Alex and his PB 7lb 4oz barbel
I went up to the River Wharfe to take my nephew, Alex Moore, aged 10, fishing. He lives in Otley and is a junior member of the local club. This was the first time he had ever fished on a river.

We spent the first day on the local water – with limited success – and the second at Boston Spa. The photo is of his first ever barbel on the second day at 7lbs 4oz. He caught another later on at around 6lbs.

He was swimfeeder fishing using maggots and casters using my Shimano Super Ultegra Heavy Feeder, which I had lent him for the weekend. Line was 8lb mono straight through.

His non-fishing dad was there to witness the occasion and was needed later on when the excitement had got to young Alex who forgot to watch the rod, resulting in his dad jumping in the river to save my rod and reel! – thank you (and he lost the fish!).

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