Fishing a short afternoon session, Phil opted for a luncheon meat hookbait on a size 5 wide gape hook and had a few sharp taps on the rod tip before hooking the fish. Judging by the small indications, he wondered if it might be a chub, and upon lifting the rod, the fish felt like a ‘dead weight’. However, when he saw a decent barbel surface before slapping its tail and diving for a submerged snag, he knew he’d connected with his intended species. After a few powerful charges towards the snag, Phil managed to tease the fish in to his waiting net.

The fish is the best of a good run of fish Phil has had lately, landing several doubles over the past month.

Well done Phil!