160-mile drive for 17lb 2oz barbel - Daniel Woolcott

“My home in Kent is about 160-miles from the Trent, so it takes me around three hours to travel there, but with the weather conditions absolutely perfect, I just had to go. 

I could’ve fished a venue closer to home, although, I thought there was a better chance of a proper lump from the Trent in the winter, but I never imagined I would end up holding something this huge.

I remember during the fight it just stayed deep using its weight to hug the bottom and I could tell it was a lump because it was a completely different fight from a 12lb 2oz fish I had caught earlier. 

Everything went according to plan and she slid in the net on the first attempt. 

At this moment I saw the tail sticking out my Drennan 28" landing net and I knew then it was something special. 

Not only was it long but it had a massive belly too – an absolute beast!

During my 48 hour stay I also managed five other doubles including fish of 10lb, 11lb 8oz, 11lb 2oz, 12lb 2oz and 12lb 8oz.

I was just getting over a bad chest infection and hadn’t been fishing for over a month, so these barbel really cheered me up

All fish were caught on Dynamite Baits 15mm Marine Halibut Boilies soaked in Marine Halibut liquid attract. 

I also used PVA bags filled with crushed boilie and Source pellets, which I’d previously soaked in Marine Halibut oil.”