Phil Spinks Specimen Series - Gravel Pit Eel Fishing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Phil Spinks Specimen Series - Gravel Pit Eel Fishing
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In this latest episode of the Specimen Series, Phil Spinks targets a species that some anglers would ask the question “why?”. For Phil, who is an all-round angler, he loves the mystery of big eels. A really big eel is the holy grail and such a rare fish. If you’re looking to get into the dark arts of eel fishing, Phil shows you how he approaches his chosen venue, as well as loads of tips. More importantly, Phil shows his eel rig of choice which eliminates 99% of deep hooking an eel.
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Another example why i love this channel and the content they create so much.
Everything is made with so much passion.
It is a pleasure to see some eel angling again.
Kind regards from Germany
Thank you Pro_martin, 😊
Wow, thank you! 👍
The coolest Video in the Specimen Series, so different and cool to Watch
Mega
Thank you El carpo, if I’m honest I wondered if this video would be very popular or not? It would of been great to catch a really big eel on camera, but that can take some time and determination.
Myself and Chris (videographer) had one night to get the job done as we are often very busy with other filming commitments.
The main message in this video is to lip hook eels 👌
@@philspinks4142 yes that for Eel fishing is real alternative. For me an Eye opener, i did not think that's possible!
Lovely bit of fishing Phil . Nice to see a few eels on the bank .
Thanks 👍 Glad you enjoyed it.
Great stuff. Truly still one of the only mysterious fish left to fish for. Such a unique species.
We couldn't agree more! 👍
One of natures miracles the Eel. Worthy of any anglers time..
Totally agree Stuart 💪
What a lovely video ! thanks from Sweden
Really enjoyed watching that! Thanks so much for sharing :)
Thank you Robert.
Eel whisperer! So few eel stuff being showed. Totally fascinating fish! It's all about the appropriate gear handy to make it easier! Barbless hooks all the way. N that twig rig is a great idea. ..Yes big head morphology types adapted to catching or scavenging upon fish...
Very true!
Brought back memories of nights with my mates as 12 Yr olds. We called the small ones boot laces. Really enjoyed the video.
Those little boot lace eels tie themselves in knots 😄
Awesome buddy awesome..some lovley eels there .. cheers Chris & Sam
Thank you 🙂
Regards,
Phil
Beautifully demonstrated. The rig makes all the difference as anyone who has deep- hooked an eel will know. They are just too precious these days.
Thank you Peter, the twig rig really does work. Every eel I caught on that session was lip hooked 👍
They are precious, at the same time EA does nothing for glass eels to be able to freely swim upstream of Severen.
brilliant phil ..wud luv to see a longer in depth video on eel fishing they are incredible creatures!....and yeah i use the twig...it realy does stop deep hooking the eels...tight lines....
Another eel video could be on the cards next summer, I would love to catch a proper one on camera 🤞
Glad you liked the video
Regards,
Phil
Excellent! A big eel is a pretty rare creature these days. I love fishing for them. Great vid Phil!
Well, yes, but it depends where you fish for them. This is a young Australian guy, Miller Wilson, who can sure catch 'em.
th-cam.com/video/bz_WXwi7-VQ/w-d-xo.html
The reason they grow so big is because they don't migrate but remain in the ponds and streams getting bigger and bigger. NZ have ave the biggest eels of all they are truly massive.
A big eel in the Uk is indeed a special fish. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Regards
Phil,
Fascinating fish.i certainly don't mind catching an eel.Those that do complain just don't like getting their hands messy 😆.Please anglers, appreciate the eel.👍
Wise words 👌
Brilliant watch. Nothing better then a big eel in my book. Well done 👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed the episode & appreciate a BIG eel 😊
Loved eel fishing.little tip.once banked use both hands put your thumb n forefingers at the center of the eels back n stoke out woods 3 or 4 times.you will find the eels go limp n are so much easier to handle n unhook
Good tip!
very very good video there Phil, The last time I fished there on the big lake was behind were you were peg 19 and had a good day catching bream, Thank you for another brilliant video, ❤
Thanks 👍
Another top video Phil, a pleasure to watch although im not as jealous as this one as i was of the crucian video 😁
Thanks Lee, I must admit I enjoyed the crucians too 😊
Thanks 👍
Just watched a video about a 10lb eel !! I never thought I would be interested in watching someone catch an eel 😳😳…. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this video as I did the one I have just watched. 👍🏽👍🏽😁😁
Oh no !!!!
