Would this work?

[ivanputski]

I would not recommend the casting egg... there is just no need... besides, the eel will just ball up on the hook.

i fish eels in the weediest of boulder fields, and its a non-issue. Just speed up your retrieve towards the end. as previously stated, dead eels are also a great option (just zip-tie it to the shank of the hook)

[numbskull]

Skin the eel, put it on a needlefish so you feel good about things, then use a darter.