Sat night i fished eels with a manual pick-up and missed four fish. They all picked up the eel and i got the line off the roller, but each time I went to grab the line to put it back on the fish dropped the eel:smash: . When the fish grabbed the eel i was bowing and taking the line off to give the fish slack, letting the line run through my fingers so i could feel the fish slightly like i do with a bail, and before i went to return the line to the roller I was flipping the rod tip to try to give me a little slack.
I know its going to take practice to get used to using the manual pick-up, i still fumble slightly on each cast:whackin: ....anyone have any suggestions to make the transition from bail to manual any easier?:huh:
thanks.

Circle hooks. When fish picks up eel, drop tip, raise tip, fish on. Works for me every time. No need to take line off roller.http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8399/thumbsup4kk.gif

where were you using the eels?/

where were you using the eels?/
He was most likely casting them into the water somewhere/http://ganjataz.com/01smileys/images/smileys/Mad%20Jester.gif

Thanks i wasnt sure , thought maybe they were in the bathtub..

To add to what fishaholic wrote - if you retreive eels with the rod held high, you'll be able to generate enough slack by simply lowering the rod. This works whether or not you use circles. No need to disengage the line.

He was most likely casting them into the water somewhere/http://ganjataz.com/01smileys/images/smileys/Mad%20Jester.gif

fh, have you been following me around? stop burning my spots!!:rocketem:

Thanks i wasnt sure , thought maybe they were in the bathtub..

Don`t worry Lucky...everone is trained here not to reveal specific spots as per rules. Once you have been here awhile (i see you just joined) and contribute and make some virtual buddies then you might be able to get more specific info. through private PMs.

Hang in there :wave:

everytime you play with the line..boing-boing....that boing is going right down that line to the eel into the fish....txs for the signal mr. fisherman.....think I'll spit this one out.

Im Dumb, but not really that Dumb.... I was not looking for specific spots, generalization, canal, monomoy, the race....................

It seems there are a few methods for setting the hook w/eels.
As soon as I feel the "tap" i lower my rod tip, reel in the slack and set the hook. Very similar to using a rubber worm for largemouths.

fh, have you been following me around? stop burning my spots!!:rocketem:
Sorry..http://www.diegotorres.com.ar/mensajeitor/foro/caritas/110103_sorry_prv1.gif

lucky, i was on the vineyard
thanks for the replys guys, i do all of the above on a fish to fish basis. I use circles but have missed fish with them in the past, this year i was doing well, i had only missed 1 fish and gut hooked one, which was a 28 lber, which fed me and friends. I thought i had the method down until the other night.:poke: I guess I'm always learning something new in the surf. practice makes perfect right? looks like ill be fishing every night until i finally get it right. :hihi:

You say you held your line in your fingers. You put tension on the line at this point.

DONT do that.

get a pickup. Off goes the line. Rod tip goes low. Give em a 7 count. Set the hook. Should be corner of the lip.

I think sometimes as the waters get warmer, the bass get fussier so any hint of something wrong and they spit it out. When you are letting the bass run is your rod tip up high? I assume so, so that you have the slack enough to have time to put the line back on the roller.

You say you held your line in your fingers. You put tension on the line at this point.

DONT do that.

get a pickup. Off goes the line. Rod tip goes low. Give em a 7 count. Set the hook. Should be corner of the lip.

are you saying set the hook with your finger?

Sorry, no.

was trying to point out that he shouldnt be holding the line with his fingers, as the fish ran. Hes creating tension, thats making it drop the eel. He should be placing the line back on, before setting the hook. Gimme a break, I havent finished my first cup of coffee.

coffee, I don't even drink coffee

just asking because JP sometimes sets up on bass in the canal with his finger(with a rubber finger protector of course) when dropping the jig back.
:walk: :ss: carry on

The best way I've found to fish eels with a manual pick up is, drop the rod on the hit, and if you can do it safely, take 3-4 steps forward, let it come tight, and then hit the fish.

If you can't step forward safely, drop the rod and get the line off the roller. Then, raise the rod with the line loose to throw more slack, and get the line back on the roller with zero tension. Hit the fish when the line tightens.

Also--use mono to fish eels. If you can feel the fish breathe on the eel when you use braid, the fish can also feel every little movement you make ;)

As soon as I feel the "tap" i lower my rod tip, reel in the slack and set the hook. Very similar to using a rubber worm for largemouths.

Exactly how I do it as well. Even with non-circle hooks gut hookings are rare.

Lowering a 10' ft rod 90 degrees well give 15 ft of slack in the line.

It's always been "get a hit, drop the tip and count to 5 and then cross their eyes." It was sometimes called "bow to the cow".

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=33220

I remember reading this article.I do it the same way.If u saw me wit a eel u might think something is wierd.I hold the rod like a torch off my right elbow.Feel the hit drop the rod till I can just feel some presure then cross there eye's.I almost never miss this way.i think bass hit eels for several reasons.Food value i think is not always a primary reason.U ever try to grab a eel they are tough to hold on to. I think if u wait to long the eel can escape. U feel the hit the bass has engulfed it.U only need to wait a few seconds to set up.It's not a herring or a bunker.I have cleaned thousands of bass an I have only had eels in the fishes stomach once. 2 in one bass an one was a cigar..I think they where fished eels.