Over the years I have fished for just about every coarse fish going !!
Although I tend to be a Trapper I still like to use a float rod and centre pin, even the pole if the species I'm targetting demands such extreme tackle.
Recently I have spent some time in hospital and as a way of detracting from the vagaries of the NHS I got to thinking about the amount of effort I put into catching certain fish.
Thirty odd Carp in a 110 acre Gravel pits, big Tench from the same water, miles of a small river with thirteen Barbel, all good challenges, but the one species that I remember being a total nighmare were BIG Eels.
It would about ten years ago now, I was fishing for Carp at a beautiful estate lake in Northamptonshire, it was early morning after a rather cold night in June, a stuttering take signalled a fitful run.
I wound down and hit something that really pulled back, it turned out to be an Eel of just over 5lbs, fortunately it was not deep hooked and after a Sumo wrestling match this Eel was returned unharmed.
The seeds were sown, I had to catch one off these serpents by design, but it was not an instant decision and it had to wait until the following season.
My fishing partener was not that keen on Eel's, but went along with my inane desire to trap a monster Eel using suitable tackle ( what ever that is ) ?
At the time we were really into our Pike fishing and would spend many Winter months in the pursuit of our target species, fishing locally in and around London, with trips to the Fens taken in the coldest of winter months.
One of these Pike venues use to give very odd runs which we never connected with, at the time thinking they must be Eels and it was local to us !!
I joined the NAC and started to put together a picture off the type of water that might hold a Monster Eel and this venue ticked all the boxes.
The only trouble was, there was No controlling club, the water concerned was in dispute about ownership and it was later decided in court between the three councils concerned, that a compulsory purchase by a large authority won the day !!
But never mind, it gave us a chance to fish the water, taking care not to give any of the disputing council officials an opportunity to throw us off.
We would of course have argued that No one council had the rights to the water, but that would have been wasted fishing time and an unnecessary effort, so we took it as Red, that it was best not to make it obvious that we were fishing the lake at all !!
It meant tuning up at 7pm on a Sunday Evening, a mile walk along a towpath, setting up on a little beach, with the bedchair between the lake bank and the waterside, the rods placed out into the water on a pod, with buzzers and drop of alarms, then off the water at first light.
No Umbrella or Bivvy, just some dark green misquitoes netting thrown over the top of us, to keep away those blood sucking insects, which turned my fishing mate into the Elephant Man on numerous occasions.
It was Hot, hard work, which we hoped would pay off in the end, we lived in hope !
I had read all about Pointy Nose and Wide Mouth Eels and decided that we would start with Worms on one rod and Dead Roach heads on the other.
J.S. rigs were made up using 7strand wire, two swivels and a size 6 single hook, 8lb maxima line,1/2" curtain rings whipped to 2ozs leads, fox type poppers were used a stops, I thought mistakenly that my Harrison 11/2lb tc Barbel rods, which had tamed 13lb barbel would cope for any Eel.
This was later to be proved very wrong ?
The first month of the season, passed without incident, infact we had not had a run and were beginning to think we were doing something wrong.
Another few weeks passed and we decided to try a smaller pond next to the large one we had been fishing, it was still hard work, fortunately Gary did contact with an Eel of 33/4lbs which gave us a bit of encouragement.
Because we were new to Eel fishing, we tried a few other waters, just to give us some much needed confidence and were rewarded with some nice Eels up to 3lbs, but the Pit kept calling us back.
It was now late autumn and having failed miserably in the warmer months, it was decided to call it best until the following season.
Barbel, Chub and Pike fishing soon put a smile back on our faces and plans for the following years Eel fishing were discused at great length.
Still believing that the Pit held monster Eels and as we had not been bothered by any other species, Worms would be the Main bait and pre-baiting with as many worms as we could Snitch, our game plan.
June 16th arrived, and we were there on the beach, rods on the pods, air injected worms the bait of choice, liberal lashing of mosquitoe replellent and high expectations of a big Eel.
2 am and Gary has a bleep from the buzzer, the line pulls tight to the drop off clip, within seconds we are standing side by side.
Gary now has the rod in his hands, the line starts to spill from the pool, he wind's down and strikes, the rod bends over and after a spirted fight, he lands a superb Eel of 6lbs exactly.
Photo's taken, we are off the water by 6am and heading towards our local Barbel river for a spot of proper fishing !!
