Huge Snake for Wol

Near 8lb Eel for Wol

WARREN ‘WOL’ GAUNT is no stranger to big fish with a 17lb treble of barbel, bream and zander under his belt in an already illustrious big fish career.

But it is the capture of a near 8lb eel that had his blood racing more than any of his other triumphs.

It’s a massive eel weighing 7lb 15oz

Wol, from Hemel Hempstead, had been inspired to join fishing partner Andy Nellist on the southern gravel pit after Andy had recently caught a 6lb 3oz eel, a big fish in itself, from the same water.

Wol set his trap with a bed of maggots on a steep shelf close to the margins. He used 3lb TC Bruce Ashby rods, 30lb Power Pro main line, 20 inches of 25lb Catfish Catlink Kevlar braid to size 4 Terry Eustace Carp and Catfish Penetrator hooks. His reels were Shimanos fished with open bale-arms.

The terminal tackle also included light, 2SSG link legers to present his double lobworm hookbait, using a stone-weighted PVA bag of maggots to get the lobs to the right spot.

He used light indicators and one of them began making frantic jerks at 1:10am. He lifted the rod and saw that line was peeling off at great speed. The bale-arm was closed and he found he was attached to something that arched the rod right over and ripped line off the reel, making the drag scream.

The eel had an 11 inch girth

It took all of ten minutes to get the fish close to the waiting landing net. Than another frenzied battle took place as the massive snake thrashed the water to foam, refusing to be netted.

Then relief as the eel was enclosed in the mesh. Followed by satisfaction as he thought that he could have captured his first 5-pounder of the season. Then shock as he folded back the mesh to reveal a thick, muscular snig that made a five-pounder look small.

He wet the weigh sling, zeroed the scales, and with trembling hands lifted the great fish. He was stunned when the scales flickered between 7.15 and 8lb, but he’s shaking like a leaf and can’t get the finger to settle.

He wakes Andy and asks him if he wants to see what a proper eels looks like (“His eyes popped out of his head,” said Wol), then they weigh it together at exactly 7lb 15oz.

The eel is measured at 42.5 inches in length, with a huge girth of 11 inches.

Wol said, “It is probably one of the most amazing fish I have ever caught and will possibly see nothing like it again. And for sure it is one of the biggest eels intentionally caught, for many are accidental captures. What a huge, huge, stunning fish.”