After spending no fewer than 100 nights targeting big eels last year without any success, Dave Robinson finally achieved his target with this 6lb 8oz PB, backed up by others of 5lb 10oz and 4lb.
Catching specimen-sized eels by design is widely regarded as coarse angling’s ultimate challenge, and having landed perch in the past to over 5lb, plus huge barbel and rudd, Dave confirmed that catching the big eel was ‘about as good as it will ever get’.
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The Suffolk angler caught them from Stanwick Lakes in the Nene Valley, where he was on a shoot with Cypography – a carp angling subscription platform. He packed his eel gear having seen that the River Nene meandered right by the complex.
“After a brief chat with the boys down at the lakes they confirmed that the complex had produced big eels over the years,” he told us.
“Between long days of underwater filming, I managed seven hours’ fishing on the nights, catching three eels from a spot where there was silkweed 40yds in front of one of the popular swims.”
Dave’s results improved when he switched from roach heads to worm hookbaits on his final two nights. These were fished on three-inch hooklinks and 4oz feeders packed with chopped worm.
“Considering I had done over 100 nights last year and not come close to a big eel, this week’s fishing pushed me right over the edge,” Dave admitted.
“I always knew eels were the ultimate challenge – the rarest of all our species, the last of the unknown. But I wasn’t quite ready for that bite.
“Whether it’s the fish itself or their incredible story that do it for me, I’m not sure. One thing I do know is that this is about as good as it will ever get. Nothing comes close."
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