Hookbait change produced my PB barbel - Dai Gribble

“During my latest trip to the River Trent I rediscovered the importance of carrying a variety of hookbaits in my tackle bag. I was struggling for a bite, but ringing the changes at the business end of my rig helped me catch a new barbel best.

“I had a bream trip planned, but due to torrential rain I just didn’t fancy my chances. The conditions were ideal for barbel, though, so I headed to a stretch on the upper reaches of the Trent for a late-evening session.

“The river had a nice tinge to it and was carrying probably an extra 4ft of floodwater, so my confidence was high as I walked the stretch, searching for a suitable place to fish. I settled into a promising-looking swim and cast out two feeder rigs, one with a sweet birdseed boilie and the other with a Sonubaits Code Red boilie.

“Half-an-hour later the rod with the birdseed boilie tore off, but following a short scrap the hook pulled and the fish was gone. I quickly rebaited my rig and cast back out, but after two hours my rods remained motionless.

“The conditions were too good to call it a day so I made a move downstream to another swim. An overhanging willow tree that created an area of slow water looked ideal, and within 10 minutes I had both rigs placed behind it – one upstream and the other downstream. Before doing so I’d swapped the birdseed boilie for one-and-a-half Sonubaits Spicy Sausage Barrels.

“The switch worked, and nearly an hour later my rod pulled violently over and line peeled off the reel. I played it slowly, but the fact that it was staying deep told me it was a very big fish.

“Following a few nervy moments, she surfaced and I got a glimpse of her size. It wasn’t until she was netted and I tried lifting her that I realised that I had a new PB. At 17lb 4oz it smashed my old record of 14lb 7oz, taken way back in 2007!

“The session proved how it always pays to take a few bait options with you on the day.”

Dai Gribble’s 17lb 4oz barbel came after a change of hookbait