Mark Brooks' dad, Mike, travelled from Bedfordshire (2 1/2 hour journey) to fish for the day Mark's guest. On a vey mild Autumn day, Mark and dad headed for Cressage Meadow to try and catch his first barbel. They started in Peg 26 with no joy, then moved to lucky peg 13. Dad was fishing to the far bank, baited with a few feeders of groundbait and a handful of boilies and a 15mm boilie as hook bait. The rig was 2 foot of 10lb fluorocarbon with a size 8 continental boilie hook, with 12lb mainline. He was using Mark's Fox Warrior Barbel Rod (1.75lb Test Curve). Within 10 minutes of casting out the rod was thumping with his first Barbel. After a long, powerful, fight as the fish hugged the bottom for several minutes, Mark eventually netted the fish, which tipped the scales right around to 9lb 4oz. What a stunning Barbel, but what a first ever Barbel! It will be hard to top this fish, but he will certainly be back to try another day.

Click on the link to see a very happy Mike!