Best barbel goes like a steam train on pre-work overnighter - Stuart Hickling

“This year I decided I’d try to up my barbel best and pinned my hopes on the Trent at Winthorpe. On this occasion I fished an overnighter and before it got dark I cast out an inline PVA bag rig with a hookbait comprising an 18mm OP-31 boilie topped with a Sticky Baits Krill dumbell.

“I hadn’t fed anything and relied on the stinky Krill pellets and OP-31 glug that I’d put in the PVA bag to draw them in.

“All was quiet until 4.30am when my alarm signalled an odd, subtle take – but as soon as I set the hook this barbel ran off like a steam train!

“For 15 minutes it hugged the bottom and kept powering away when I got it near the net, but eventually she was mine.

“At 15lb 2oz it was a new PB and I arrived at work for 9am with the biggest smile on my face!”

Stuart Hickling and his new PB 15lb 2oz barbel

Stuart Hickling and his new PB 15lb 2oz barbel