This Big Fish Almost had its Face Tore off by a Savage Predator!

It was finally time to have my first barbel fishing session of the season! As always when the river is low and clear it's better to scale down. In this session I show you how I use smaller baits, smaller hooks and lighter lines to catch some of the biggest fish in the river!
Instagram - / the_ginger_fisherman

[@barbaraneville5036]

Nice to actually hear a Barbel care comment in the video Sometimes overlooked by Anglers

[@Hmm.223]

Love the barbel content. Wouldn’t mind seeing some more barbel and chub fishing on the channel!

[@PilzE.]

Chris, doing what The Ginger Fisherman does best, and throwing in a public service announcement to protect these beautiful, magnificent fish too! 🤍

[@michaelward35]

Great aerial shots, beautiful, you're showing those big river Barbel experts that it don't need to be that complicated. Superb!

[@gallantsaint.]

I absolutely love river fishing for barbel but I've got really bad psoriatic arthritis so I really struggle to get down the bank, but I keep going, last time I went I had 3 on the trent but I have been off my feet for over a week now but it was so worth it I gotta pb 11lbs6oz so was very happy, love your videos you have such great enthusiasm for the sport love it keep up the fantastic work my freind

[@kierankenny2436]

All the best brother

[@gallantsaint.]

Thank you I appreciate it

[@nightspring1995]

Hi chris, what's the net you are using in this video? Please, my waters have put a 30in rule for all style fishing, for I need a good but massive net right down to small lure fishing lol

[@PaulMulford]

Thank you so much for using barbless hooks . So much better for keeping the fish healthier.

[@Stewbo1]

Nobody should be using barbed hooks in this day and age

[@chriswright6978]

@@Stewbo1 barbless do more damage, they can swivel around and create a bigger hole in fishes mouth, micro barbed wont, a good few fisheries have banned barbless believie it or not for this exact reason. ive caught carp on barbless fisheries and they look like quasimodo with distorted mouths because of this rule, never seen it on a barbel pal where its allowed, theres more to fishing responsibly than using barbless hooks.

[@dhtmo]

Golden brown torpedoes!!! Beautiful, Chris. Great stuff.

[@douglascurl5581]

You're right about stuff. My local Chippenham Avon gets littered with sweetcorn tins and the like at the start of the new season. It's frustrating! I'll say these are one of my favourite fish, along with Tench. Watching your channel a while now and really enjoy the content. Keep it up.

[@LG_Fishing]

A cracking session. I really don't think you can beat the simplicity of a running ledger.

[@martinflavell3045]

cracking session m8. Immaculate barbel, 10.11 what a catch! I need to get down the river myself asap!

[@Aboutaweekago1787]

Love how much time and attention you put into the aftercare of the fish before releasing.

[@theabandonedhunter3604]

Some awesome Barbel there Chris nice one! 👌🎣 some great advice as well on looking after the Barbel! All the best ….Smithy

[@paulflint2863]

Great barbel care advice Chris

[@PeteRumley]

Imagine chris was your dad and was teaching you how to fish... the best fisherman I've ever ever seen by far!

[@akwamarsunzal]

Great tip about releasing barbel! They do need time to recover! Years ago I used to fish a stretch of water with big fish that, every year, some would be lost downstream, post spawning. The old bailiff, who had fished that stretch all his long life, said it happened every year where the older, bigger barbel were just spent and could not hold themselves in the flow of water. Sad to see but he believed it was natural selection, allowing the younger barbel chance to breed.

[@MrTimskie]

Another cracking video. You should consider doing guided sessions Chris. Guided days. You’ll make some good money because boy you can catch them. You know your craft

[@BenjaminScott-ep4xo]

Amen

[@deedontworry]

Barbel fishing is so exciting! 🔥 They always put up a great fight!

[@davemellor4697]

Would love to see you do a session with Lee from Obsession with Angling ....you two would be good together!

[@metalbenderuk9791]

Awesome video, Chris. Your passion for Barbel fishing is outstanding.

[@kurtis8384]

Always great to see someone explaining how to take care of these amazing fish. As a fishery owner, massive thumbs up.

[@Luis_simon]

Lets pay Chris the Same amount of respect, he pays the Fish!

[@MW-te5fv]

Mate, I'm not 100% sure as there are some similar plants, but on your first spot when you catch the 1st barbel you're standing right next to a strange plant with white flowers, basically touching it, and it very well might be Sosnowsky's hogweed. Not sure if you're familiar with it but a quick google search told me it exists in the UK so you might want to read a bit about it. It causes nasty burns.

[@penvisser90]

That probably is the common hogweed. The one that causes nasty burns has purple stains on the stem... Good thing you point it out, anyway though

[@MichaelLutt]

Can't beat a day on the river for the great barbel. Top video Chris

[@stegrundy4014]

Great vid Chris thx 👍👍 Nice to see the care u take with these lovely fish 😉

[@San-xj9ms]

Love the double view shot at 5mins. The aerial and the rod tip 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 Great work! Awesome fishing.

[@keithleivers4061]

Barbless hooks for all course fishing !

