I Captured A Critically Endangered Species Taking My Bait Underwater! WOW

[@The_ginger_fisherman]

Make sure you keep your eyes peeled in this video! I include underwater footage throughout Including magic footage of fish taking the hook bait! You may have noticed a gap in uploads. That's because last week I took part in the first ever YPC UK! I'll keep you updated on that as we get closer to the release date of the first episode at the end of October!

[@robbieallan6522]

A couple questions, is that your local river close to home? I wonder just cuz my local river is a 10 minute walk away and that's ALWAYS a huge advantage to a keen angler. Also do you have just 1 license to cover all fishing there ? I haven't seen all your videos but I've seen you catch pike n perch and now barrbel and if you get trout and salmon I know some rivers ask you to have 2 licenses 1 for course fishing and 1 for wild trout and salmon.

[@danholland5334]

Got scammers on you channel Chris, have a look at comment

[@stephenhollinrake916]

​@@danholland5334, I noticed to !!

[@philiptheman892]

@@robbieallan6522 One rod license covers coarse and non migratory trout, you need a separate license for migratory trout and salmon

[@southerneruk]

Eels have lost their spawning weed rafts in the Sargasso Sea, where ships have been ploughing though and breaking up the weed and there was also the escape Japanese Common Eel that got into the drains and into the rivers, they carry a worm in the swim bladder, that pass onto the European Common Eel, wiping out them out in high numbers, with luck our Eels have adjusted to having that worm.

[@nicktheflybradley]

Hi Chris, I agree with so many of the comments below. Yes, I was born 1955 and early fishings on holiday in Norfolk, River Wensum at Costessy Mill could eels regularly, never by design. Saw Silver eels caught (and kept) by anglers at All Hallows on the south side of the tidal Thames. Never seen an eel in the river Ouse/ Ure since moving to York after marriage in 1978. I love jellied eels which the eels come from Holland nowadays and rarely get them in York. Eels are indeed on the edge and lovely to see you return such a beautiful fish. Nick from York.

[@kemalhussein6106]

The underwater footage is just superb Chris. Your vlogs are so enjoyable to watch because i think we can all relate to how 'normal' and enthusiastic an angler you are and not just a sponsored Carp machine! 😊

[@carmsieG]

Hi great video. 👍🏻 just wondered.. can that last barbel get the hook out of its mouth as it’s barbless?

[@davemellor4697]

Chris the work and effort you put in to your videos is really amazing,this is why you are number 1 on the fishing front!

[@simdal3088]

Eel seems to be making somewhat of a comeback lately, i hope they fully recover.

[@ryescott9445]

That eel was a special fish! Getting the take to, brilliant mate.

[@liamwalton5249]

Fantastic video Chris as always.Need to get back on the river👍 tight lines 🎣

[@trevorcornes1056]

Some Lovely barbel Chris and great footage too ,and a bonus eel. Keep it coming because it’s so chilling to watch 👍

[@cosworth1616]

I haven't even watched this video and i already know its going to be great😂 Thank you for helping me get into fishing and inspiring me!

[@iwtfpduta]

When I was a lad (over 50 years ago) I would go fishing in the Tyne and catch an eel, and another eel, and another and another. It's hard to believe they are endangered now

[@lexvandewal8856]

And how mutch did u take home?

[@iwtfpduta]

@@lexvandewal8856 Every one went back into the river

[@lexvandewal8856]

@@iwtfpduta allot of people did take them and wonder why there arent that mutch annymore

[@neilbuckard723]

Beleive it or not there being taken for food now and also killed which I find disgusting

[@neilbuckard723]

There mostly being taken away and eaten because these days moneys tight so there a good source of food

[@petercalthorpe7966]

G'day Chris, awesome Barbel such a beautiful fish . Thanks for sharing Chris , all the best form down under mate 👍🏼👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@tadhghayden8440]

Very cool..to see that eel come in like that. Rarely see eel captures shown. I use barbless to fish for them and most fish nowadays but espically eels...Very important to tend to their well fare...

[@paulclemons705]

Great video Chris - we both caught eels last night on the local stretch of the Worcester Birmingham canal - first time for ages!

