Ian McDonald’s first eel fishing session of the season produced his biggest-ever fish caught by design weighing 5lb 6oz.

After hearing stories of anglers being ‘smashed up’ by big eels at a club lake in the South of the UK, the Kent-based all-rounder took some fish heads out of his freezer with the hope that this bait would avoid the attentions of the resident carp.

It was a plan that worked out perfectly as he received a confident ‘take’ after he cast his chosen hookbait over to a reedy margin and scattered dead maggots over the top.

“A few years ago a float angler that I bumped into on the banks of the lake told me about being smashed up by a huge eel so I thought I’d give it a go and I’m so glad that I did,” he said.

“This just goes to show that it’s always worth talking to fellow anglers and listening to the stories that are told while you’re out.”