I was using light tackle a 3lb hook link and a size 16 barbless hook ,corn the bait .Having had some good sport with chub to just over a pound i rested for a minute watching some Merlins ,not one but Three ,they were gliding and darting in the wood on the opposite bank. On my next trot down the Andy Batchelor creation disappeared and upon striking i quickly realized i had hooked a barbel .It darted down stream like lightening ,it stopped after 30 or 40 yards i managed to coax it back and then of it went upstream, this carried on for some time back and forward ,i managed not to panic and after a while constant pressure brought it to the surface, by then Bager1 was ready with the net,in it went ,it looked big .Out came the scales 10lb4oz ..The largest fish on my Nottingham style Roach and still straight as an arrow.
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