What's your opion? When I throw eels with a glass rod I can load the rod without ripping the hook out of it's mouth, therefor getting a longer cast...I know I'm sacraficing sensativaty...is it worth it? Also, when I do get a bump I'm letting him take it for about 4 or 5 seconds before the hook set, will I hook up more often GLass or GRaphite?? .....thanks

Goose - I have never fished eels with a quality glass rod so I really can't compare. The only eel fishing I was doing with glass rods were on crappy cheap ones before I was introduced to graphite for eelin'.

With a soft tip, you won't rip off eels when casting. Going to the old general standby Batson/Sabre 1088 series rods, you'll be fine. Sometimes I like to fish a beefier rod with eels and I move to a 1089 which will occasionally rip the hook but I've gotten accustomed to applying as much pressure into the cast without ripping out the eel (I also have a quick thumb brake to stop the spool running over ;) ).

You can't beat the ability to feel what the eel is doing and when a fish hits with a graphite rod. Many people bring that to the next level and fish with braids (I have not yet). I suspect that with a graphite rod and better feeling to the fish you'll be able to adjust your timing on the hookset...

Hope this helps...

If you could find an old JK Fisher graphite that would be my choice.
as far as Graphite Rods produced today Lamiglas XRA 1204 ,GSB1201L All-Star 1208 or 1088
If glass would go with an S-Glass 11-1/2' cou down from the butt. to length desired.
or Ugly Stick Blank 10' ipc. :laughs: it is a good rod for spinning
I know a guy in plymouth that has gotten 5 over 50 on them with eels. (the Scag Mister):faga:

Its the rod action that's importatnt , not whether its graphite or glass. Graphite rods like the lami 1204 ,Allstar 1265/2 , loomis 1266 , etc. have good actions for eeling.

I also find that the long sweeping gradual loading of a good conventiaon casting rod is usually not a problem ripping off eels. A too stiff grahite spinner is where I see problem.

There are very flexible graphite rods like Lami Steelhead GSH138-2MH that are graphite and are perfect for eels.