Handle with care - the electric eel with Jeremy Wade (left).

DUBBED “The Electric Executioner” the electric eel is the fascinating target of Jeremy Wade in the fifth episode of his latest River Monsters series on ITV.

Angler’s Mail magazine fans in their thousands will be watching as Jeremy Wade returns to the Amazon. He goes there to search for a mysterious and deadly killer with a reputation to match its awesome ability.

Hearing the stories of three cowboys dying at the same time without any bite marks on them, he rules out piranhas and stingrays.

After hearing a witness’s claim, he concludes that the killer was an electric eel: an 8 ft, snake-like fish that possesses the bizarre ability to produce up to 600 volts of electricity.

Following stories of “invisible powers”, he journeys all over Brazil, searching for the elusive fish. Jeremy then comes across a story that confirms the eel’s ability to kill a man, but he still tries to find out if it can kill three as the story claims.

After searching through the smallest of ponds he can find in the dry season, he finally finds a large eel in a pond that is little more than a mud-puddle.

After fishing it out, Wade makes a startling discovery that could possibly explain three men dying at once.

But what about the tactics? Jeremy commented: ‘In this particular situation, there was no point in using bait because there was a much quicker and easier way of getting it out of the water…’

Here, online, Angler’s Mail reveals some more about Jeremy’s latest conquest, the electric eel…

Nice to meet you, "Mr Executioner"!

The electric eel is one river monster that could quite literally give you a jolt if you come across it. That’s because this eel is what’s known as an electric fish, which simply means that it can produce and sense electric fields.

The electric eel uses these fields to electrocute its prey and help it interact with other eels. It can grow to 8.2 ft (2.5 meters) in length, and upto 44 lb in weight, and discharge more than 600 volts of electricity. Getting shocked by an eel can cause respiratory paralysis and cardiac failure.

Electric eels swim around in the waters of Guatemala, Argentina and the Caribbean island of Trinidad. They are primarily aquatic creatures, although they can survive for several hours out of the water as long as their skin stays moist.

Electric cells line up like small batteries and run down the length of these eels’ bodies, giving their heads a positive charge and their tails a negative one.

The longer the eel, the more powerful a shock it provides. Because they don’t have teeth, electric eels swallow their meals — which include fish and small mammals for adults and invertebrates for younger eels — whole.

The business end...

This species has been known to catch its prey by forming a C shape around animals and rendering them unconscious with a strong electric pulse.

Electric eels are nocturnal creatures that don’t see very well. Their bodies compensate for their poor vision by producing pulses of low-voltage electricity that help them to maneuver in dark rivers and lakes. Basically, the eels release electric signals from their tails into the water, creating electric fields that are similar to magnetic fields.

When a fish or other animal enters into an eel’s electric field, the signals change, alerting the eel and letting it know the location, size, shape, distance, and even the gender and age of the intruder.

Electric eels can tell if creatures moving in their electric fields are suitable mates or predators. This field also helps eels hunt for food hiding in murky waters.

• Angler’s Mail magazine lists best fishing on TV every week- check each issue for highlights.

FOR MORE ON THE LATEST RIVER MONSTERS SERIES AND HOW YOU CAN WATCH IT – CLICK HERE

Angler’s Mail was surprised to hear the news as most major trade transfers happen late in a year, not early.

No announcement has yet been made on which tackle firm highly-respected angler Alan will join.

Shimano’s sales and marketing director Pete Chandler said: ‘Alan has been a great ambassador for the company over the years with results that are second-to-none, culminating in the unbelievable feat of five World Championship titles – four of which have been during his time with the company.’

South Yorkshire legend Alan commented: ‘I joined Shimano back in 1996, shortly after I won my first individual World Title, so I can only thank them for the many years of support that they have given me since.

‘After Mustad, they were my first main sponsor and with their backing it allowed me to fully commit to my fishing which was a massive benefit and helped me to get to where I am today.

I’m very grateful for everything that the company has done for me and to be involved in the design and development of some fantastic products over the years has been a real pleasure,’ added Alan.

Shimano took the opportunity to thank Alan for all of his hard work and commitment in promoting the brand and wish him the best of luck going forwards.

ALAN SCOTTHORNE’S BAIT TIP > CLICK HERE

Only £1.80, this week’s issue includes…

Angler's Mail magazine launches the "Search for Peter" this week - the great issue on sale now!

