I like a big hook. I have gone from 4/0 to 5/0 to , etc until now I use 8/0 94150 (as you get older paranoia sinks in!
) (same mustads as #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& but bigger).
I decide how to hook based on how hard I am casting. if its just getting them out there , I like the bottom exit . If I'm casting hard , I like the top exit through the eye. If I'm ripping them hard to get to a hard to reach area , i like to exit behind the head.
I slap the eels tail on the rocks (or truck tire) before hooking.
I like the eels to be as big as possible but no cobra head. I like black eels but big green ones are OK too. These days you get what you can.
On the retreive , I like a ten count per revolution of the handle on an ABU 6500 size reel. That's mighty slow. If you are not sure if your speed is right , go slower. Nope slower...nope even slower than that!!