Ice, ice, ice, ice, ice. And a Scotchguard pad to handle them.

Did I mention ice? :hihi:

If you google search "medium duty scouring pad" there's a brand out there that is exactly the same as that scotch brite stuff. But the no name brand comes in a box of twenty pads, each pad is 6"x9" (which I cut into three 6"x3" pads) .

All together comes out to a tiny fraction of the price of the name brand. Each pad only lasts a night of eel fishing, (sometimes you need two pads on a busy night). But now they cost pennies, so you don't mind using and tossing.

And yes, ice helps a ton
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Just use plugs
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Good one, didn't think of that :huh:

My 13" Mega Jerk Ledge Runner was all I ever needed to replace the eels I used to keep in a black trash barrell in my basement to keep them cool. When the pump failed while the family was away on vacation and some guys jigging the canal were looking for more length, I carved the 13" jerk and never bought another eel. I can still smell what we came back to, nothing worse then dead eels decaying a barrel of foul water for a week.

I'm kinda late but this thread is funny.

As stated by Joe who is an expert on the subject by far - not a good idea to keep them in water. Those flow-troll bait buckets, sold at walmart for like 7 bucks are perfect, keep them in there, give them a rinse every now and then (dunk in water, turn upside down to drain)..

Anyway though, all I every do is stick my hand in, grab an eel, if I got it good I stick the hook in, if it's not cooperating I drop it onto the deck, then I grab the eel with a rag. If you grab 'em right just behind the neck and are quick to get the hook in there there's no need for a rag and certainly there is never a need for a brillo pad! :)

Jon

Old timer I used to eel with on the outer cape used to do this all the time. Small "snack" sized ziploc bag. Just hooked them and pulled them from the bag. He would keep the pockets of his fly vest stocked with them when wading or carried a mesh bag on his side with the bagged eels in that.

Just a rag. Grab the SOB behind the head like you mean it and hook it up.
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this is what i have been doing too . my only difference is i have a spigot with a short hose in the bottom bucket for water and slime run off . keeps eels for as long as i want to .

:hihi:

Double bucket with a bottom "partial" bucket insert posted by macojoe years ago (I believe originally). Insert one bucket into another and fasten with wing nuts at 90 degrees at the top of the lower bucket. Punch 1/8 holes in the bottom of upper bucket and cut a 1/4" hole on side (at bottom) of lower bucket and fit with rubber stopper. Cut the bottom off a 3rd bucket low enough to sit below the top of the upper bucket when placed on top of the wing nuts. Fill the top ) partial bucket bottom with ice (call it a tray). Lift the tray and put your eels in what is now the middle bucket. Pull rubber stopper to drain melted ice/slime. Put in stopper to transport with no mess. Use a standard bucket cover to cap the unit with a few holes for air. If you keep ice in the top tray the eels will last for days. I love mine even though I never get to use it. Thanks Joe!

Oh, and one more thing. Paper towel is the best way to grab the eel that I've ever tried. Nothing against the other suggestions, but it's how I was taught and if it ain't broke.....

Side note taught to me by some pretty awesome surf fishermen. If rock hopping, throw a couple eels in ziplock bags. Hook em right through the bag and tear the bag off the hooked eel. Genius.

Tight lines!