Eels are one of those fish that anglers either adore or detest, there doesn't seem to be an in-between. However, when it comes to specimen eels, even those that don't enjoy fishing for them can appreciate the effort that goes into catching them by design, and just how impressive they are.
Shaun Pope has always been fascinated by eels, describing them as fish that is still shrouded in mystery. Big eels can be upto 50 years old, which requires many factors to go in their favour, and because of that, they are incredibly rare which can make them a challenging prospect for those who try.
“At the weekend I caught this big eel from a Staffordshire Lake. It weighed 5lb exactly, and was hooked just before midnight on a deadbait.
“This was my first session of the year on the water and followed several blanks on other waters in Staffordshire.
“The fish was neatly lip-hooked and gave a good fight, fully testing out my 3lb test curve rod.”
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