Drifting Eels in BIG Currents
 

Hey All,

I am thinking of a scenario like the rip from the North River on an outgoing tide....I was wondering how this can be done. I am assuming that the big current will just keep the eel on the surface. Am I correct? How do you get the eels down to where the big boys play?

Thanks for the help and tight lines this weekend!!

rubber core if the currents not too strong

if it is too strong, fish a jig

Let it drift, it will work out just fine. If you want to get the eel down ever more, attach a 1/2 oz weight on the line/leader.

If you pour your own lead or know someone who does. have them make you a cylinder type weight 1.2 oz to 1oz is good, with a brass eye at one end. You stuff the weight into the eels mouth, then when you hook the eel, you passs the hook through the brass eye of the weight.

Giving it a bit more thought, you can prbably use small tail weights used in lure building with a piece of through wire.

or as other mentioned rubber cores.

In addition to using lead, figure out when the tidal flows are less(slower) and target those times. In other words, fish places with big currents during times of lesser currents.

He who can't be named sticks weights down their throat. I used to add slip-sinkers to the leader and use the count-down method.

If you are in a boat.
3-way swivel w/ a bank sinker on one eye and your leader on the other.
Everyone has seemed to forget about this technique....
finesse w/ rubber core is not always the best way to go....

as mentioned, rubber cores. just enough to get eel down. in north river we 3 way. use enough wait to keep line straight down and bounce as you drift.
be very, very careful there. I almost drowned there one night. fell off boat at 2am in foul weather gear, no pfd on a dropping tide and my buddy didn't even know I was in the water. scaaaaary

The boat boys method of choice at M & The Race.

Thats some great info guys, thanks. Wow Redlite, that fall MUST have been scary. It can get nasty out there, I couldn't imagine that at night!

I have seen them things..That seems like a lot of weight.My guess would be he dredges the sand with em trying to emulate the bottom movements of sand eels..U can make ur own with any tailweight and a screw eye..On the edges of the current where I fish. I just use a pinch on about 18-24" up the line.It ususally don't take much weight to get a eel down.Basically all you have to do is point em that way and they go on there own.
On surfrats Paul Melnyk did a god story based on how some old time crumudgeon sharpies taught him to use a inline drail to cast eels from the surf in the sweeping currents of Shagwong Point.

I've used 1/2 oz to 2 oz drails for for throwing eels in South Shore Long Island Inlet rips for many years.