MR CRABTREE TV COMPETITION

The hunt for new stars to appear in an exciting new Crabtree TV series starts this week. Read all about a special competition involving Angler’s Mail and ace columnist John Bailey. For a bit more on this development, click HERE.

BEST EVER WEEK FOR BIG PIKE

Predators have gone mental – reports and pictures, including two EXCLUSIVE 40-pounders. Check ‘em out in our mag!

ILLEGAL FISH TRAPS “CATCH OTTERS”

Angling Trust official reveals a shocking and gruesome find.

BEST BIG CARP GEAR

Find out what’s been selling at top shop Browns.

THE BIG NEWS

• Monster chub from fourth choice venue
• Trent star Jan Porter “could have died”
• New fishing show is a success
• Brilliant new barbel bait impresses

STAR ANGLERS

• Tom Mangnall –winter success at commercials, with this rising match ace.
• Gary Newman –  roving for chub on a small river
• Colin Davidson –a brilliant carping history book.
• Andy Black – favourite lures

INSTRUCTION

• Essential Knowledge – Andy Browne explains shotting in this great new series
• All The Answers – No.1 coarse Q&A, sponsored by Greys Prodigy
• Secret Lives –  winter pike explained

WHERE TO FISH THIS WEEKEND

Compiled by local experts. Including Steve Collett getting to grips with a Birmingham AA venue

Be sure to get the January 31 cover-dated issue of Angler’s Mail magazine.

Facebook - become a fan of "Angler's Mail magazine"

JOIN ANGLER’S MAIL ON FACEBOOK >> CLICK HERE NOW!

It looks like something from a sci-fi film or mad cartoon. It's real - honest!

DUBBED “The Chainsaw Predator” the freshwater sawfish is the scary-looking quarry for Jeremy Wade in the fourth episode of his latest River Monsters series on ITV.

Jeremy, seen recently in Angler’s Mail magazine, and whose TV show times are listed in the latest mags, heads down under to catch up with the species with the Latin name, Pristis microdon.

Reports claim this shark-like fish hacks boats apart and saws people in half. Jeremy travels to the Fitzroy River in Australia in order to find out if this critically endangered creature deserves its reputation as a river monster and why it swims so far up rivers.

After being plagued by sharks, (which, ironically, he had previously traveled to Australia to find, yet didn’t catch one for weeks) Jeremy uses the simplest of tactics to reel in a 7-ft monster

‘It actually felt very strange on the line,’ said Jeremy. ‘A bit like a stingray in a way, but the jarring I could feel wasn’t the stingray’s tail hitting the line. It was the rostrum teeth…”

Fancy unhooking one of these?

Here, online, Angler’s Mail reveals some more about Jeremy’s latest conquest, the freshwater sawfish…

Growing up to 20 ft long and weighing in at up to 400 lb-plus, freshwater sawfish are not sharks; they are fish from the ray species that have the bodies like sharks and snouts (called rostrums) like sharp blades.

Strong gear is required for these fellas!

Found in countries like Africa, Australia, Pakistan and India, these fish have between 14 and 23 toothlike denticles called rostral teeth that rest on either side of their rostrums.

Male freshwater sawfish have more rostral teeth than the females. When sawfish are born, these denticles protrude less, and are covered by a tissue sheath, so that they don’t injure the sawfish moms during the birthing process.

Freshwater sawfish gather their food by swinging their rostrums from side to side to separate invertebrates from the surfaces they live on, and to stun schools of fish. These sawfish also like to eat freshwater prawn and shrimp.

Other predators in the water know not to mess with them and rarely do, but sharks and saltwater crocodiles sometimes take their chances, typically hunting juvenile sawfish, which are smaller in size.

The indigenous peoples of Western Australia have long relied on the meat of freshwater sawfish for survival. The animals’ other body parts are valuable commodities, too: For example, people sell their fins in Asia, process their livers for oil and make their skin into leather. The eggs, liver oil and bile of the freshwater sawfish are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Jeremy and a local show a sawfish on the Fitzroy River.

• Angler’s Mail magazine lists best fishing on TV every week- check each issue for highlights.

FOR MORE ON THE LATEST RIVER MONSTERS SERIES AND HOW YOU CAN WATCH IT – CLICK HERE

Mr Crabtree and Peter, as they were. A TV series will go in their footsteps... the hunt is on to find four juniors to star in a show each!

