DURING only his third trip targeting barbel, Chelmsford angler Jon Hall landed this 17lb 8oz fish from the River Lea.
Having fed a likely-looking swim with pellets, he left them to stew for an hour before fishing a spot with plenty of cover. Two hours later, his rod slammed over.
Staying deep and stripping line, the fish battled for 15 minutes, going in and out of the snags, before Jon slipped the net under it.
At 17lb 8oz, he describes it as ‘the fish of a lifetime’, and one he doubts he’ll be bettering any time soon.
Jon Hall – 17lb 8oz barbel