trolling live eels
 

i noticed on another thread that someone suggested trolling live eels? does anyone do this regularly? i never tried it and thought that they might roll up in a ball and wouldn't be that effectuive. any thoughts on this? tips, tricks?

Thanks
David

You can keep them from rolling up in a ball by keeping them on ice and/or by stunning them, hold them by the head and whack the last 1/3rd of the the reel agains someting solid. I was going to say a rock but you'll have difficulty finding one on the boat :) ...

You can 3 way them to get them down deep or depending on the depths you are fishing go weightless, weighted sliding egg, or rubber core... If on a boat I prefer to cast them to structure...

I have trolled rigged eels (dead) before but not live...3way them.

Most folks don't troll them, but rather drift them. I don't know anyone who trolles them, but drifting them over structure can be deadly. This time of the year they work better at night than during the day, but you can still catch fish on them during the day.

i have always casted them into structure but never trolled them live. i would think when they are on ice and then trolled them that it would work for a while but soon they would regain there senses and try and tie themselves up. i guess it is something else to try this year.

I have a question about using weights and eels. Say your fishing a rock pile in 30 ft of water. If you free spool an eel won't it swim right to the bottom without weight, Then just take a few turns on the reel and drift over the structure? I prefer using as little hardwear as possible, especially weights.

You GOT to get that eel ON THE BOTTOM. You are wasting your time letting him swim in the water collumn. You can cast them into rocks in shallower coastline waters but for deep water...break out the lead. 3-way or ball and chain with egg sinkers. I like 3 waying with a breakaway line to the sinker. But no matter how you like to fish you need that eel on the bottom.

I drift eels all the time, you don't need to weight them drifting. They will naturally smim down to the bottom. The only time you would ever use weight would be drifting eels in a 4+ knot current. If your trolling a live eel, of course you'll need weight, but I don't know anyone that trolls them.

Maybe thats where I have gone wrong, I have never caught a fish on a live eel.
So I gave up.
I guess i gotta get em' down deeper.

Mr. KAV. I tried live eels at that structure you put me on last year.. NADA......
Again mabe I was doing it wrong, but I'm pretty sure (think) they were bouncing on the bottom.

If your fishing deeper water, say 30ft + you need weight to get the eel to the bottom. The drag of the line through the water will lift the eel way off the bottom. Depending on the currents you may be able to get away with as little as an ounce or two, in the rips off Montauk its not unusual to have to use 16 ounces.

hey van i forgot to tell you that you have to spit on your bait in that spot. :laughs: that spot is kind of a hit or miss. water depth i have experienced is a big factor over there. sometimes i fish anywhere from 5 ft to 15 ft around the corner there and then somedays they are in 30 ft plus on the structure. i am sure you will pick up some fish there this year. i have had nights last year that i landed more than two twenty + pounders off that structure.
eels and chunks. i am hopeing to send down a few live herring or mackeral down on that this year.

I have drifted them around West Gut and Nut Island, three way them with 3oz lead. Drop them to the bottom, when the weight hits the bottom reel up a couple of cranks to keep the weight from snagging. Hold the rod tip up at 45 degrees. When you feel a tap-tap, drop the tip to the water line (this gives some slack allowing the striper to suck the eel in) count to 5 set the hook and if all goes well game on.

I may be done for night fishing, never really had good luck.

last seson I picked up a pot line too. pain in the A at night.

We'll see maybe one more try.

But I do fine during the AM and day.