[@alexanderstrelnikov]

When I worked at the natural history museum, once after a field trip they brought back a carusse with literally no head. No eyes, no mouth, nothing. It was probably somehow escaped from en eagle or another bird (that was the assumption). It survived in a fish tank for more than 6 months, actually eating (through the neck opening, saw it myself) , swimming around and seemed to have it quite well. It was weird and a kind of scary, but also amazing the extent of damages they can survive.

[@karlpearson8032]

Beautiful wild river fishing for Barbel, excellent advice on how to catch and release these awesome fish, I totally agree with you on if we don’t look after the stocks , the fish will not be there in the future , we know whose hands this is in, certainly not the fish as you well know they have no hands. Awesome video again Chris, from Newcastle, though I have lived in NZ for nearly 30 years, still remember river fishing in the UK, never caught a Barbel, though that doesn’t mean I don’t want other anglers to fulfill their dreams 😀👍❤️

[@chrishockley3990]

Cracking content as always! Thanks

[@BlueNoseTSG]

Brilliant video and great that you explained fish care.

[@ironmikebassmaster3252]

It took me forever to watch all of your videos and the one thing I never see you do is use a file or stone to sharpen your hooks... Nor do you emphasize the need for sharp hooks. Love your show and love the variety keep up the good work Chris😊

[@timbarrett8039]

Usually, just fish for Brown Trout and Grayling, but your super videos have inspired me to fish for other species in our rivers and canals. 😊

[@The-Ratbasher]

Well done Chris. Your enthusiasm is infectious mate. Just a pity my health stops me getting out onto the banks as I once did.

[@joebrookes5464]

Great video Chris. I was between those pegs the other day but there was too much weed coming down, I did manage to prize one further down stream though!

[@kevbrooks]

Bloody outstanding angling .

[@needham831]

Superb session Chris. That's why people fish for Barbel. The fight and the look of them. I hope you'll be doing a bit of underwater spy cam on them too if conditions are favourable soon. 🙂

[@elliottlock9555]

Watching for air being released through gills helps to know when barbel are ready to be released I would like to add. Sometimes they either take in to much or it gets stuck. Occasionally they need extra time for the air to release and to recover after fight. Keeping out of water for as little time as possible is very important.

[@carlospadilha7197]

Amazing my friend!! Such big fishes in such a small river!!! Congrats!!

[@pikeguy1639]

Chris, just want to say that your videos are so inspiring and good. Good luck and keep making these bangers ❤!

[@chopperhehehe]

What a session gentle giants 😊 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😁✌️

[@kevinstanley3581]

What I'm trying to reconcile is that your describing the fish as spawned out but there are no baby barbel. Excellent video.

[@Load-of-old-carp]

great video pal, always good as always!!

[@joelmontgomery4496]

Outstanding Stuff Ginge, Charlie looks well 👍

[@kierankenny2436]

Love the effort with the drone mate !

[@johnycarper1]

Another great video and some good sound advice about fish care, lucky to have the ea cutting weed up there as cant remember the last time they did anything down here on the stour or Avon.

[@Manassa1917]

Fished that section of river your on many times during late 90s. In 97 my brother caught a 30lb 8oz pike on a eel section in a swim very close to there. Good video well enjoyed

[@zacmolloy4127]

What river is it pal I'm not even bothered about where abouts like near what town but that would really help because I'm struggling for spots at the moment

[@damianowens5066]

Great video mate and yeah great idea about testing your knowledge on similar rivers! 😉🎣👍

[@marcarmstrong2249]

Great Video Chris , cracking fish caught there !

[@AaronLukeAgusWildlife]

Loving the content can’t wait for the next Carp rescue video 👍

[@maddog19671967]

ye know what?yer right, most inexperienced anglers will not think and just put the fish back in ASAP not thinking about the fish , they think they are doing the fish a favor but they aint , education is the key!! glad you are putting that out there!!

[@raygrange7312]

Another superb video Chris.

[@Bazzabilo]

Bumping the algorithm. Great content as always Chris 🍻

[@pmc1649]

Terrific Video

[@neilhalley8897]

Such cracking fish from such a small river. Great video. 👍

[@Growlerinthebush]

Little rivers like that maybe suited to s centrepin reel, now there's a challenge for you. I've caught loads of chub on a centrepin in our club lakes along with Tench. Great video as usual👍👍

[@AdamsAnglingTv]

awsome video chris🎣 that 10lbr mega🐟

[@foylad4862]

Cool vid mate, lovely catches 🎣

[@ArminHermann-pi7qz]

Super Video. Thank's from Germany

[@sidunn1634]

What a session fairplay ❤

[@nolanpeter2748]

Nice fish safety talk.

[@willjones-oy9ro]

Great video, have you been taking tips from Tom & Sean? 😂

[@davidibirch3025]

Very different from what I'm famil6with seeing you fish for Chris, no better fighting fish than a Barbel in my opinion. Excellent stuff.

[@christopherforster6555]

Lovely fishing thanks.

[@davidmt23]

Great film. Cheers

[@patcullen9304]

I know it's a long way to go, but the river Wandle in South London is a nice little river

[@TheBaileyWorkChannel]

Wow, brilliant video!

