anyone do this regularly to get your (live) eel deep down where the bigger are?

I do from a boat.... Never fished conditions that it was required but I don't see any reason why not...

fww - I've used a rubber core in rough conditions or currents. About 3-4 inches above the eels head. Its worked well.

I've heard of shoving one it the eel's mouth for use in current

...About 3-4 inches above the eels head. Its worked well.

i was thinking something like that or maybe even a little further than that...as the bass is gonna whack the head first.

I was at a presentation Steve McKenna gave and he mentioned he does it a few inches above the head. I used to to do it about 1ft above, but switched.

I've heard of shoving one it the eel's mouth for use in current

Done it.

.5 - .75 ounce egg sinker. Works well.

I would probably do that if there was a strong wind in my face too! like last night!

one more thing ...

gonna be using a stiff convench outfit a la allstar 1209 (thanks saltheart) :tooth:

one more thing ...

gonna be using a stiff convench outfit a la allstar 1209 (thanks saltheart) :tooth:

weight wil definitely help. I use a 1088 and the added weight helps with eels, especially the smaller ones.

Many people shove a sinker down the eels throat. I think the thin torpedoe shaped sinkers work better than an egg unless the egg is very small. They are very thin but longer than an egg. Sometimes they have a hole through them but that doesn't matter. I like 2 of the torpedo ones shoved one after the other down its throat. It will kill it faster though. The rubber core above the eel on the leader is traditional because it doesn't hurt the eel and they will stay alive longer.

I think casting eels with the 1209 and conventional reel will be hard. You better add lots of weight. :)

Ben, we pour sinkers that are roughly the diameter of yellow #2 pencils, bout' half an inch to an inch long, with a brass ring on one end. We stuff it in the eels mouf and when we hook the eel, we make sure the hook passes through the center of the brass ring.

Rubber cores work really great at this, slim profile and they slide nicely so you can jam them down the throat. Fresh dead eels work best for this.

I think casting eels with the 1209 and conventional reel will be hard. You better add lots of weight. :)

yup. i was thinking 4 oz egg sinkers.

running line ---> 4 oz egg sinker---> beefy swivel ---> 70 lb. flouro ---> hook

Try thru-wiring some Tail weights to if you can't pour them

Ben, we pour sinkers that are roughly the diameter of yellow #2 pencils, bout' half an inch to an inch long, with a brass ring on one end. We stuff it in the eels mouf and when we hook the eel, we make sure the hook passes through the center of the brass ring.