Crack Daiwa Dorking match angler Dave Harpin is also a bit of secret specimen angler on the quiet! With few match commitments recently he’s been out on the River Loddon in search of specimen Barbel, taking fish of 10lb 9oz and 9lb 1oz, plus some Chub. In addition, bonus Carp of 16lb 2oz and 15lb 1oz tested Dave’s tackle to the limit, all the fish being landed on Dave’s Drennan Martin Bowler Specialist Barbel rod (which Dave describes as awesome!).

Dave used a CC Moore Meteor boilie, broken in half and fished with a PVA mesh bag full of matching pieces – hair-rigged to a Super Specialist Barbel size 14 hook mounted on 20lb ESP Sinklink.

For full details on the rod Dave used, click here.