Monster Lea chub banked

DESPITE his local River Lea being the colour of tea, Matt Hayes fished through the unsavoury conditions to bank this huge chub weighing 8lb 2oz.

Targeting a small slack on the far bank, the 43-year-old had to wait only a few minutes after casting out before his quivertip smashed over.

He told us:

“At first I thought it was a barbel as it was so heavy, but then this thing that looked like a grass carp surfaced, and I realised I’d hooked a truly monster chub!”

Matt’s new PB took a hair-rigged cork ball wrapped in cheesepaste.

Matt Hayes and his 8lb 2oz chub