[@neilsmith7547]

Great video ginger. Unlucky on the lost barbel but nice to catch an eel. Some lovely barbel there mate 👌

[@michaelboyle9889]

Awesome video the under water shots were great and so clear . 🎣👍👍

[@WrightCycloneR1820]

I fished the Hampshire Avon last summer, ledger with meat just like yourself to go for the Barbel, and like you hooked a big eel. Glad yours spat the hook into the net, mine took it deep and was an absolute saga to unhook. Amazing creatures but can be feisty and very difficult to handle.

[@cliffdixon6422]

Great video as always. I hadn't caught an Eel since the 1980's but a trip to a lake my club has taken over recently which has been derelict rectified that - A really hard venue with old, wild fish, I saw some dimpling and chucked half a prawn on with the shot bulked under the float as I knew there were some very good Rudd in there, got hit midwater by a new PB Eel of 3lb! Great to see they are making a comeback across England (Even if they are not my favourite species!)

[@frankvanleeuwen2943]

Nice to see the eel... As a kid i lived in a place in The Netherlands called " aalsmeer "... Translated it's " eels lake " and we caught them all the time... Not so mutch now but they are returning..... Great video....

[@neilbuckard723]

Remember the old arsely bomb leads ? Before all the fancy rigs came out? I caught many big carp on a chunk of crusty bread the excitement watching them swirl round your bait.poised waiting for your washing bottle top to hit the top.or a piece of tin-foil if you was posh😂

[@PaulLees-y7t]

Great footage and info. I caught my first pike last week and have to admit was I bit in shock as I was jigging for perch. 15-18lb at a guess. Stourport-on-severn has a basin just off the river where all the small bait go in to get out the current when river is up. and always plenty of pike and perch get in there

[@gezgriffiths3793]

Awesome fishing as usual matey brilliant. 👍🏻

[@PieterChristiaens]

YES MAN! An eel taking on camera, i search for that for years on youtube and the Ginger Wonder makes it happen!! Here in Belgium we still catch them in good numbers. Cheers!

[@TheBudgie29]

Great session Chris, It's the 28th of June and I still haven't got a line wet. I only just got My club license the other day (need to print It out) then hopefully I will feel good enough to get out there. But All you guy;s keep me abreast of what Is going on so far. Keep 'Em Coming, for those who can't.

[@fishwithivan8562]

that river reminds me of our river nidd up in north yorkshire small and narrow love your fishing videos great fishing

[@needham831]

Great session and great footage mate. That eel was a suprise but hopefully a good sign for the future of your river. Some cracking Barbel. The first take in the second session was absolutely mad!☺ Glad you had a productive 16th of June. Me and my mate went down our local river here. Fished over 3 days. All we could manage was a lot of small versions of river species (Chub, Perch, Roach etc.) but we had a couple of better Bream between the 2lb to 4lb mark. At least we caught first day out and the weather was great...if a bit too warm at times. Here's to the 2023/24 season, Chris.☺ Tight lines mate.🎣

[@deividas_kimontas]

Incredible footage Chris! 🔥 Really cool to see a variety of fish, especially Eel, which are on the brink of extinction. Tight lines! 🎣

[@wilfwilliams]

Chris , have you considered approaching a Tv production company. You are great infront of the camera. Natural, interesting, normal!

[@lawsonspedding6136]

Me too, The River Lune, the tidal water below the weir by Skerton Bridge.

[@stevesnailfish]

Blimey !!! Used to catch Eels all the time back in the '70's and '80's on the River Nene near Peterborough every session.....Rare as rocking horse shit nowadays... I'm loving the underwater footage.....

[@sjaakmcd1804]

Awesome as ever, cheers Chris

[@anthonyferry9995]

love ya videos mate what area do u fish for the barbel we don't.have.any In our stretch I'd love to catch one.

[@kippersniffer3699]

I catch elvers (baby eels ) on spring tides in river severn by hand held net . Every year i release some in local brooks and ponds to give them a helping hand . This was a great year for the migration there were more than ever and they were in abundance. I put this down to some years ago a ban was placed on netting of the eels that were migrating back to sea to breed and now the eels are in recovery. We just need some funding from the EA to be able to catch and release the elvers over man made obstacles and sluice gates . We fish traditional and sustainable and I would love to keep helping the survival of the eel .