A UNIQIUE new competition has just launched to find four youngsters to star in a new TV series alongside our brilliant columnist, John Bailey.

Who will star with Angler's Mail columnist John Bailey (right) in the new TV series?

Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing sold millions of copies and the cartoon character was alive in the pages of the Daily Mirror for 25 years.

Now he’s back! In the Footsteps of Mr Crabtree will appear on TV later this year.

Filming starts in March.

And right now the hunt is on for youngsters between eight and 14 to appear in the shows.

Entries need to be done online by a parent or guardian and enter online.

Angler's Mail magazine launches the "Search for Peter" this week - the great issue on sale now!

More details are in Angler’s Mail magazine, the top weekly – starting with the issue pictured with the special Mr Crabtree cover.

The Daily Mirror newspaper is also covering this exciting project.

Follow our lively Angler’s Mail magazine (priced £1.80) over the weeks and months ahead for more Mr Crabtree project news. And of course you’ll be able to enjoy our experienced angling expert, John Bailey’s regular column.

Here are some useful internet links to stay bang in touch with everything that’s happening, and to enter…

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE  > CLICK HERE

• “SEARCH FOR PETER” INFO > CLICK HERE
• ENTRY FORM > CLICK HERE
• TERMS & CONDITIONS > CLICK HERE

FOLLOW IT ALL ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER

You can also stay up to date with snippets via the two main social networks…

Facebook – become a fan of mrcrabtreegoesfishing and AnglersMailMagazine

Twitter – follow @mrcrabtree and @AnglersMail

We’ve got a lively week for competitions – with £1,500 of Daiwa reels being offered in the magazine and some bonus comps on the Angler’sMail magazine Facebook.

Daiwa’s new Mini Regal BR reels (pictured above) are offered in the magazine with ten pairs to be won.

A bonus comp to win a pair appears on our Facebook wall, with a simple question – the answer to which needs to be emailed in by 10am, Tuesday (Jan 24).

Wednesday (Jan 18), Thursday (Jan 19) and Friday (Jan 20) see details of guess the weight competitions on our Facebook, in tandem with Fox International. Prizes start with the fabulous new Royal bivvy (pictured above).

You gotta be in ‘em, to win ‘em!

And watch out for more great stuff on our Facebook, where we have well over 13,500 fans.

The Silent Assassin - aka the short-tailed freshwater stingray

DUBBED “The Silent Assassin” the short-tailed freshwater stingray is the fascinating target of Jeremy Wade in the third episode of his latest River Monsters series on ITV.

Jeremy, seen recently in Angler’s Mail magazine, and whose TV show times are listed in the latest mags, travels to the Paraná River in the remote northeast corner of Argentina.

He starts out to investigate the death of a young girl. He ends up targeting his largest totally freshwater river monster!

Jeremy said: A few times I felt something that felt like the tail hitting the line. One thing that constantly worried me was the fact that, this being a stingray with a rough tail, it might just cut through the line at any moment.’

Here, online, Angler’s Mail reveals some more about Jeremy’s latest conquest, the short-tailed freshwater stingray…

Beware the tail!

Growingup to 4.5 ft and reaching weights to over 450 lb, this circular  river stingray might look harmless, but it has a secret weapon: a venomous stinger.

Potamotrygon brachyura is its Latin name, and these members of the shark family don’t normally attack, but they will if they have to.

In order to protect themselves, when they feel threatened, they’ll lash their stingers out, leaving lacerations on their adversaries.

Fish on! Jeremy battles with his biggest river monster yet!

The majority of stingray injuries in humans happen when people accidentally step on rays while they’re walking along the ground beneath bodies of water.

Stingrays defend themselves from predators by covering their bodies in sand, making it very easy for people to step on them inadvertently.

The largest recorded short-tailed river stingray catch involved one weighing 661 lb (300 kg).

The female stingray doesn’t lay eggs. Instead, it gives birth to fully formed, young stingrays and can deliver as many as 19 pups at one time. These pups eat plankton, small organisms that drift along in the water, after they’re born, until they get a little older and start consuming small mollusks, crustaceans, the larvae of aquatic insects and fish.

In the freshwaters of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay is where you’ll find these endangered animals.

Fishermen often hunt them for food by catching the stingrays off guard while the creatures are resting in shallow waters.

