Five-month break from fishing ended with huge Thames barbel

JAMES Hook couldn’t believe his luck when his first session following a five-month break from fishing produced this 16lb 13oz barbel.

After spending every day for the previous two weeks using a bait dropper to prebait his local stretch of the River Thames with boilies and pellets, the 33-year-old returned for an overnight session.

The fine fish was a new PB for James and fell to double 16mm 3FT SG1 boilies fished upstream of his swim.

(This catch was made before latest lockdown)

James Hook and his 16lb 13oz Thames barbel