A three-week pre-baiting campaign paid off in fine style for Gardner-backed specimen angler Mike Lyddon with this dark 5lb 9oz eel.

Targeting a large southern Stillwater, Mike selected an overgrown swim that he baited a swim in the corner of the lake with dead maggots and minced fish.

He said: “After all the baiting, I had to cut out a swim to be able to actually fish it, then fished a bunch of worms on a Dyson rig, about 15 inches under the surface. I missed a couple of takes early on, but in the early hours, I finally connected with the 5lb 9oz eel pictured, smashing my old long standing PB of 3lb 10oz.”