Does this mean I have been bitten by the eel bug and don’t know it yet ??? 😬😬
Cracking video and I have to say that I am now getting some respect for them slimy rig knotting trouser sliming fish 👍🏽🤣😄
A 10lb eel is a fish of 100 lifetimes in the uk, go on John get the eel rods out, you know you want too 😆
@@AnglingDirectTV 🤣🤣🤣 oh go on then 🤣🤣🤣 so what size rods would you recommend? 🤔🤔🤔
I remember fishing on the Oulton/Norfolk broads as a kid (40 yrs ago) on holidays and every chuck maggot or worm got an eel sometimes 3lb+ . different story now days , had an odd one out the River Trent at Attenborough but few and far between nowadays..
Good angling Phil and great video Angling Direct ...
Steve M
Glad you enjoyed the video Steve. I live 20 minutes from Oulton, there's still a few eels swimming around in the broad.
Regards,
Phil
Eels are such thrilling fish once you get onto the bigger ones and their fight is so different full marks with the stick rig great ✴✴✴✴✴show thank you kind regards Mr D
Great video. Takes me bCk to the late 70s eel fishing at night in Yorkshire. Eels were everywhere then. Nothing to be proud of but I was taught by gypsys to use hand lines for eels in ditches that drained farmer's fields . Could catch 2 or 3 lb eels regularly. Good fun but they ruined nets with the slime. Happy days.
Quality video as always. You could fish for specimen minnows and it’d sill be a great watch.
Keep up the top work.
Love eels I’ve caught them at my club water when fishing for carp on krill boilies and they have been a fair size up to 5lb and all went back unharmed the way it should be 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Lee, when you said ''...and all went back unharmed the way it should be.'' Respect mate 👍👍👍
@@rgnotdead Every fish i catch goes back in the best possible condition even sea fish I never want them out of the water to long. I always have my landing equipment set up ready and I always have a bucket of water ready my carp care products ready after all they have given us the pleasure of catching them it’s only fair we respect them. 👍👍👍👍👍
US Eel angler here! Really appreciate the rigs in your 2 eel videos. I use a large circle hook and that has worked well for not gut hooking but I'd like to try this as well.
Good luck Alex, fingers crossed you catch a few.
Lovely video
Thank you Darren. 🙂
Fantastic really enjoyed that.
Thanks Rob 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Phil your a legend and thanks for the uploads you have kept me going must go fishing thank you so much
Thank you Michael, good luck when you're next out.
Regards
Phil
Fantastic video and thank you for sharing your knowledge of how to fish for these beautiful creatures. That is a great rig to prevent deep hooking. Course fishing license now purchased after a few years off from fishing and just need to get on the bank. Best Wishes From Chester 👍
Thanks Mike, good luck 😊
Brilliant something different too carp love eels like really love them used too fish the Severn as a young lad and caught loads over the years nothing massive about 4-5lb biggest-but there’s just something about them I love
Glad you liked the video, a 4-5lber is a very nice eel!
That was the normal size of them middle Severn
Very good film. Hardly any decent ones available on eel fishing and it's something I enjoy doing in the summer. Well done.
Thank you Ian, Glad you enjoyed.
Bout time more eel video's were out .I like to use a live or dead baits on 1 rod and worm on the other any eels that just feed on shrimp and other naturals have smaller mouths than eels that feed on fish so I like both baits out .
Facts
Just how mick brown says
Great to see more eel love Paul, definitely worth trying different baits to cover both circumstances 💪
@@AnglingDirectTV They are an underrated species unfortunately and somewhere there's an unknown monster in a lake or river just waiting for an eel angler catch fish like this for the most are unknowns there's a 40lb carp caught every week we are not seeing huge eels caught week in week out obviously because there's probably not many fishing for them so there's still an air of excitement not knowing how many big eels there are.
