Keeping sand eels fresh is a process that starts from the beginning meaning as you rake them. They should be raked and then shaken off into a fish tote that has a few inches of water in it. As more and more get into the tote the water will become bloody. Tochange the water have a mesh laundry bag handy with you and put all the sand eels raked so far into the mesh bag. Tie off the bag over the side or to your wader belt if wading and raking. Dump the bloody water and refill the tote with clean water. If you are in a boat you should have ( if your raking for money) a cooler with crushed ice or snow from an ice rink. You should also have some large zip lock bags. Take the rinsed sandeels and put them into the zip lock bag. Zip closed and lay the bag on the ice or snow not in it. Keep the drain plug open on the cooler to prevent water buildup in the cooler. Some guys put an old towel over the ice/snow and then put on the bags of sand eels. Lee at Riverview in Bass River had/has the freshest dand eels around using this process. He is meticulous in the care of the bait. To check if the sand eels you are buying are fresh pinch one between your fingers. If it is hard to snap in half they are fresh if it just mushes between your digits don't buy 'em. If the bag of bait has excessive water and blood in it they weren't handled properly.
