a few more pics

now with the tail hook in place place your front hook and weight(if desired)

secure the nose hook to swivel bu running your bait needle up from the bottom and thorough the hook and swivel, make 4 passes through securing on each side of the jaw, secure the tail hook with a series of half hitches, be sure it is snog.....

I had two more pictures but cant upload them...

Yes, I gave up using live eels when I found how successful the Lewinsky Jerk bait was. They don't smell, they don't tangle your line, they don't escape into your car, but they just catch fish. If you can't find a Lewinsky, try a sluggo. Good luck.

Rockfish, how do you keep your eels up top?

Rico
 

you might notice that Rockfish's post was made in January of 07 ....

keep reading ...everything you want to know is in the Archives and then some....

Move them a little quicker will keep the eel on top, beginning your retrieve as soon as the eel hits the water will tend to keep them on top, more twitch , etc...

Something I learned from an old timer.

For catching eels yourself without a trap a few simple items are needed.

1) your favorite estuary
2) a nylon stocking
3) a piece of rope
4) a can of cat food

Take the cat food, shove it up the leg of the nylon stocking to the toe. Tie off said stocking. Tie the rope ahead of the knot in the stocking then fasten the rope onshore somewhere. Toss your rig into the water and come back tomorrow.

THe way the eels "teeth" are, they bite the stocking for the cat food and can't get themselves off. Pull them in. throw em into your bucket and go fishing!

One more tip from a novice eeler.

I can't be carrying a whole white bucket setup with me. One because they don't work out on rocks and two because the ridicule would be tremendous. (Sorry John)

Take your eels and ice them up. Break their backs while iced so you don't have to do it later. When they calm down, put them in cheap ziploc bags. Just put the bags of eels in your plug bag or even pocket to go out fishing. When you are ready to use them, you just take your hook in one hand, corner the eels head in the corner of the ziploc and insert hook through the bag into your wiggly plug. Then pull through the bag. The cheap bags will rip easily enabling you to have your eel ready to cast with minimum slime on you and few escapees.
Make sure you poke some holes in the bags and try and dip them once in a while so the eels stay not dead. Don't poke the holes with a knife because they WILL end up in your pocket if the hole is two wide.

Please Please Please make sure you take all your used slimy eel bags with you.

Hehehe, the white bucket with three layers allows the ice to drain through, keep them moist in your truck or shed, not out on the rocks. For THAT I use a soft sided cooler to carry them or the good ol' shiner bucket with 50 holes on the bottom.