After catching a big eel on a tench rig the week before, Dai Gribble was determined to return to the same southern Stillwater and catch a large eel by design.

Following a day’s tench fishing Dai cast his eel rod out over the top of the same baited area at dusk. Just after dark, his lobworm hookbait was picked up by this cracking eel of 5lb 7oz.

Dai told angling times: “It was a typical wriggling eel fight, that put a good bend in the rod from the off”.

The fish is a new personal best for Dai and was landed on a running rig incorporating a quicksilver hooklink and size 4 hook.