Big barbel strikes on the second cast - Sophie Costello

“The barbel fishing on my local river has been tough going in the cold, so when the air temperature shot up overnight I hoped the fish would switch on.
“Settling into my favourite swim at dusk, I cast out an inline lead with two chunks of Spam on the hook, and chucked in a handful of Scopex Squid boilies over the top.
“On my second cast my rod-tip wobbled and then slammed over!
“It had been almost two months since I’d last had a barbel, so my heart was properly racing, but I had to focus as the fish was heading straight for a snag. I pulled her away from danger just in time.
“After a few more runs she was safely landed, and that’s when I realised this was a known fish for the stretch, one I’d been desperate to catch ever since I saw pictures of her on Facebook.
“At 15lb 1oz she was a personal best by 3lb – I’m not sure any other catch I make will top that moment.”