What size hook do you guys use for fishing eels? I use braid on my poles but I do have a spare spool rigged with mono, which would you guys recommend? I know I should use a leader, any tips on that? Thanks for all the help, Have a great weekend!!

Thanks and Good Luck, Jay

5/0 gami octopus with 8 foot 40# floro leader tied with an albright--

Depends on the eels. 5/0-7/0 Gami Octopus tied to 40 or 50 lb Ande leader.

-spence

Look at the eeling 101 in the How-To-Do thread.

I use a 2-3 feet of Flurocarbob leader with a 130 lbs test power swivel spro and a offset 5-6/0 gami octopus. sometimes i will use 7/0 circle octopus hook on my baitrunner. damn, i missed the hookup last summer. eeling is great. i got my bumps on my first eel.

S-J, 8 foot leader? whoa, thats long. is that for your conventional set up?

Originally posted by Notaro
S-J, 8 foot leader? whoa, thats long. is that for your conventional set up?

No, spinning-- I don't use conventional from the beach, I can't cast the damn things:-)

I use 15 foot leaders on my conventional boat rod setups.

thats a longest leader. its like if you are using your shock leader to tie directly to the lure or hook. yeah, casting convench at night... i cant fix my damn thign too! i can cast, but not fizxing.;)

I use the same as spence, my leaders are about 3 ft long.

Notaro - I use long leaders because I like to cut back an inch and retie after every couple of fish when the large are hitting hard or there are toothy critters around. Better to be safe than be sorry, the next fish you catch could be your trophy, why chance it?

Yes, I tie direct to hook for eels (is there another way?) and snap swivel for plugs, jigs and other surf or trolling gear. The only reason I would use a barrel swivel between leader and main line is for tube and worm.

i get it.
interesting. :D

SJ...how do you cast w/an 8ft leader???

Originally posted by RIJIMMY
SJ...how do you cast w/an 8ft leader???

I can cast a mile with an eight foot leader with plugs and it does kind of suck for eels because of their weight but I make it happen. My leaders are always getting cut down so they don't stay 8ft for long.

The biggest things I've found is to make sure the knot has very little tail, even a little tail will f everything up, also use glue. Before I tie the leader to the main line I tie an old hook on one end, cut my desired length, set the hook into a fixed object and then using my body weight I gently stretch the floro so it is straight. That helps a LOT.

I know this isn't the "right" way, and I wouldn't suggest it to anyone, it's just the way I do it and it works for me.

people use whatever works for them.;)

Regarless of time of year or eel size:

7/0 Gami Octopus with about 36" of 50 lb. flouro tied to a 90 lb. barrel swivel. Main line is 30 lb. fireline.

size #6 mustard, #3 swivel (90lb?), and 2.5 ft 60lb flouro

Gamu Live Bait 5/0 or 6/0, 3-4ft flouro leader 40lb