Fish snagged solid is new PB barbel - Dean Lowe

“The light was just fading on the first night of a 48-hour session on the River Trent at Gunthorpe Lock when I had a screaming take on my boilie rod.

“I knew it was a big fish right from the off because it ran me straight into a snag. I managed to coax it out, but then it took me into yet another snag and everything went solid. 

“I was determined not to lose it so I put the rod back on the pod and five minutes later it shot off again, taking me all over the river!

“The island can be a difficult place to land barbel from, as it’s a good 10ft above the waterline, but luckily I had two mates with me who helped out.

“At 16lb 4oz, it smashed my previous best barbel by over 1lb.”

Dean Lowe and his 16lb 4oz Trent barbel