Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

beachwalker · 06-12-2003, 11:14 AM

Rob,

When fishing deeper water you have to get the eel DOWN. It will pretty much stay on the surface when drifting because of horizontal pull of the boat/line against the eel. This acts to pull it up to the surface. Truly the eel will try to dive to the bottom but will encounter trouble working against the lay of the line and the current. The sinker gets it down and the drift of the boat and/or current will nudge it along the bottom where it hopefully will find the fish. Attempting this with no idea of what is on the bottom is rarely successful. Being in a boat with a fishfinder showing the bottom structure is the best. Of course, local knowledge doesn't hurt either.

When fishing an eel at night or late in the season (when the blues are scarce) on a shallow rip you don't need a sinker as you are casting upcurrent and letting the eel drift down current over the bar/structure. The eel will try and get as deep as he can but once again he will be fighting the lay of the line and current.
If the Bass are there you can be sure they will find him. Reel very slowly stopping every few seconds to let it free drift. If there are other eelers at this spot use a rotation of casting upcurrent, letting it drift/slow retrieve down current until you are hooked up or hve used up the rip. retrieve and walk back to the upcurrent side, etc. Comprende ?

06-12-2003, 11:14 AM	#6
beachwalker Below Me iTrader: (0) Join Date: May 2003 Location: low Posts: 2,909	Eelin Rob, When fishing deeper water you have to get the eel DOWN. It will pretty much stay on the surface when drifting because of horizontal pull of the boat/line against the eel. This acts to pull it up to the surface. Truly the eel will try to dive to the bottom but will encounter trouble working against the lay of the line and the current. The sinker gets it down and the drift of the boat and/or current will nudge it along the bottom where it hopefully will find the fish. Attempting this with no idea of what is on the bottom is rarely successful. Being in a boat with a fishfinder showing the bottom structure is the best. Of course, local knowledge doesn't hurt either. When fishing an eel at night or late in the season (when the blues are scarce) on a shallow rip you don't need a sinker as you are casting upcurrent and letting the eel drift down current over the bar/structure. The eel will try and get as deep as he can but once again he will be fighting the lay of the line and current. If the Bass are there you can be sure they will find him. Reel very slowly stopping every few seconds to let it free drift. If there are other eelers at this spot use a rotation of casting upcurrent, letting it drift/slow retrieve down current until you are hooked up or hve used up the rip. retrieve and walk back to the upcurrent side, etc. Comprende ?