[@XQZF]

Chris thank you so much for using different music

[@cliffdixon6422]

Superb fish there Chris, well done! Off for my first proper Barbel session on my local River Colne tomorrow, gave me some food for thought on rigs - Have just had some Madbaits BBB pellet and boilie delivered which I have been told is a killer bait for them (The boilies get trimmed down to smaller size for maximum effect) but we shall see! The Barbel are spread out on the Colne but there are some big doubles in there which would make my week!

[@The_ginger_fisherman]

Good luck buddy!

[@fishingAbdya6108]

Great big fish, my friend 👍👍

[@stephenfrost6200]

Great video. Do you think more likely that an Otter caused the damage rather than a Mink. Incidentally, no Mink left in Norfolk and Suffolk. They can be removed...

[@timusher5458]

My best was a 9lb barbel from the river Kennet in Berkshire many years ago that brings back memories for me as i live in New Zealand now thanks great video

[@markcompton6750]

Go Chris.

[@petercalthorpe7966]

Awesome fish 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@gabormolnar9425]

Great session, well done mate. Pleased to hear some advise as I am pretty sure there are some "fisherman" need to learn how to look after the invironment. Tight lines 🎣

[@johnwilson7174]

Another very nice video

[@Leest0n]

Great vid as always, do love barbel fishing! If you want a guide in Shropshire OR Warwickshire let me know, i know some good spots on the Severn especially well worth a days fishing this time of year! MORE Barbel vids please =)

[@Vissenbijdewaterkant]

Great video Chris!!!!!

[@mscustomlures]

Used to be some small fish upstream above the water mill no idea if they're still there or not though

[@tonycamplin8607]

Great fish obviously from an original stocking programme. That river for some reason isn't entirely suitable for barbel or they'd have established a breeding colony by now.

[@dawber1994]

whats your thoughts on culling mink?

[@alexleighton6552]

I wish the EA cut back some of the weeds in my local river. It’s not been touched by them, the council or anyone’s thoughts for as long as I can remember. Barely I river in some areas you can’t see it for weed

[@JustinCaseJustin]

Hello Sir . Where do you get the background music from ? Thank you very much and greetings from Romania !!! Tight lines !!!

[@tadhghayden7601]

Nice fishin

[@tomhogan9046]

My local River Wandle has been Damned whilst they put in a new bridge turn the water black for about a mile and a half still with electric bike travelled a couple of miles had a little barbell of about a pound😂

[@elliottthompson-un3pk]

Hey I was just wondering I love in Lincolnshire and the only close river to me is the river witham. Do you suggest any other places where I can catch some fish like what you fish on. 😅

[@stark1826]

What knot do you use for the swivel on a wire trace for lures I'm just getting into it amd I don't know what the best one is if you could let me know it would be highly appreciated thanks 👍

[@tez4274]

Thats sad why ren't there young Barbel, Predation?

[@chriswright6978]

well done mate ive followed your channel for a year thoroughly enjoy your content ,your a well rounded angler, i generally fish the upper Trent for Barbel where the Barbel aren't in great numbers and requires leg work and effort to find them, i beat my PB with a 14lb 4oz Barbel last year and am looking to beat it again. question for you mate whats your PB Barbel on that River (I think I know which River it is but wont mention it) and why are the EA cutting weed, in my opinion if its the flood defence team doing it they are doing more harm than good destroying habitat like that, I previously used to fish the Derwent but now cannot get to the fish due to heavy Crayfish infestation wich the EA wont do anything about, theres lots going on on our rivers that are counter productive to what we do as anglers and needs a message sending out please do what you can with your influence to get a message across . big respect to you Regards Chris. P.S Great advice about resting the fish too especially at this time of year top angling pal 👌👌

[@condelaneycd]

Nice fish bad we don’t have them fish in Ireland id love to fish for them con from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@Enzo_dub]

I had 16lb out the Trent this weekend plus a 6lb chub :)

[@SRobinson1485]

What bait did you catch them on

[@Enzo_dub]

Garlic 💯

[@ryandigings7335]

If they spawn, why do you reckon there’s no baby barbel in your river Chris?

[@tariqaslam1853]

SICK BRO

[@ericrymer9065]

If you say the fish you've caught have just recovered from spawning, why are there no young fish in the river?

[@DP-qm6qe]

Why have you never caught a baby one there? New to fishing please explain if anyone knows. Thanks.

[@alamocannon3791]

What do you think is hindering the recruitment, As you say they are spawned out, What are eating the eggs/Fry ?? Are there any crayfish in the river ? Perhaps the spawning beds are constricted and the eggs are just being washed away ??? Very strange. Awesome vid, I wish my local river was as clear as yours.

[@fatfish6763]

Nice one

[@daveywilliams7508]

Do all rivers hold barbel I'm in Burnley with the Calder running through it I've had pike , brown trout , greylin but never chub or barbel ?

[@denisgoulding4004]

well done

[@fluppi123]

Chris what kind of glasses do you use if I may ask ? Thanks.

[@chrisclark4112]

I wo nder why the barbs arent breeding, or should I say there's no baby ones ?