Every oppertunity I get, I'm back at the Pit, although I beginning to think it will never happen, then on a warm nigh at the back end of August, with Gary fishing in the next swim I get a wake up call.
It's 1pm, I have perfected my set up, front Delkims, rear drop off alarms, open bale arm, the line twitched, a bleep.
I'm on the rod immediately, I pick it up, feeling the line for a bite, it's touch legering, but is it or is it not a bite, I'm not sure, winding down I think I can feel something, Gary is standing besides me.
What do you think I said, " Hit It " was the reply !!
Responding to this, I wound down and struck.
Was it a fish?; it seemed as if I had hooked the bottom, no it was moving, pump and draw, pump and draw, I was gaining line, but the rod was locked up.
After two season of Eel fishing this was my first chance at the pit and I did not want to blow it, the rod was still bent over to it's maximum, but I was gaining line little by little.
I'm not really sure how long it took me to get it the surface, but eventually it hit the top, shaking its head violently.
Was the 42inch net big enough ?
No !!
It seemed like an age as it kept sliding across the opening to the net, but in the end it was mine.
Gary took the arms out of the spreader block, bitting through the main line and folding my Prize Eel within the mesh, we then lifted the net and Eel onto the prepared, well away from the water Un-hooking mat.
I was shaking like a leaf, Gary dealt with the Monster, laying it on it's back and stroking it's belly, it was soon docile, the hook was just inside the scissors, easily removed.
We had made up some double sacks, which proofed to be Eel Proof, the Eel was placed in the sack and secured in deep water.
I never went back to sleep, watching the sack rope for any sign of distress, first light and we were up and ready for the weighing.
The Eel was measured 49inches long, it was huge coming in at weight of 7lbs 2ozs and possibly my best fish ever !!
I carried on fishing the Pit for a few more months, contecting with an even bigger Eel, but this time I was prepared for the strength of these creatures, Carp Rod and a 50inch Catfish net.
It got off after some how twisting itself out off the net !!
I gave up Eel fishing seriously after that loss.
Working out that Gary and I had put in 1200 Rod hours for four bites and three landed Eels from the Pit.
Memories !!
Bob
Although I tend to be a Trapper I still like to use a float rod and centre pin, even the pole if the species I'm targetting demands such extreme tackle.
Recently I have spent some time in hospital and as a way of detracting from the vagaries of the NHS I got to thinking about the amount of effort I put into catching certain fish.
Thirty odd Carp in a 110 acre Gravel pits, big Tench from the same water, miles of a small river with thirteen Barbel, all good challenges, but the one species that I remember being a total nighmare were BIG Eels.
It would about ten years ago now, I was fishing for Carp at a beautiful estate lake in Northamptonshire, it was early morning after a rather cold night in June, a stuttering take signalled a fitful run.
I wound down and hit something that really pulled back, it turned out to be an Eel of just over 5lbs, fortunately it was not deep hooked and after a Sumo wrestling match this Eel was returned unharmed.
The seeds were sown, I had to catch one off these serpents by design, but it was not an instant decision and it had to wait until the following season.
My fishing partener was not that keen on Eel's, but went along with my inane desire to trap a monster Eel using suitable tackle ( what ever that is ) ?
At the time we were really into our Pike fishing and would spend many Winter months in the pursuit of our target species, fishing locally in and around London, with trips to the Fens taken in the coldest of winter months.
One of these Pike venues use to give very odd runs which we never connected with, at the time thinking they must be Eels and it was local to us !!
I joined the NAC and started to put together a picture off the type of water that might hold a Monster Eel and this venue ticked all the boxes.
The only trouble was, there was No controlling club, the water concerned was in dispute about ownership and it was later decided in court between the three councils concerned, that a compulsory purchase by a large authority won the day !!
But never mind, it gave us a chance to fish the water, taking care not to give any of the disputing council officials an opportunity to throw us off.
We would of course have argued that No one council had the rights to the water, but that would have been wasted fishing time and an unnecessary effort, so we took it as Red, that it was best not to make it obvious that we were fishing the lake at all !!
It meant tuning up at 7pm on a Sunday Evening, a mile walk along a towpath, setting up on a little beach, with the bedchair between the lake bank and the waterside, the rods placed out into the water on a pod, with buzzers and drop of alarms, then off the water at first light.
