Question for #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, aka Eeltime

[Notaro]

how do i keep an eel from ripping itself off the hook? can u draw a picture to show where u hook a eel?

[SBASS1]

How do you stop fish at Watch Hill from wrapping you around the rocks? Enquiring minds want to know...

[JohnR]

I think Mac was beeing a little tounge in cheek in his questions

Notaro, if you are ripping the hooks out, hook a little deeper if going down the throat and don't try to snap the rod so fast, use a smoother longer throw. This is even more important when you have a very stiff fishing rod....

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Notaro

how do i keep an eel from ripping itself off the hook?

3 other things you can try.

Hook them from the bottom of the jaw up thru an eye socket.

Use a rod with a softer tip

Use mono instead of braid. You don't exactly need sensitivity to tell when a bass is taking your eel

[Notaro]

okay, thanks, mike. what abt the "gullet"? also what is it?

[ProfessorM]

I kind of thought Dave was pulling our leg. Was hesitant to answer but thought what the hell. Paul

[capesams]

lob an eel/chunk/worms's/sandeel's


cast a plug

Mac must have been fed lastnite.

[Fish On]

My 2 cents for what it's worth.

Eels are my primary bait when fishing form the surf at night (though I plan to try plugs more and have a couple "Afterhours" plugs to try this year).

I drop the eels in the sand before I attempt to hook him. This slows him down and makes him easier to grip. Definately get into the water ASAP after hooking to minimize the chances of a ball. I hook from the bottom and out through an eye socket as Mike P. suggests.

Last but not least, there is nothing like Mako Joe's custom eels bucket to keep the eels cool, not drown them, keep the slime out of the truck, and keep them alive several days in a row.

[eelman]

Ditto john, that why I did not answer, those were tounge and cheek for sure.

Anyway, I have always broke the eels back about a third of the way up from the tail, they will never curl into a ball if you do this and they will still swim fine and be plebty frisky, after a few casts and the initial shock of being slammed into a rock they wake up and work fine, I have caught hundreds of bass on eels and then some, breaking there back in that spot has always worked for me, if no rock is near by then I use the side of my eel bucket.I keep my eels in a small shiner pail with holes drilled in the bottom and every so often dunk it in the surf to liven the snakes up, I have tried eel bags and hate them, they always seem to slime up so bad that I cant even grab one. Anyway I attach this small pail to my wader belt after having cut slits in it to accept the belt, works great. I also always carry a couple of rags with me to grad the eels.

As for hooking, I go in the mouth and out the bottom and the hook seems to act like a "keel". I would never hook them in the chin and out the eye sockett, I know many do this but not me, I want the eel to see whats coming! I can always tell when I am about to get a strike, that eel lets you know. I dont "lob" eels but I do cast a little more gingerly than if I had a plug on, distance at night does not mater, most hits are at your feet right in the wash. Anyway good luck with your eeling, there is some skill to it, most dont think so but I do.

[Bassman18]

Originally Posted by Notaro

okay, thanks, mike. what abt the "gullet"? also what is it?

the throat. I guess another trick you can try making "fasteners" out of plastic strips, like milk cartons, etc... Just clip off a strip long and wide enough and stick one half of the bottom on the hook, then put the eel on then close it off by sticking on the top half on the hook. It's a trick I learned live bait fishing for largemouths. It's a good remedy for eels flying off the hook, but not if they're being ripped off, like others have said cast softer and they won't rip off. Here's a drawing of the fastener thing...