I have been fishing eels both ways recently.
However, the problems I encounter are when drifting them.
I have been drifting & retrieving where there is a good amount of current .
I would cast upstream of the current and let the eel drift it's way down.
The problems I encounter are when the eel works it's way down into the water column & wraps me up on the rocks and multiple lines that have been cut off by others
This particular area which appears to have been fished pretty heavily over the course of time.
I think my priomary issue is that I need to find better spots to fish with eels...
especially when drifting them...