There is a lake im joining soon that apparently has eels in to an unknown size (according to website) its a gravel pit so would the one fish bait one worm bait be the best method ?
Such a great fishing man! Inspires me to target big specimens! In between my average carp fishing.
Thanks Dan, good luck on your specimen hunting 🤞
Go for it! 👍
I really enjoyed that mate first time ive seen your channel and it's genuinely inspired me to have a go targeting eels. I'm lucky enough to be able to fish a stretch of river on private land and when I started I was constantly after a decent Perch with worms but would catch an eel almost every session to the point I hated them for the slime and ruining my rig. Completely changed my opinion of them watching this. Will investigate that twig rig for sure.
Best of luck!
Great vid that Phil! Reely good..
Glad you enjoyed it
Good work as usual Phil
Another awesome video, im trying for zander this late summer/autumn would love to see how the main man does it on deadbaits :)
That’s a specimen series I’d really enjoy, zander are awesome fish!
Glad you enjoyed the eel video too 😊
I cant do much fishing these days but if you want one of the best baits for Eel try Peeler crabs used by sea anglers,Eels go crazy for them.Another old trick was to put a bit of peppermint essence on your worms when targeting Eels..It certainly didn't put them off.As for venues I agree completely with Phil.I used to fish an old gravel pit for tench and landed Eels to around 4lb as a bye catch,But I hooked fish every session that I could not do anything with.I also used to fish the many drains and disused docks in my home city which always held good Eels.There is a clip that someone posted on youtube of a former dock in Hull that I fished as a kid.It now has a shopping centre on stilts and the water has been purified enough for Koi carp, which congregate near a bridge where people feed them.The film shows a large Eel come from the depths and take a live baby pigeon from the surface,It then turns into a tug of war as other large Eels appear from nowhere to try to steal the bird from each other, Poor pigeon was dead in no time😄
iv always had a soft spot for eel fishing ever since i was a kid, 56 now and still fish for them on the river severn, but lake eels are the big ones
Hi fishy, eels are one of the few species that still hold lots of mystery, good luck on your next eel trip.
Dartford angling club has a book showing the eels caught in the valley I have caught them up to 6lb and 7lb on holiday in sumerset great upload lay them on there back and rub your hand down there middle it works thanks some people can't understand the fish
Whereabouts in Somerset? I live down there and looking to catch one that size.
Burnham on sea holiday camp or apex lake has not to far from the sea they get land locked
We have some belters at Newland Hall Fishery essex should come down and have a ago
I bet Phil would love to come and try.
This is class. Subbed.
Glad you enjoyed the video, and thank you for subscribing 🙂
Brilliant film as always, I'm looking for a rear drop off alarm for Eels, perch and pike which one would you recommend? Thanks
I use a pair of CS run detector alarms, very reliable. Have a check on ebay.
@@johnstone2728 thankyou I will have a look
Glad you enjoyed the video Leighton. Drop off indicators for perch and eels need to be super sensitive, quite often if they feel any resistance a dropped take will occur. The fox drop offs are suitable for all three species, but adjust the clip as sensitive as you can for perch and eels.
These can be used in conjunction with a bite alarm such as a delkim.
www.anglingdirect.co.uk/fox-rage-predator-drop-arm-indicator-mk2?queryID=db4356b95471cdb0311e04658eccf54b&objectID=48976&indexName=live_ad_uk_products
Awesome video. I had best fish on (fresh) raw kink prawn cheers for the video!
Glad you enjoyed the video Thomas, totally agree prawns make great eel bait.
Eels have always fascinated me. Grew up near Niagara falls in ontario American eels were classified as Endangered. Now in on the east coast and they are an open Species to eat. Landed a 23" American Eel in a river out here a good sized 3lbs or so animal. Ours stay inland for 25 to 30 years them go and breed in the ocean somewhere.... so my eel was old enough to have voted a few times depending the nation drink, and drive a car... crazy.
Very much like to see an eel driving a car Gordon 😂
If you stroke an eel down one side they stop struggling. I fished for eels on the river Medway as a boy and was given that tip by some old feller but you know, it works and i still stroke any eels that i catch today as a 75 year old.
