Barbel double from 30 rivers for Phil Smith

SPECIMEN ace Phil Smith made it a double-figure barbel from a staggering 30 different UK rivers with this 10lb 12oz specimen.

The Coventry angler bagged his latest prize on a Trades and Labour Angling Club-run stretch of the River Arrow in Warwickshire.

Phil tempted it on a Mad Baits, 14mm Pandemic boilie, fished over small pellets and broken boilies.

He said: “I’ve been trying for different river barbel doubles for 12 years. This year I was looking to try the Witham, the Kentish Stour and the Wandle, but something drew me back to the Arrow despite very few doubles ever being caught on there. I was about to pack up for another failed attempt when the rod took off.”