Darren Smith took advantage of a brief rise in temperatures on a local stretch the Hampshire Avon which resulted in this 16lb 10oz barbel for the specimen angler.

“I arrived to find a swim which I had in mind vacant so I introduced a small amount of broken boilie and pellet with a bait dropper and left the swim to stew for half an hour. On the first cast I had a 6lb 12oz chub, which was followed by two smaller ones. I figured that those chub had probably cleared up most of the free offerings, so just as it was getting dark I attached a PVA bag filled with feed to top up the swim. I was just thinking of packing up when the rod hammered round, resulting in this 16lb 10oz PB Barbel.”