River Trent Specimens

We arrived on Monday 25th July, the river looked good and the weather was overcast, things were looking good. After preparing the groundbait, comprising of plenty of particles to keep them interested and plenty of 18mm Dynamite Bait’s Marine Halibut boilies, we set up the rods.

I always advise that you have a root about your swim with a marker lead for any snags or features, it’s no good baiting up to find half a tree in front of you, which can happen on the Trent.It is very important to groundbait at least twice daily. I put in 10 big balls in the morning and the same again mid afternoon. That bait soon disappears down river!

We put the rods out at 7pm; I started off with 21mm Halibut pellets pre soaked in oil. Jonathan, geared up for carp, had a 6oz lead, double 18mm boilies, T6 Raptor hook, 15lb Snakebite hooklength and 15lb main line. You have to be geared up if you intend to land a river carp!

I used a lighter set-up on Greys Prodigy 2lb & 1.75 TC rods ideal for barbeling.

As the night fell, Jonathan, on the peg down from me, was having plenty of chub but at least the bream had stayed away. The witching hour came and at 12.30pm Jonathan had his first screamer, a lovely barbel of 10lb 2oz. Then again at 2pm another screamer, again a barbel just short of 11lb. I never had a fish.

We only caught chub in the day so I put this time to good use by preparing for the witching hours. The second night produced the best barbel of the session at 12.10pm. My rod screamed off with a beautiful barbel of 11lb 4oz. it was in perfect condition. We both had chub up to 5lb as well that night.

The third day I went home at 5pm but Jonathan stayed on determined to catch a carp. The night produced two more barbel, 7lb and 9lb, but no carp.

Thanks for reading my article and if you have any pointers as to where the Big Trent Carp are they will be thankfully received.