No Umbrella or Bivvy, just some dark green misquitoes netting thrown over the top of us, to keep away those blood sucking insects, which turned my fishing mate into the Elephant Man on numerous occasions.
It was Hot, hard work, which we hoped would pay off in the end, we lived in hope !
I had read all about Pointy Nose and Wide Mouth Eels and decided that we would start with Worms on one rod and Dead Roach heads on the other.
J.S. rigs were made up using 7strand wire, two swivels and a size 6 single hook, 8lb maxima line,1/2" curtain rings whipped to 2ozs leads, fox type poppers were used a stops, I thought mistakenly that my Harrison 11/2lb tc Barbel rods, which had tamed 13lb barbel would cope for any Eel.
This was later to be proved very wrong ?
The first month of the season, passed without incident, infact we had not had a run and were beginning to think we were doing something wrong.
Another few weeks passed and we decided to try a smaller pond next to the large one we had been fishing, it was still hard work, fortunately Gary did contact with an Eel of 33/4lbs which gave us a bit of encouragement.
Because we were new to Eel fishing, we tried a few other waters, just to give us some much needed confidence and were rewarded with some nice Eels up to 3lbs, but the Pit kept calling us back.
It was now late autumn and having failed miserably in the warmer months, it was decided to call it best until the following season.
Barbel, Chub and Pike fishing soon put a smile back on our faces and plans for the following years Eel fishing were discused at great length.
Still believing that the Pit held monster Eels and as we had not been bothered by any other species, Worms would be the Main bait and pre-baiting with as many worms as we could Snitch, our game plan.
June 16th arrived, and we were there on the beach, rods on the pods, air injected worms the bait of choice, liberal lashing of mosquitoe replellent and high expectations of a big Eel.
2 am and Gary has a bleep from the buzzer, the line pulls tight to the drop off clip, within seconds we are standing side by side.
Gary now has the rod in his hands, the line starts to spill from the pool, he wind's down and strikes, the rod bends over and after a spirted fight, he lands a superb Eel of 6lbs exactly.
Photo's taken, we are off the water by 6am and heading towards our local Barbel river for a spot of proper fishing !!
Every oppertunity I get, I'm back at the Pit, although I beginning to think it will never happen, then on a warm nigh at the back end of August, with Gary fishing in the next swim I get a wake up call.
It's 1pm, I have perfected my set up, front Delkims, rear drop off alarms, open bale arm, the line twitched, a bleep.
I'm on the rod immediately, I pick it up, feeling the line for a bite, it's touch legering, but is it or is it not a bite, I'm not sure, winding down I think I can feel something, Gary is standing besides me.
What do you think I said, " Hit It " was the reply !!
Responding to this, I wound down and struck.
Was it a fish?; it seemed as if I had hooked the bottom, no it was moving, pump and draw, pump and draw, I was gaining line, but the rod was locked up.
After two season of Eel fishing this was my first chance at the pit and I did not want to blow it, the rod was still bent over to it's maximum, but I was gaining line little by little.
I'm not really sure how long it took me to get it the surface, but eventually it hit the top, shaking its head violently.
Was the 42inch net big enough ?
No !!
It seemed like an age as it kept sliding across the opening to the net, but in the end it was mine.
Gary took the arms out of the spreader block, bitting through the main line and folding my Prize Eel within the mesh, we then lifted the net and Eel onto the prepared, well away from the water Un-hooking mat.
I was shaking like a leaf, Gary dealt with the Monster, laying it on it's back and stroking it's belly, it was soon docile, the hook was just inside the scissors, easily removed.
We had made up some double sacks, which proofed to be Eel Proof, the Eel was placed in the sack and secured in deep water.
I never went back to sleep, watching the sack rope for any sign of distress, first light and we were up and ready for the weighing.
The Eel was measured 49inches long, it was huge coming in at weight of 7lbs 2ozs and possibly my best fish ever !!
I carried on fishing the Pit for a few more months, contecting with an even bigger Eel, but this time I was prepared for the strength of these creatures, Carp Rod and a 50inch Catfish net.
It got off after some how twisting itself out off the net !!
I gave up Eel fishing seriously after that loss.
Working out that Gary and I had put in 1200 Rod hours for four bites and three landed Eels from the Pit.
Memories !!
Bob
nice one bob
;
