The father and son duo of Ben and Barry O'Connor are two of the most consistent carp anglers around at the moment and have recently been at it again with a big catch of carp from Rookley County Park on the Isle Of Wight. A favourite venue of the O'Connors, Ben and Barry really have got this water sussed now and top of Barry's most recent session was a fish known as Rosie at 37lb.

Not wanting to be out done by his old man, young Ben was also into the waters larger residents with Rosie's Mate at 36lb 4oz. Ben's catch also included another 30 pounder along with no less than twenty different 20's, a massive catch by anyone's standards!

Both Ben and Barry put their faith in the new Mainline Cell boilie, and fished these alongside various quantities of the ever popular Mini Grubber Pellets.

With the river season now in full flow Bankside are receiving an ever increasing number of catch reports from Barbel anglers putting their faith in the Grubber Pellets. It's not just local anglers who are getting in on the act either as this recent report sent in by Lincolnshire specialist Danny Roberts shows.

I live in Boston, Lincolnshire and decided at short notice to have an afternoon/evening session on our nearest barbel water - the River Trent. The Collingham stretch was decided upon so left work early and set on my way.

The previous day there had been heavy rain virtually country wide so expected the river to be well up and murky but although up a bit nothing too bad, and the colour looked ok too. The only fly in the ointment was that it was very windy. When I got there the tide was at its highest and was dropping all the time I was there.The spot I had planned on fishing was busy when I arrived so looked for a different one and eventually decided on one I have fished before.

After lugging my gear along the bank and setting up I finally wet a line at about 3-30. I usually fish two rods that are set up pretty much the same apart from bait that is. On one rod I fished maggot with feeder fed hemp and on the other I fished a 12mm hair rigged Grubber pellet alternating between one and two pellets on the hair and feeding Mini Grubbers. At the business end both rods are set up with running 5oz feeders with 12lb main line, an 8lb fluorocarbon hook link and size 10 Kamasan Animal hook.

After about an hour my pellet line gave the usual tell tale heavy nod and a pristine 3lb-ish barbel was the result. It's always pleasing to get the first one as it means you're not going home waterlicked! Very shortly afterwards the pellet rod lurched over heavily and I came in to contact with what I thought must be a good fish as it felt so heavy compared to the last one. During the next 15 minutes a struggle ensued with me gaining line only for the fish to take it back again. I didn't see the fish until it rolled not far in front of me and then realised it was something special - special to me any way. You never want to lose a barbel once hooked but after seeing it roll I definitely did not want to lose this one.

It eventually gave up its fight and in the net it went. I couldn't believe how big it was and couldn't wait to weigh it. When I did it went 15lb 12oz - fantastic and I was really chuffed! I photographed it and slipped it back in the water.

I carried on fishing until 8.30 and had four more barbel of around the 7 - 8lb mark as well as a bream and two clonking eels - all taken on the pellet line despite trying different baits on the maggot rod. A real good session!

My fishing mate and I really rate these Grubbers. They seem to out fish "normal" pellets every time we fish.

I will let you know of future catches with your baits.