[@doctorjeep86]

Good work 👏

[@bleedingreenbetty9795]

What do you do with the elvers? Are they used for bait or sold commercially? Just curious, I'm not familiar with the market for them over there(I'm in the US)

[@kippersniffer3699]

@@bleedingreenbetty9795 it used to be commercial before brexit happened but the market has died now . No where in Europe will buy our fish and because they are on the endangered species list we are not allowed to sell them to Japan. The fishery is basically dead in the water .

[@lesbaty8919]

Great filming and some nice fish, cheers

[@jasonridyardhome]

Great vid thanks for sharing 👍

[@cambridgeaquatics7397]

Wow, challenge completed! Its great to see an eel. Both underwater and on the bank. Well done 👏 👏👏 Next video challenge - Gudgeon and minnows in the same frame.

[@davidhudson7590]

Around 20,25 years ago the river Tyne I used worm for salmon and trout chub but could take 30,40 eels in a session must be 15 years since even saw another catch one I no the polish love them to eat and see alot fishing for them so maybe hasn't helped the decline

[@JWhite-Fishing]

I was talking to some anglers on the bank the other day and they apparently caught 3 Eels on meat when targeting Barbel. It seems the spawning trip to the Sargasso Sea has been successful in recent years!

[@jackmccarthy9117]

I live near pershore and there was absolutely tons of eels in a drain off by a river last season, farmer was cleaning it with debry and there was literally 30-40 eels making there way back to the river

[@jkasaunder228]

Well that was an incredible thing to learn about, thanks for sharing!

[@jackmccarthy9117]

@@jkasaunder228 if you want to find eels look for shallow drainage off rivers

[@FishingWithJamie88]

Great vid as always buddy love the under water footage, where I'm based fish our rivers there alive with eels, I'm off to Essex to meet some new friends this weekend and were going Carp fishing with a outside chance of a sturgeon 😎🎣🎣🎣 love the channel mate keep the vids coming ❤😊

[@alamocannon3791]

Back in the late 70s Eels were a problem while fishing for Mullet or flounders in tidal rivers. There where thousands on them, all bootlase size and every rock you moved there were 20/30 little ones about 2/3 inch`s long sitting there.

[@PortugalCarp]

That is brill. That river is so beautiful, great photography. LoL, Robin Red looks like tandoori.

[@peterryan4169]

Been watching your channel for a long time and I never realised I wasn’t subscribing, that’s now changed

[@MrTim207]

Brilliant footage! Can you tell me more about your camera set up? How are you fixing your GoPro underwater? Do you attach it to a pole?

[@oman9492]

I went to the river wandle in London last year. Its a chalk stream, was previously poisoned to death but has recently become very clean and looks to be thriving with barble and chub and rumours of a grayling. Anyway I had 3 big eels there. Also on the Thames its still easy to catch eels.

[@paulcousans4254]

Wow used to catch eels all the time when I was a kid in the early eighties on the river Foss in York. There was a time when it would be all you would catch as they were that common. Sad to hear they are endangered spieces now. Great video yet again.

[@robsx4280]

We used to catch loads of these on the Stour at Flatford late 80s, so many it was annoying as they nearly always tangled the line. Last eel I caught was off the beach in Sussex.

[@rhino269]

Seeing that eel reminded me of all the times we'd catch them as kids in the Thames estuary. Always used to bring a bit of cloth/rag or newspaper to handle them because of all the slime. I saw a few videos last year on KZbin across several different people and seemed that (during last summer, i.e. 2022) there were tons of them back in the water. Nice to see you catching one in freshwater though. :) Also, some cracking Barbel there as well mate, one of my favourite coarse fish.

[@markjoyce1720]

some fantastic underwater footage, and you are one jammy so and so with the hook coming out in the net with the eel.😜

[@IlIWlIl]

Long been waiting for the video!

[@akwamarsunzal]

Wow, just wow! The underwater footage is awesome! The eel? Yep, not caught an eel in years! Used to get a few small ones in the Thames but my biggest was in a small river in Wales, could still be the record for that river. Great videos man!

[@flynn-xr4ww]

How big

[@zworm2]

Eels endangered....How sad. When I used to fish in Britain around Norfolk we used to catch loads of them and make some wonderful jellied eel. Beautiful Barbel. Spam was my go to bait for them. Great fighters!

