Just finished reading this book and if you don't have it you should pick it up. Book is packed with info and is a great read. Thanks Zeno and everyone else involved for getting together and reprinting the book.

Cant wait to get it... It's going to make winter that much longer!

yes its going to be a longgg winter.

My Birthday present came today, sometimes I wish I was a slow reader. Another great book from SJ

I got my copy last wed. and have been reading a chapter here and there. Lots of great info and pics. It's one of those books that you can pick up anytime and read a chapter for a refresher.

I just added some of Diagnault's collection to the Christmas list. Do you know where this book is available?

Locally?
rivers end in ct, swe and sri in ri, red top should have them tomorow and surfland a day or two after that...some of these stores have big net storefronts too...
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The position of the head hook on the rigged eel in Secrets looks different than any I have seen or made. The hook has less of the shank in the body. At first I thought it may be an optical illusion. Any thoughts?

The position of the head hook on the rigged eel in Secrets looks different than any I have seen or made. The hook has less of the shank in the body. At first I thought it may be an optical illusion. Any thoughts?

I saw that too. Maybe that was the key as to why he was so successful/protective of his riggies. The only thing I could think of was maybe the eel swims better not having the entire shank of the hook down the throat while the hook still acts like a keel. But would that even make a difference? Maybe something to do with the hook set? Hopefully Z will chime in on this.
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I honestly never even thought about it...good observation, I rigged my eels with a hook much deeper that in picture...I wish Al was still around so we can ask him...I miss that man

It is a pretty skinny eel, and a fairly large hook, with the hook seemingly exiting the eel earlier than if the shank ran parallel with the bottom of the eel.

Hey Z - Got it - thanks!

When i first picked up an original edition of this book many years ago I also noticed that particular photo. It had me puzzeld as any eel I rigged with the head hook in that configuration always tended to spin. I think it just happend that way when he rigged it for the photo shoot. More likely it was just a mistake... but who knows - maybe Al wanted his readers to be more attentive? As all eel riggers know - some eels no matter how good they look after rigging just will not swim correctly and others that don't look right to you - look very good to the bass.

This book was the one reference that always reinforced what I had learned about striped bass fishing up until the time I read it. It is still one of my favorites and I highly recommend it. Thanks to Z for bringing it back.

DZ

i've had an original copy for two years, NOW~~~

will open it, TODAY~~ after the tree, chores, and the NFL.
:grins: :grins: :grins:

Just cracked it last night. Good read so far.

Anyone notice the incredible disappearing eel? Look closely

Anyone notice the incredible disappearing eel? Look closely

hmmm???

Not in any of the pics?
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Ok, now I'll have to look for the disappearing eel.

Anyone notice the incredible disappearing eel? Look closely

yup, noticed it a few times in Z's books :)

The position of the head hook on the rigged eel in Secrets looks different than any I have seen or made. The hook has less of the shank in the body. At first I thought it may be an optical illusion. Any thoughts?

i rig mine similar to the photo (probably because the book is where i learned to rig them), maybe not quite as much of the shank exposed, but alot of it. i think al and frank d discussed it a few years back on the site that frank used to have a forum on (can't remember the name now) and the idea was for the hook to act as a keel, and more exposed shank is more keel.

Anyone notice the incredible disappearing eel? Look closely

is that in Zeno's reprint, or

does the eeeeel disappear in the original also??

is that in Zeno's reprint, or

does the eeeeel disappear in the original also??

Front over? When I took that Picture I remember seeing an Eel hanging out of Jimmy's fish!

that's ironic,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

ya beat me to it!! after i posted that i saw the eel/squid(?) around the cow's dorsal as it enters the surf, there.

looks like a squid to me, though,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,see the fins on the side of the striper pressed against the back at the end of a tapered body? also the eyes look huge and protruded like a squid's would?

i'm talking about the Original printing, however, or maybe i'm seeing things??

which one is it Pete??

picture was taken with eel ibn mouth, as i was walking out of the water with the fish...decksweeper took the photo.

Picture that has no eel hanging is the same picture, that Z photod eliminating the eel as he used ithe photo for his book about fishing with plugs

i rig mine similar to the photo (probably because the book is where i learned to rig them), maybe not quite as much of the shank exposed, but alot of it. i think al and frank d discussed it a few years back on the site that frank used to have a forum on (can't remember the name now) and the idea was for the hook to act as a keel, and more exposed shank is more keel.

yeah,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

but that MUCH exposed shank, not being tight to the eel's body
does not equate to keel in my mind. more like a rudder that is dislodged,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
i do like the copper globule to help to secure the head.

nothing SUX worse than an riggie that won't stand-up to the rigors of it's first "snagging" and release. i think it is Daignault that uses a copper spike soldered to the shank and he skewers the head behind the eyes to prevent slippage, no?

i do stitch the eye of the vent hook with my worn out PPro, don't use chain(though i might after reading this), and do push the head hook eye into the throat like Skinner does. been using his method with some Veracka, Babikian, and Dawgistic modifications.
:uhuh: :uhuh: :uhuh:

GREAT read, so far!!

don't have the book in front of me, so i don't know if its that much, but this is how I do mine. they swim well and usually stand up to a few fish. the tail hooks are usually what come loose eventually and lead to me having to go to a new eel, not the head.

i find the copper and flux to be a PIA, and used steel epoxy to create the same effect with much less work. i posted a picture on here a while back. I rig the head such that the epoxy "ball" is right against the throat of the eel and tie it off on both sides.

I also use cable ties to reinforce and protect the dacron, but all the actual tieing is done with dacron.

don't have the book in front of me, so i don't know if its that much, but this is how I do mine. they swim well and usually stand up to a few fish. the tail hooks are usually what come loose eventually and lead to me having to go to a new eel, not the head.

i find the copper and flux to be a PIA, and used steel epoxy to create the same effect with much less work. i posted a picture on here a while back. I rig the head such that the epoxy "ball" is right against the throat of the eel and tie it off on both sides.

I also use cable ties to reinforce and protect the dacron, but all the actual tieing is done with dacron.

those look SWEEEET!

i don't use as many cable ties as that, but those look very "offerable"!!

i am becoming MORE of a believer of these lures with each season.
:grins: :grins: :grins:

Just cracked my copy tonight. looking fwd to reading it