Target achieved with 5lb-plus eel - Simon Baker

“I’d set myself the target of catching a 5lb-plus eel before the river season kicked off on June 16, so I planned a 48-hour trip on a Lea Valley gravel pit which held a specimen or two. 

“Eels love worms and dead maggots, so I fed a deep spot a few rodlengths out with a finely-chopped mixture of both. I thought a nice juicy lobworm fished over the top would fetch me a bite, and it turned out I was right. I had only six bites in the two days, but three of those were from big eels weighing 3lb 14oz, 4lb 2oz and 5lb 6oz. They fought like stink, especially the largest one, which was a PB.”

A new PB eel at 5lb 6oz

Top tip:

Eels drop the bait if they feel resistance, so use a free-running rig with a heavy lead.