[@Governor-qm7py]

Fished this section of river yesterday it's very overgrown on the banks one of the willow trees has split and fallen but nevertheless some cracking Barbel fell to the cheesy garlic pellet O's 8mm 4mm loose feed soaked in Hot Fish & GLM Liquid Attractant 5 barbel landed in a very short session.

[@dmtstuff]

Saw a few eel's in there last year of about that size. Not managed to snag one yet though! Great footage mate - he didn't muck about lol. Straight down his gob😊

[@nicklegg61]

I can always remember how excited I used to get ,and the build up to June 16th.

[@oz1472]

Another great video , the eels are still pretty common in my local river , the river kenn in Somerset

[@oz1472]

@TheGingerFisherman not at all sir 🤣 I usually I either catch a big old slab up to 10 pounds, or a eel ., or more often than not , bugger all 😅😅😅😅

[@LeeKender-e9v]

Agree great to see them in our rivers

[@nightspring1995]

Can i just ask, with the shot ledger is it just a swivel with a bit of line and split shots? Thank you

[@danholland5334]

Epic bro, I booked up at a new pond last week, had a 50 minute fight on a method rod and 8lb line to pull out a 3ft 1inch sturgeon. Never caught one in my life owner and bailiff never knew about it being in there. That was in a central London fishery. Tight lines bro

[@danholland5334]

Got scammers on your channel Chris

[@mark24o965]

Very nice barbel Chris as you say and I do why complicate your hooklines when keeping it simple works better great video as per usual

[@privatedata665]

Great video . Are most rivers open to public fishing or is permission needed to fish most areas ? Thanks

[@ironix1]

Great to see the eel. Superb!

[@tobysyoung94]

What kind of rod are you using the line doesn’t work anymore and what lb line if you remember

[@stumoowoodgate463]

Wow!! Not caught an eel in a very long time but did spot one in the local river recently. Use to catch them all of the time in the Canal .

[@iaincurrie9706]

Fantastic video!

[@Jude_Thompson]

What mainline would u recommend for barbel fishing

[@andysmith819]

Great footage 😀

[@somemotherdoavem]

Be suprised flying out the canals this year brilliant footage

[@drewsimpson5967]

I used to enjoy an eel party. A nice sideline on all night pike fishing trips. The deadbaits had to come out of the water while you concentrated on the eels with worm or you would be demented with bite alarms going off constantly as eels pulled your bait around for most of the night.

[@gc1977]

soooo lucky it unhooked itself. I remember catching a few as a child and they were an absolute nightmare to release.

[@petew7856]

Do you keep your spool underfilled for a reason?

[@baldvale5418]

I used to love night fishing for Eels at Tyrley locks Shropshire, it was very hard to fit your Bivvy along the towpath but it was a stunning place to be. We caught plenty of Eels but nothing of any size though we did catch some big bream which i'm sure we would never have caught during the day. Such a shame about the Eel decline.

[@RoySneesby]

Glad that you was happy to get your eel … I’m afraid to say a week or so back me and my daughter was fishing on the Leeds Liverpool canal and the amount of eels and pike that was dead floating about the water was crazy .. I called the EA and they said they had reports of thousands of fish all around the north west that had died due to lack of oxygen with the hot weather .. it’s such a shame to see so many dead fish

[@reasonsvoice8554]

Same in the midlands lots of dead fish in the heat due to lack of oxygen

[@MrAnderson321]

I’ve caught quite a few large Eels in recent years on the River Severn, Coalport, Shropshire, mainly on meat when after the Barbel. Luckily they’ve been on the lip or popped out in the net, as yours did. 🎣

[@ligman100]

Always caught eels in my teens night fishing on the Thames,was 30-35 years ago though

[@northernangler1878]

We catch loads of them in our local river common eels that is mate along with brownies graylings and believe it or not flatties from the sea

[@Gill3spie85]

Exact same species as my local river here in Glasgow, Scotland!

[@fluppi123]

Congrats for the eel Chris. My last one is more than 25 years ago. 👏👍

[@fluppi123]

@TheGingerFisherman you are not Chris, just a fking Scammer !

[@beanysfishing2555]

Theres still a fair few in Norfolk. The main reason eel numbers have declined world wide is due to parasite from Asia. It lives in their swim bladder, so when they go back to spawn, the go over the continental shelf and sink, causing them to die, due to their damaged swim bladder. Unbelievable considering how many eels were caught years ago.

