Oxfordshire specimen angler Steve Russell has emailed to tell us about his new personal best Barbel, weighing 15lb 5oz, caught from a midlands river.

Steve had a ‘gut feeling’ that he had to get out fishing for a few hours in the evening after work, and this sixth sense was rewarded when shortly before packing up, he saw the twin Isotopes on his Greys Prodigy Specimen rod lunge over as the big fish made a mistake.

After a truly spectacular battle, the huge Barbel beat his previous best for the species by over a pound, and was fooled by a paste-wrapped 10mm boilie presented on a size 10 ESP hook to a Fluorocarbon hooklength and 12lb mainline.

For full details on the brilliant value Drennan Isotopes, as used by Steve, which retail at a superb £11.95 a pair with fittings, click here.