Here are some interesting BBC programmes about rivers and fishing that you can watch online on BBC iplayer for a limited period. If you download them by installing the iplayer software you can watch them for a bit longer.

Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones - 4. The Lea

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00m6zkr/Rivers_with_Griff_Rhys_Jones_The_Lea/

Griff Rhys-Jones explores how rivers have influenced, nurtured and powered our lives. From the powerful torrents of Scotland to the flatlands of East Anglia, he barges, canoes, swims and sails his way along this often hidden network which has been the life-blood of the country.

Griff is in London. But instead of working his way up the Thames, he heads off for another river which has been vital in the city's history: the Lea. He meets the Sicilian cucumber-growing community of Essex, sails a gunpowder boat and trains with a team of veteran rowers. Plus, he explores the new Olympic site through which the Lea flows, and discovers the vital balance between water coming in to a city and its waste going out.

Broadcast on:BBC One, 9:00pm Sunday 16th August 2009
Duration: 60 minutes
Available until: 9:59pm Sunday 30th August 2009
Comment: Lots of interesting history about the Lea, the river fished by Izaak Walton, with a segment on fly tieing. Very nice looking river with a secret unexplored feel to it.

See the links to other programmes in the series where he explores other rivers in Scotland, the North, the West. They are also wvailable to watch until 30 Aug.
The one on East Anglia looks interesting.
Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones - 5. East
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mbv0c/Rivers_with_Griff_Rhys_Jones_East/
He has a section on eel catching about 5 mins in. After setting lots of traps they catch 1 small eel. Later on the broads he fishes for pike.

The episode about the West is about the Severn, there might be eels in it, haven't watched it yet.


Turus a Bhradain - 3. The Tay
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jk0qf/Turus_a_Bhradain_The_Tay/
Broadcast on:BBC ALBA, 8:30pm Tuesday 25th August 2009
Duration: 30 minutes
Available until: 8:59pm Tuesday 1st September 2009
About Salmon fishing on the Tay, some interesting stuff about the life cycle of the Salmon.

The salmon the fly fishermen catch are covered in sea lice, which may have come from fish farms:
Farm sea lice plague wild salmon
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4391711.stm