[@MarcusGlenister-qd3nn]

Beautiful Barbel 🙂👍 tight llines and many red letter days 🏆😜👍

[@djp4206]

Our river couple years back was teeming with them had a good 6/7 and so did my mates all on worm ledgering

[@spring899]

How do you manage to get a camera so close to a live hookbait ? Camera first or hookbait first ?

[@sleeka91]

About 9 years ago me and my brother were fishing the Avon into dark near pershore and we had at least 20 small eels between us chub fishing on meat!

[@EsoxLVCIVS6776]

We used to fish the River Taff when I was a kid and it was nothing to land 30 eels and more in a session with my mate. Ledgering lobworm. Every year the weir would turn black with the amount of elvers and we used to walk barefoot through them because it felt funny.

[@jontrackerjack]

Wife caught a 2.5 lb eel from the Wye 2 days ago and though rare we were not pleased as the slime is difficult to remove. Each to their own and it was returned unharmed.

[@charlesoleary3066]

What length and tc is that rod?

[@DrakoDragonis]

**Sees eel take bait** Pfft! It's just a eel. **Googles it** Wow! Critically endangered. You learn something new everyday.

[@robbieallan6522]

Last year was the first time in about 7 years give or take that I caught 2 European eels in the same day at around 4pm and it was a scorcher of a day it hadnt rained in weeks and I caught a tiny little one about 8inch and the second was about Same as the one you got, was unusual for that time of day in that part of the river cuz it's a70ft across and no deeper at the time than 3ft and as shallow as 6 inches due to the drought and any cormorant or Heron could have had an easy meal cuz theirs hardly any flow infact it's more like a pond and I caught them right in the middle where there's no shelter no rocks to hide under so they must have been starving to risk exposure like that. When I was in my early 20s, early 2000s me and a friend would go fishing for them around 7pm and midnight cut off as a little competition and once the moon came out you could see alot of them swimming on the surface they look a silver grey in moonlight. Good fun to catch but be prepared to get home covered in slime after trying to unhook and release them, it's like you washed your hands in pva glue after handling them 😆

[@SteeeveO]

Sad to think how we used to hate catching eels in the late 70's & 80's - they were everywhere & so difficult to unhook - you were well lucky with that slimy bootlace! Wish they were back.......

[@kevinbaker4907]

I've caught a few eels from the sea here in Scarborough. They can cope with what mother nature throws at them, but not twats eating elvers. Keep up the good work G.

[@stevepitts7998]

It's a sad indictment of the state of our rivers and eel population that what was once a nuisance species is now considered a rarity . At least your river seems healthy and vibrant and long may it remain so.

[@big_gurtha]

I've seen eel recently in Wales I was just sat watching the water. The first fish I caught was a eel.

[@hansroelofsen7233]

Can you fish for zander in a video?

[@stuartlloyd8193]

I live in a marina in eastern UK and caught two Eels yesterday morning on luncheon meat and lost another one. Both 2-3lb. I catch them regularly so I would guess they are quite plentiful here

[@WestNorfolkFisherman]

I had one this year out of a fishery in Norfolk about 1lb They caught over 58 eels in a match great Ouse tidal they are still about

[@castlebilliards8712]

I had eels 2 in the same session out of the canal in Kildare , Ireland a couple of weeks ago while trying for a few tench. I absolutely hate catching eels

[@alandavies3727]

There’s tons of Eels in the river Thurn Norfolk. They’re considered a nuisance fish there.

[@kevinbartlett1017]

The few eels I have caught over the years have a bad habit of really choking the hook, which does not help in trying to protect them

[@bottlediggingchris3966]

About 40 years ago, in the Trent near Nottingham I could quite easily catch 3 or 4 eels in one evening. Sadly that's probably not the case now.

[@adamc7598]

Chris, i feel like these fish have made a huge comeback. Im catching one after another at the moment, infact im getting plagued by them on 2 different rivers. The amount you fish im suprised you havnt caught more? im midwest

[@jamesshore2730]

Loads of eels in the Shropshire union canal.

[@nicholaskemp2246]

Great video. Lovely to see a decent sized eel. I must say though mate, it looks like you've parked yourself in a bunch of giant hogweed. Hope it isn't, but be careful, the stuff is horrible.