I just skinned my first ever eels tonight. I did 5 total and I nailed them to a tree in my yard. made and incision on the neck with a razor blade and took two pairs of pliers and got their skins off. out of 5 I ended up with four perfect and one has a split in it. Besides a swimmer, I am going to use a Gibbs needlefish with them as well. I got the skins soaking in a heavily salted solution of kosher salt and water. my question is this: about how far down on the needlefish should I create my groove to secure them? Also, as far as lastability these skins should be able to withstand a week or so in the fridge in the salt water? I am planning on fishing them inside out, make sense? Thanks.

More salt than water and they will last a season. (More if yours don't get booted from the fridge like mine do come December.....)
Mine get all covered in a crystalized coat as the water in the paste evaporates. Just knock off the dry salt crystals and save in the plastic container. Then rinse off the skins to make pliable and tie them on!

If you are planeing on keeping them for awhile, try to scrape off as much of the meat that was left on the skins. They will keep for years.

Right behind the eye area. They will last a long time in the frig and Kosher salt. Don't freeze them.

When you skin them , you have to cut the attchment at the butt hole. if you pull past it , you get that split. just pull the skin down to it , then snip it with scissors , then pull the skin all the way down and off the tail..