The pretty colors of the young short-tailed river stingrays place them among the many aquatic animals captured and sold for aquariums.

But man isn’t the only threat to this species. Water pollution, hydroelectric plants and habitat degradation also play a role in their diminishing numbers.

• Angler’s Mail magazine lists best fishing on TV every week- check each issue for highlights.

FOR MORE ON THE LATEST RIVER MONSTERS SERIES AND HOW YOU CAN WATCH IT – CLICK HERE

Baz Smith, as seen in our Where to Fish section - follow it every week.

THE brilliant Where to Fish This Weekend section in Angler’s Mail is the place to look every week for hotspots near you.

Here in a special online report we take you to Ireland with a man who knows the waters exceptionally well.

Baz Smith is the star – and appears at the front of our latest (January 17) mag at the start of the Where to Fish section. Watch out for a special interview with him in the mag soon.

Here we join Baz In County Fermagh, Northern Ireland. He’s at Muckross Bay on Lower Lough Erne, a large shallow bay on the north shore near Kesh.

• Our thanks to Anglers World Holidays for this special feature. For more on their holidays in Ireland and elsewhere in the world, tel 01246 221717 or visit www.anglersworld.tv

COLD WEATHER BREAM FISHING IN IRELAND

Another bream comes to the net on Lough Erne, Northern Ireland.

BAZ SMITH has fished throughout Ireland for almost 50 years. Top UK match angler, Baz likes nothing better than to fish and he now spends his retirement living in County Fermanagh where he fishes most days from spring to late autumn. When he is not match fishing Baz  is pleasure fishing and testing locations for Anglers World Holidays.

Baz had prebaited a swim on the Lower Lough in Muckross Bay. The lough is about 22 miles long, with lots of reefs, islands and bays. It is noted for excellent coarse fishing. Big pike and brown trout are resident here too.

He knows this area exceptionally well and knew he had to cast about 40 yards to reach the drop-off, a depression about 20 feet deep where the bream and roach migrate into as temperatures cool.

Fishing a modified medium size feeder. with a lead plug in the base, Baz cast the distance with ease and to ensure perfect accuracy he used a line clip. At this time of year frequent casting into the same area is critical. Baz filled his feeder with red maggots and caster, plugged with groundbait.

After about 20 minutes he had a bite, then steadily caught roach to 10 oz. After a few liners Baz was confident the bream would feed, and they did, pushing the roach out of the “hotspot” area of feed. Baz had about 50 lb of mint condition bream to 5 lb in the next 2.5 hours.

With short hours of daylight and dropping temperatures the bream only feed for short periods. The overcast day and mild temperatures ensured the bream were prepared to feed in the clear water conditions.

Bream to 5 lb fed well to make a 50 lb catch in just two and half hours.

Loaded and ready to cast!

BAZ’S TOP BREAM TIPS

• Prebait with a modest amount (not as much as in summer).
• Accurate casting with frequency. Use a line clip.
• Feed little and often by using a medium feeder and casting frequently.
• Use a fairly dry ground bait mix.. such as Van den Eynde Superfeed. You want it to empt quickly upon reaching the bottom.

BAZ’S END TACKLE…

At the business end was a 4 ft hooklength of 0.15 mm  6 lb Preston Powerline mono. Main line is Force original green mono.

‘In winter with cooler temperatures I prefer mono as bites are slower and you need to give bream time to take it,’ said Baz.

‘One of the main reasons for using strong main line and hook length is to combat break offs on zebra mussels. These fish are not really line shy and for some reason the zebra mussels are less of a problem in winter – maybe they are less active.

‘In summer I step up to 0.18 mm diameter hook lengths and 7 lb main line,’ he added.

Baz's tip rod is a 12 ft 6 in Normark soft action feeder rod. Reel is a Shimano 4000.

Baz's bait tray. Most fish came to a size 12 hook baited with two redworms tipped with red maggot.

Note: In Northern Ireland a rod licence/permit is required but it’s well worth the money. Excellent access and good car parking make things easy.

Eradicate mistakes that could cost you fish - buy Angler's Mail THIS week!

Be sure YOU get this week’s big value £1.80 magazine!

Here are a few highlights of a storming issue, on sale from Tuesday, January 17…

KEY MISTAKES YOU ARE MAKING - Andy Browne starts his new Essential Knowledge series with look at where anglers go wrong.

