99% of the time you do not use this set up with a live eel. that is, unless you want a nasty eel knot like the old timers tell stories about! as far as pendulum on an eel, spinning or conventional works. there is a feel that comes with casting an eel. you just gotta make a million casts and lose your share to know how much you can put into your cast. it will be different for every casting style and rod action.

Yeah, so true. It doesn't matter if I cast short or far with eel, right? I mean the fish comes closer to the shore at night.

This is an interesting post. Like someone else said there are lots of factors. You rats in the Cape need not to throw it as far as we do in Montauk or many other areas here on the Island. I use a Lami GSB 132 1M for my eeling, plugging and bucktailing in Montauk. I like my eels 16-20"and rarely will fish them with a wind in my face. With a little wind at my back I don't see a problem with 65 yards with a lot of wind-- no problem. As far as eels coming off-- it rarely happens. I use a 8/0 mustad Tuna hook in the lower jaw and out the eye socket. I have had problems with eels coming off the gami hooks because of the small barb, and have switched back to the Mustad. Duller hook- but with a little home depot file you really can juice it up. I know of a few guys who swear by the gami hooks and punch the hook threw the back of the eye. The problem I have found with this is that my eel dies much quicker-especially on the warm summer nights where the eels had to make a loooong walk with me to reach the goods.

Another thing, when you retrieve a eel, the body tuned upside down.

Kinda tough to tell in the dark. But sometimes it sounds about30-35yds