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The best plugs to use for eelskins (IMHO) are one that will swim below the surface. Say from just at at a slow retrieve to 3-4 feet down with a little emphasis on the retrieve at a faster clip. The best eelskin plugs I ever used were the Plug Builders supply Swimmers ( they look like longer thinner versions of an Atom) with the tying groove already turned in on the plug and the old ( Bob Pond era) Junior Atoms and especially the smaller "Spin-Atom" swimmer that was around five inches long by 3/4 on an inch wide. If you can find some older ones take the hooks ( single belly and tail) off. Soak the belly swivel with WD-40 and then work it back into free motion. Take a triangular file and a 1/4 of an inch back from the swim plate file a groove around the head. Get a skin from an eel around 12-14 inches long. On the tail get a Bead Chain swivel around 2 inches long attach it to the tail loop on the plug with a split ring and on the tag end put another split ring with a 6/0 O'Shaughnessy Stainless Steel hook. Slip the skin over it so you have at least two inches of tail past the bend in the 6/0 hook. The tie off with 18 pound squidding line. Trim edges by tie off and slit the skin at the belly treble and use an open eye 2/0 treble. Don't use a split ring there it is just enough to ruin the action. Properly rigged this skin plug is a killer in the fall off of the beach. Rig one blue side out and one black side out. Retrieve slowly letting it sit as the waves receed.
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