It certainly helps calm them down 👌
Really enjoyed the video, going to get out on my local broad and have a go, what coated braid were you using?
Hi Neal, good luck with you eel fishing. Phil has two choices for eel hooklink material. Either OMC blend coated braid in 35lb, or savage gear raw 49 which is a soft wire.
@@AnglingDirectTV Thanks for the help, appreciated.
Used to catch eels as a boy in the river Yeo, but we used to skin them and fry them in bacon fat. Fantastic
Fascinating. A few years ago a friend of mine put a sneaky crayfish trap out in what was once a stock pond near the big lake (is a small fishing lake but nobody really uses it) whilst fishing a commercial fishery called Newland Hall near Chelmsford. He pulled it out after dark and called me up to show me something special so he said.
When I got there he had not one but three eels biggest 9lb 4 smallest 7lb 7 in the trap. Nearly died looking at them. Honestly the pond/lake can’t be more than half an acre at most. All released back to grow even bigger and fatter on crayfish.
A 9lb eel would be Phil's fish of dreams....but probably a fish of some peoples nightmares! 😂
@@AnglingDirectTV I enjoy my fishing but those things….nope not for me. I was however mind blown by them. Literally the most unassuming looking little pond next to the car park. Guess it’s just been left alone for so long and the river is reasonably close by so in they once came and the relatively steep sides stopped them getting out again 🤷♂️
Very interesting video got me thinking about giving them a proper go, perhaps one rod out for an eel while I carp fish. Could be the only truly 'wild' fish most of us will catch in UK freshwater
Used to fish one rod for eels on local Carp syndicate,,after 2 seasons of a rod out every weekend finally caught one 6lb 8 , never had another!
Most roach and bream, pike and perch are wild fish. Also dace and gudgeon. Rivers are more likely to have natural fish than lakes, obviously. Carp and barbel are generally introductions, but we still have plenty of natural inhabitants.
Glad you liked the video Dan, get on the twig rig and see if you can catch a monster eel!
Worth the wait Jack! A HUGE eel 😮 well done.
The hot weather claimed 2 large eels out my local river. I'd say 3-5lb each roughly
Thats a shame Mark, the extreme heat can have bad effects on some venues sadly.
Hello, nice video. So this rig must be fished with the bail open AND the baitrunner also open? Thanks
Hi Renso,
Just an open bail is fine 👍
A friend of mine used to catch big eels on tiny roach dead baits from a small pond literally miles away from the local rivers and canals.
A big eel can turn up anywhere! That's part of the mystery 👌
Twig rig, good tip
Thanks 👍
I read that eels naturally have the smaller heads, but depending on food availability, their anatomy will change (head/jaw widens) to enable them to hunt and eat small fish.
Very good and interesting movie. Can I have some more, please? When lip baiting, the eel feels the hook doesn't it? The eel swallows the bait fish head first.
Hi Stivi, lip hooking the heads of small dead baits doesn't seem to put the eels off. You always get a few dropped takes, but Phil feels this is often down to smaller eels.
@@AnglingDirectTV
OK. Thanks for the answer.👍🎣
Why the dark art eels fight harder than carp most of the time wicked looking fish over 2lb. My pb 6lb 9oz i though id hooked a carp on deadbait. And they swim backwards making it harder to net them
Is it worth fishing for them in the day time or would I be wasting my time. I love eels but I can't night fish on my local pit. great video plz keep them coming .
Hi John, there's one way to find out! I've caught several nice eels in the daytime. It tends to be better on cloudy overcast days, preferably windy weather too. Water clarity can play a part too, small commerical type venues often have coloured water and the eels will feed durning the day.
Glad you liked the video, good luck. 🙂
How far out was you chucking the roach head ? Tia
Hi Tom, I was only casting the roach heads around 30 yards on this trip, one little tip because I use barbless hooks is to tip the bait with a fake rubber maggot to stop it flying off on the cast.
You could use a bait flag, but as I feed dead red maggots I think a fake maggot looks neater 👌
Smokey bacon is a deadly bait for eels.
