Liam, 7, shows the strain as he lifts his monster lower Severn barbel for the camera

As an end of term treat and for getting a very good school report 7 year old Liam was promised a trip with dad to the River Severn, so we ventured down on Monday afternoon this week.

After a quick lesson in using a bait dropper Liam put a jar of Dynamite Frenzied hemp and a kilo of 4mm marine halibut pellets laced with chopped boilies out in front of his swim (well roughly in front of his swim…!).

He legered a Nutrabaits Hi Nu Val boilie with a stringer of chopped bait over the top.

Rod was a Drennan Specialist Power Barbel with Shimano 5000 GTE Baitrunner loaded with 12lb Big Game. A 2oz Korda Gripper lead, 15lb Stealth Skin hooklength and size 8 Big T Raptor completed the set up.

We let the bait settle and played eye-spy for a couple of hours before he cast out – rods in buzzers (Liam doesn’t like barbel policemen either: “We can do what we like if it doesn’t hurt the fish can’t we dad…?”) and ten minutes later he’s in!

The fight was quite incredible and he managed to subdue the fish all by himself, apart from just the odd word of encouragement, and after ten minutes my heart missed a beat as I saw just how big it was as it flashed at the net…… long and mean it could well push 15lb this winter but for now at 12lb 12oz it made a 7-year old and his old man very happy.

His lucky FISHINGmagic cap has been elevated to even greater heights…..he sleeps with it by his bed now!