Big eels are notoriously difficult to catch by design, however by utilising an unconventional approach Paul Scowen successfully landed this 5lb 4oz specimen.

Targeting a 50-acre syndicate lake in the South-East, Paul fished over a bed of dead maggots with hair-rigged worm sections or bunches of maggots, presented on a bolt-rig containing a short hooklink and a 2oz lead. This tactical decision proved highly successful, as it avoided the finicky bites and deeply hooked fish that traditional eel rigs often result in.

Over the following weeks, Paul continued fishing the same water, adding a 10lb 2oz tench and a 12lb 7oz bream, which topped off an excellent run of form.