Fantastic video Phil, I love Eel fishing. I know a venue that holds big Eels but also has a massive crayfish problem. Any ideas on a rig to get around that would be most appreciated lol.
Hi Richard, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The only thing I can suggest regarding the crayfish problem is to fish baits well off the bottom. Perhaps a Dyson rig? There's some nice detailed rig pictures on the National Anguilla clubs page that might help?
www.nationalanguillaclub.co.uk/eelfishingrigs
Lowe Shimano
Any chance of stick float fishing for barbel
A barbel Specimen Series is in the pipeline, trotting for barbel would be great fun.
Would a mussel work well as bait for eels with these being present in most lakes and like the empty mussel shells as seen in this video?
Most the empty mussel shells are normally down to bird life, but they might work. Prawns are similar and eels love them.
Do they bite?
Sometimes, as Phil once discovered 🤣
as a New Zealander whose used to massive longfin eels they looked tiny... but i'm guessing they were fairly large for the uk?
Hi Denial, I've seen some video's of those massive eels in New Zealand, wow they are massive! The eels I caught in this video weren't particularly big by UK standards, the main aim was to show how to catch them without deep hooking. Although saying that a bigger eel would have been very welcome.
@@philspinks4142 thanks for the info!
NEW Specimen Series eel video out now! If you love eels as much as Phil does then check out episode two where Phil catches a couple of BIG eels th-cam.com/video/IrD2CrpniyQ/w-d-xo.html 😮
What brand and model of tent are you using? I've seen a few other videos of fishermen in Britain using them.
Hi was2016, Phil was using an Advanta bivvy (tent) .
www.anglingdirect.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=advanta%20bivvy
Always wondered why you don't get any carp on the worm? Or is it a case of they are so addicted to boilies they don't know what a worm is
Quite the opposite, carp absolutely love worms….the problem is so does nearly every species of fish so the carp don’t always get there first. Boilies are so effective for carp as they are very selective.
What tubing do you use for twig rig
Hi Karl, Phil was using the catfish pro stiff rig tubing cut into small sections.
www.anglingdirect.co.uk/catfish-pro-stiff-rig-tubing?queryID=ade97537217991ee6a087ee65ab5d5dc&objectID=50388&indexName=live_ad_uk_products
@@AnglingDirectTV thought as much ive used cut down straws before same as for doing big luncheon meat baits for cats 👍 ive had some big eels over the years this seems a great way to stop deep hooking them will have to try fish safety paramount when returning 👍
Phil what length is the jube please
Hi Michael,
I've found 3-4inches works fine. I had 5 eels this weekend on the twig rig...all were perfectly lip hooked 👌
Good luck if you go eel fishing,
Phil
Thanks for the reply lay them on there back and they will behave
Great to see a video on this, love Eel fishing, twig rig is awesome, I have a 30acre pit no one has ever targeted the Eels on manged up to 3lb first try. I dont tend to bait up for them with them having small stomachs, you recon it makes a differece? Was toying with the idea of a potent pellet that breaks down to just scent so no feed apart from the hook bait
Hi Mike, I'm glad the like the video. I've never really thought about eels having a small stomach, I'd say feeding some dead maggots and a few chopped worms has defiantly improved my catch rate.
@@philspinks4142 something I got told a long time ago about having small stomachs so don’t loose feed interesting theory on it.
In the 1700's & 1800's around Lancashire they used to wrap tons of lobworms up within a ball of wool and once it became a giant wriggling ball of wool, it would be thrown in and tethered - Leave it for a full 'turn' of the tide, and then when they brought it in it would be teeming with 'Snigs' that had been attracted to the worms & got their backwards facing teeth stuck in the wool - unable to escape.
"Dinner would be served" that night !
Anyone else know of this common practice ?
Hi Thomas, I pretty sure it was called “babbing” for eels? Their tiny teeth get snagged in the wool.
maybe its a regional thing, as i've never heard that description before - Interesting . . . . . tough times back then eh !
Does anybody know why eels are slippery and difficult to catch ?
