BEFORE AND AFTER HOOKING AN EEL...

TACKLE UP

TACKLE for eels must be robust, as you need to be able to exert a lot of pressure on the fish to keep it from weed and other snags which they are very adept at finding, given half a chance!

Light carp rods with braided mainline are my choice. I like 22lb Gardner Sinking braid – it keeps me well in touch with a hooked eel.

You’ll find it’s not so much a case of ‘playing’ the eel as a tug of war after the initial run.

A large landing net is also essential, as the eel will readily back out of the net if it can get its tail over the net cord.

For that reason it’s best to draw the head of the eel as close to the spreader block as possible before trying to lift the net.

PREBAITING

Baiting up in advance with worms, dead maggots or finely chopped fish may boost your chances but isn’t essential, as eels will be able to home in on your worm baits.

HANDLING EELS

Once on the bank, big eels are actually much easier to handle than their smaller cousins.

If they are a little lively when you are trying to get a photograph, cover them on the mat with a damp weigh sling for a minute or two and they’ll generally become easier to handle.

Hold them as gently as you can to avoid damaging them. Rubbing a wet hand along the eel’s belly will also help relax it, allowing you to hold it much more easily.

Treat big eels with respect so that they can go back healthy and can return to the Sargasso Sea to spawn in future years.