WIN DAIWA GEAR - Enter this week’s  big competition to win brilliant reels. We have ten pairs to give away.

BAIT THAT KILLS CARP - A commonly-held theory about particle baits is ripped to shreds.

TOTALLY DIFFERENT PIKE FISHING - Steve Rowley explains night piking – it might tempt you to stay on late… or even try and overnighter!

MUST-READ NEWS REPORTS

• Our Specimen Cup winner is revealed – an inspiring story!
• Why high speed rail link will wreck waters
• Two river record barbel!
• Super stripys tricked by smart tactics

STAR ANGLERS

• Gary Newman with Tony King –  venue that’s twice held the perch record
• Jimmy Coffey – popular angling coach
• Lewis Baldwin – roving for chub on smaller rivers… a great winter tactic!
• Colin Davidson – insight into fresh bait and rig ideas from our carp guru
• John Bailey –  sink ‘n’ draw piking

We’re also best for…

WHERE TO FISH - your No.1 weekend guide… compiled by our local experts

PRODUCTS – 2012′s best-selling book so far, New Gear and User Report

INSTRUCTION - the No.1 coarse Q&A with new prizes from Greys and Secret Lives of Coarse Fish

UPDATE - full coverage on this tragic accident now appears in this issue of Angler's Mail, on sale from January 24. It includes further details and reaction to this sad story.

A PIKE angler aged 57 tragically died after the small boat he was in overturned on the icy River Trent on the morning of Saturday (January 14).

Angler’s Mail can confirm that Police and fire brigade rushed to Cromwell Lock, Nottinghamshire around 10am following reports a boat had overturned and two men were in the river.

The recovered boat.

Two crews came from Newark, one from Collingham and one from Southwell plus a Specialist Rescue Team (from Tuxford and Highfields).

The two men, aged 48 and 57, and from Yorkshire, were pulled from the very cold water by specialist fire and rescue teams.

A Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: ‘Two men were rescued from the river after their boat overturned.

Cromwell Lock and Weir on the Trent.

‘One was pulled to safety from the bank, the other was rescued from the river by firefighters using a rescue boat and was given first aid.

‘Both were taken to hospital by ambulance. The incident was scaled down at 11:55.’

The anglers were both taken to Lincoln County Hospital where the 57-year-old man later died.

The 48-year-old man was in a stable condition in hospital (at the time of this report, 6pm Saturday January 14) where he is being treated for hypothermia.

The angling community were quick to send their condolences to the family and friends of the men involved.

Angler’s Mail reader Chris Chadwick was there moments before the incident, and he contacted us to tell us what he saw.

Chris said: ‘I was leaving this morning after an overnight session. I saw the two gents in the weirpool, all looked ok – lifejackets etc.

‘I just wished i had stayed 15 minutes longer, I might have been able to raise the alarm quicker,’ added Chris.

Another angler confirmed the survivor was wearing a lifejacket – but was unsure if the angler who died was wearing a lifejacket when in the water.

Many posts by concerned, and then saddened anglers were made on the Angler’s Mail Facebook page – where the breaking sad news was relayed during the day.

Angler’s Mail editor Tim Knight said: ‘This is a sad moment for coarse angling, and a reminder to all of the risks involved.

‘On behalf of all Angler’s Mail staff and readers, our thoughts and prayers go out to the dead angler’s family and friends, including the other angler who we also wish a speedy recovery.

‘We do not know the full facts of this tragedy yet. Deaths of anglers when out fishing are rare but do happen in the water, and are often unreported in the media.

‘It is important that both boat and bank anglers appreciate and beware of the dangers when fishing. And right now in winter, with very cold water temperatures, not only drowning but the shock and hypothermia are major risks if you fall in, even with a lifejacket.

‘Our contributor Mark Barrett had a frightful scare a few months ago when he toppled into a reservoir on predator fishing session. He was near the pontoons, knows he was lucky to get out alive, and warned everyone afterwards that lifejackets are a must.’

The importance of lifejackets was stressed in Angler's Mail days before the tragedy.

The January 10 issue of Angler’s Mail magazine, published days before the tragedy, had a special feature on pike fishing from boats. Key equipment – and safety – was carefully explained.

Angler’s Mail contributor Andy Black stressed: ‘No matter what I will always wear some form of flotation device when out on the water.

‘Even if it’s a baking hot day and the water is flat calm, accidents can happen.’

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