Maybe it's due to the fact they have lived a fairly wild life to reach a reasonable size? Not hand reared on pellets in stock ponds 🤭
Thanks my thoughts
Regards
Phil,
Is there anywhere I can buy them rigs ready made I don’t have the time to make me own rigs or the space house full of kids and I work nights lol
Hi Shane, unfortunately there's not any ready made eel rigs available. But a more detailed quick bite video is coming soon showing exactly how to tie the twig rig.
Wow...
Nice 👍
I am to world fastest Eel fishing
👍
As a fish, the Eel is amazing.
I loved catching eels on the River Ribble in Lancashire ('Snigs' they were call around thee)
But quite often they would swallow the hooks too quick, tie themselves into a knot (literally) and leave a hell of a mess
I have respect for them and i feel sorry for the only who
Glad you like eels too Thomas, you should try the twig rig it really works.
Are you aware of the20lb plus eels southwestern Japan?
Now that would be a big eel! There's also massive freshwater eels in New Zealand too.
😲
@@AnglingDirectTV yes, I’ve seen TH-cam vids on these. I’m not sure if the Japanese ones are a different breed or strain perhaps but they are to be found down in Kagoshima in large natural lakes. Seen them with my own eyes so they are for real! 😍
Not sure if anyone fishes for them though??
The much me maligned eel, Wish more people would fish for them. Dont be afraid to use swivels, Remember an Eel can swim just as fast backwards as it can forwards
Great presentation. I’d rather catch an eel than a carp
Like Phil said, a big eel is the holy grail 💪
I love eel we dutch cal it Paling we eat eel
We smoke it
Sorry, but you need to come to Scotland and fish our lochs the eel up here are very big on average are over 4 lbs, and caught on just hook and line, none of this daft rig stuff.
That sounds great. The rig Phil uses is to avoid deep hooking the eels, and works very well. It's important to fish for eels safely, those 4lbers you talk of could be over 40 years old.
I don't know, are we not better just leaving these be for a long long time? The numbers have declined by so much in the last 15 years alone, id rather they were protected and not allowed to be targeted on purpose. They are beautiful and I do love catching them, or at least I did many years ago when their numbers were high but it is so sad to see places they used to be plentiful, even annoying due to their numbers, just empty of them now and it is everywhere.
Do eels damage lakes or are they needed???
Fished for eel's years ago for my nan, she loved cooking up some at weekends when the men went to the pub and come back to a real women as they are few and far between!!!
Great video bud, sub and like!
Pls don't turn into one of those who sells out after some fame on TH-cam! Gl chum! 😜
Eels are nocturnal scavengers and do no harm. They generally occur in or near rivers and streams but can travel overland on damp nights. Once in a still water, eels generally stay put. One theory is that large sterile males lose all migrating instinct, and as they can live to a great age, just get bigger over the years. It's possible that a lake may only contain a handful of large eels, or perhaps even one, so eel fishing requires serious commitment. As they are bottom feeders, the chance of seeing a large specimen is remote, although smaller ones can often be seen in tidal waters.
I heard one account of an extremely large eel being caught in WW2. Its mouth and gut were said to be full of broken tackle, and as it was wartime the fish was eaten leaving no evidence. It's almost certain that much larger specimens exist than have yet been caught on rod and line.
Hi Darren, glad you liked the video & subscribed 🙂.
Eels don't damage lakes, I'm not going to change for fame 😉
Regards,
Phil
sod that i don't like eels give me the jitters
Can't lie I hate eel I don't harm them i release them if caught but still I hate them my local Lincolnshire gravel pit produced a 9 pounder it was doing like this hissing squeak
i would smoke them all
Hate catching these to much faffing
So much plastic in angling tackle these days. What happened to keeping it all simple.
The plastic serves a very important purpose in the rig used in this video.
The plastic tubing adds rigidity to the line. It can’t round the corner of the eel’s mouth and that prevents it from swallowing the hook. I’d agree with you though that too much plastic is used these days for end tackle…
Carp rods for eels, cmon now mate...
A big eel is a powerful creature. What rods would you use?
@@AnglingDirectTV feeder rod is enough but if you want you can go with barbel rods