Trent barbel for Jay Elliot. 

The 45-year-old from Nottingham fished a night on a middle stretch of the River and took the fish after he heard a single bleep on his alarm at 2.15am.

Successful hookbait was a Vortex Baits CKO Cocoon.

Michael Coke 17lb 5oz  

A large banded halibut pellet proved too irresistible for this chunky 17lb 5oz specimen. It was banked by barbel fanatic Michael Coke who made use of rising river levels on a stretch near Newark to grab a few hours fishing.

A cage feeder loaded with dampened groundbait, micro pellets, 4mm pellets and hemp was the successful tactic