eels coming off the hook during retrieve? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Rockport24 · 07-09-2007, 11:42 AM

this happened to me last night for the first time ever, I've casted them off before, but last night, I lost two eels during the retrieve!
One right after the other. how the hell does that happen? The eels were especially lively and when I tossed them out there I could feel them swimming like mad, so maybe they just unhooked themselves somehow

oh I hook them through the mouth out the throat and I have never had this problem.

luds · 07-09-2007, 01:42 PM

I've been hooking them out the side of the head. The skin seems to be tougher there and it holds better. I think Canalman convinced me to do that.

You can always smack them on a rock to take some life out of them. They'll be wounded and less active as a result but less likely to come off the hook.

JFigliuolo · 07-09-2007, 01:46 PM

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& don't like 'em but I swear by gami circle hooks. I can lay into 'em with an su1088 and they stay buckled...(except when they are too small in my opinion anyway)

jim sylvester · 07-09-2007, 01:56 PM

go to a hook with a larger barb

tattoobob · 07-09-2007, 02:42 PM

Matt, go thru the bottom lip/jaw and out thru one of the eyes, just don't hit there brain

Saltheart · 07-09-2007, 02:44 PM

maybe something was stealing them on you last night?

Canalman · 07-09-2007, 03:27 PM

I use the circles too... as Luds was saying, I go up through the bottom jaw and out behind the eye... try and get some skull

this make for a much stronger hook-hold.

Rockport--- I bet the eels you were using were small is that correct? Those little pin-snakes as I call them, are acrobatic little bastids, it seems to me that because they are lighter and wirier (that a word and a half

) they can still get their tail up around the hook, even on the retrieve, and pop the hook right out. You may want to smack their tails on a rock a few times to take some of the fight out of them. I've had that happen many times... and always with small eels (9" or shorter).

Hope that helps,
-Dave

Rockport24 · 07-09-2007, 03:28 PM

thanks for the advice guys, and Saltheart, that's what I would like to think, but I threw the bag at them after I lost the eels without any hits...

5/0 · 07-09-2007, 03:29 PM

Matt when drifting eels in the Canal I have them come off the hook not knowing it and on the retrive I have a starfish on the hook instead?!?!Go figure

5/0

Rockport24 · 07-09-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canalman

I use the circles too... as Luds was saying, I go up through the bottom jaw and out behind the eye... try and get some skull

this make for a much stronger hook-hold.

Rockport--- I bet the eels you were using were small is that correct? Those little pin-snakes as I call them, are acrobatic little bastids, it seems to me that because they are lighter and wirier (that a word and a half

) they can still get their tail up around the hook, even on the retrieve, and pop the hook right out. You may want to smack their tails on a rock a few times to take some of the fight out of them. I've had that happen many times... and always with small eels (12" or shorter).

Hope that helps,
-Dave

They were on the small side, like 14 inches or so, but they were acrobatic little suckers... I usually don't feel them moving around too much on the end of the line when they are in the water, but these things were going nuts....

Canalman · 07-09-2007, 03:46 PM

14" Is perfect size for beach fishing... maybe the factor is not length so much as it is girth?

The skinny ones always seem more lively/acrobatic... who knows... did you catch any fish

?

Shake N' Bake · 07-09-2007, 04:01 PM

Does anyone have further advice for fishing with eels?
Perhaps a picture of a proper hooking.
I have never tried fishing stripers with eels.
Is it best to fish eels at night vs. day?
I found a bait dealer that sells eels and now I want to give it a try.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

Rockport24 · 07-09-2007, 04:02 PM

yeah I caught a fish on a plug and the fish had my eel sticking out of it's mouth! NOOOO I didn't catch anything because those two eels were my first two friggin' casts and that was all I brought because it as gonna be a short outing, then nothing after that with plugs and sluggos.

RedHerring · 07-09-2007, 07:48 PM

You should always use a circle hook with eels, unless you plan to kill all the bass you catch. If you are a true sportsfisherman, use circle hooks.

Rockport24 · 07-10-2007, 08:27 AM

oh please....

FredS · 07-10-2007, 09:48 AM

Mustad 94150 in 8/0--bigger barb will keep em on

patpatriot · 07-10-2007, 10:07 AM

same thing happend to me the the other night, i figured it was rocks or possibly dogfish

RIJIMMY · 07-10-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHerring

You should always use a circle hook with eels, unless you plan to kill all the bass you catch. If you are a true sportsfisherman, use circle hooks.

I've never used circles and have never gut hooked a bass using eels. Tap, Tap, lower rod.....slam. Gets 'em in the lip almost every time.

5/0 · 07-10-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHerring

You should always use a circle hook with eels If you are a true sportsfisherman, use circle hooks.

5/0

RIROCKHOUND · 07-10-2007, 03:12 PM

Oh hell, if you are really a sportsman you swim around with the eel in your hand and then just grab the bass when it gets close.
thats what I do.
You guys are all heathens!

6/0 Mustad J hook. I dont gut hook many.

snake slinger · 07-10-2007, 03:12 PM

mustad 94150.if you now how to use them you dont gut fish.

Rockport24 · 07-10-2007, 03:26 PM

If you don't want to kill bass, don't fish for them

The Dad Fisherman · 07-10-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHerring

If you are a true sportsfisherman, use circle hooks.

If Fishing is a Sport.....Then you're Looking at an Athlete

davgor · 07-10-2007, 04:24 PM

slippery little basst*rds will steal your truck and your woman if you don't watch em! Never trust an eel! Never..

Goose · 07-10-2007, 05:53 PM

Switch to a hook with a bigger barb,, then feed the eel the hook so it comes out in the white under its chin(deep throat). do those two things and you'll rarly loose eels again.

stiff tip · 07-10-2007, 06:10 PM

......

oke: rethink what you just said........

Canalman · 07-11-2007, 10:23 AM

RIJIMMY -- You've NEVER gut hooked a bass on an eel!?!?! Holy $#!+

I started using circles 2 years ago and I will never switch... 7/0 Gami Octopus Circle... best eel hook there is.. if you ask me... and you didn't... so... consider it free advice

Gunpowder · 07-11-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canalman

RIJIMMY -- You've NEVER gut hooked a bass on an eel!?!?! Holy $#!+

I started using circles 2 years ago and I will never switch... 7/0 Gami Octopus Circle... best eel hook there is.. if you ask me... and you didn't... so... consider it free advice

i love those hooks too. thats all i ever use when im out eel fishin