Bait switch leads to capture of 'large and powerful' eel

A SWITCH from plastic caster hookbaits to live red maggots proved to be a key move in the capture of this muscular 6lb 1oz eel for Warren Hammond.

The 51-year-old, from Surrey, latched into the snig after feeding a gravel patch at 50 yards with dead maggots, casters and groundbait. 

“During the day I was trying to catch tench on plastic casters, but never had a touch, so I switched over to six maggots on a size 10 hook to try and catch an eel,” he tells Angling Times.

“I hadn’t had a knock until 2am when I got two within five minutes, resulting in the 6lb 1oz eel and another at 4lb 10oz. The larger of the two hugged the bottom for around 20 seconds before I could move it towards me. Big eels really are powerful creatures.”

Warren Hammond with his 6lb 1oz eel