Thread or wrap for rigging eels
 

WHat thread do you guys use for rigging eels?
I am looking for some heavy black thread for the rear hook and behind the head, to hold it on the hook. I've used braid but it looks goofy, there must be some type of black heavy thread.....
ideas???

black zip ties

hmm, interesting, small ones?

Dacron

Dacron is the best thing to use. Use a double length of black 50# or 80# dacron inside the body.Some guys use toilet chain to avoid losing the rear hook to bluefish.The guy who showed me how to rig used cotton twine to sew the rear hook to the sides of the eels body because it was less likely to tear through the flesh. You don't want to use any of the super braids because they slice though the eel like butter, shortening its life and effectiveness. Also, my rigged eel mentor(the late Nate Piazza) frowned upon plastic ties because he claimed the eel would get waterlogged and soften up too much with all the water getting in the larger holes the ties made. He was real precise with everything on the riggies, kind of like a surgeon. Small diameter needles and such.

We always rigged them with dacron. If you're worried about blues you can use 49 strand cable inside the eel, but still use the dacron for the rest of the rigging.

Dacron

I may be asking the question incorrectly.
I use dacron for the rigging, but what about the "wrapping" outside the eel? You need to wrap around the back hook to keep it in place and in back of teh eels head to keep it from slipping. The dacron I is white/green stripes, if I use it to wrap it looks bad. Is there some kind of heavy black thread to wrap on the outside?

Wire-ties are nice though because you can tighten on the fly if needed...
I use that or dacron.
Doubled 80lb gorilla inside.

Jim,
I use a black waxed nylon thread for what you want to do. The thread I have is flat not round. Probably available at a store specializing in sewing supplies or sailmaking. Short of that use real heavy dacron and color it black with a permanent sharpie. Hope this helps.

DZ

Use the dacron on the head wrap, and the cotton or something non abrasive on the rear hook to connect to the sides of the eels body.Dacron is ok on the back connection too. Don't worry about the green/white color. The fish don't mind.

:kewl: :kewl: :kewl: :kewl: :kewl: :kewl:

rigging eels
 

I've always sewn the rear hook in place and not wrapped thread or line completely around the eels body. Sewing through the eye of the rear hook prevents the hook from folding against the eels body. This ensures that you have most of the bend of the hook exposed for better penetration.
A curved needle and some heavy waxed thread such as dental floss or better yet rigging floss from Gudebrod. The waxed material holds the knots better. I take 4 stiches to hold the hook in place, and sew the rear hook in before I attach the dacron to the head hook.
Pat

Any good tackle shop will be able to get you black dacron. I use 50 lb. black for my riggies, backing, and a million other things.

I have used Ande 60 LB inside and 12 LB outside for years.

I think the Dacron is a good idea for easier knots but don't get cut while rigging eeels. The germ possibilities are not appetizing .

Anyway , behind the head and seldom but sometimes at the tail hook , I use multiple wraps (like lashing) of the 12 lb test mono. I have frozen , thawed and refrozen rigged eels many times and the freezing doesn't effect the mono. What does freezing and thawing repeatedly do to dacron?

Just shows to go that there is more than one way to skin a cat.

130# mono inside, crimped. Heavy waxed thread outside.

I use black dacron. You probably could use any color thread you wanted for the outside and just run it over a black sharpie like some do when they sharpen hooks.

U want to use a waxed rigging line..
I have a spool of bow string..Any good archery supply will have it.
Waxed so the knots don't slip. flat an broad so it don't pull thru.i use old 80 lb braid for the insides..

great, thanks guys.