Scents and Rigged Eels - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

luds · 06-12-2011, 08:11 AM

Anyone used scents on their rigged eels? Any success or recommendations?

nightfighter · 06-12-2011, 08:15 AM

Bring me a couple.....please. You can soak them in a flat of fresh dead macks I hope to bring down.

rizzo · 06-12-2011, 09:46 AM

I fish them most of the time. Never use any scent. Most of the time I catch just as many or more fish on riggies than I would with live eels. Only a few places where a live eel works better for me - deeper water spots. I've got some of my best fish on nasty rotting rigged eels. The scuffing of those eels, where it turns blue/white is key - I wouldnt be suprised if that releases an enzyme or scent that turns fish on. I've always felt that eel itself was enough scent, same with skin plugs.

luds · 06-12-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizzo

I fish them most of the time. Never use any scent. Most of the time I catch just as many or more fish on riggies than I would with live eels. Only a few places where a live eel works better for me - deeper water spots. I've got some of my best fish on nasty rotting rigged eels. The scuffing of those eels, where it turns blue/white is key - I wouldnt be suprised if that releases an enzyme or scent that turns fish on. I've always felt that eel itself was enough scent, same with skin plugs.

Yeah, I've caught plenty of fish on riggies that have been frozen 8+ months. Thought adding some sent might help but you're tight about maybe just letting the natural odor take over.

chaz · 06-12-2011, 10:52 AM

my father used to use cod liver oil,not something that i have tried lately ,i hear live eels work just as well,getting ready to try another tactic it seems the rubber shad is not getting the attention it used to.
was thinking about a squid jig or the eel thing jig or live.
also the lead head bottom jigs work well trolling from a boat.

piemma · 06-12-2011, 12:11 PM

Any time my old fishing partner RIRockhound used riggies ( and he is a master at it) he would outfish everyone around him.

he had an article he wrote in OTW about his method of rigging and using plastic wire ties. I can rig an eel in 10 minutes with his method and they last through 5 or 6 vicious hits and fish.

striperman36 · 06-12-2011, 12:27 PM

is the article online?

Saltheart · 06-12-2011, 01:08 PM

Take the rigged eel and rub its underside and sides agains a rock. This should end up looking like you have scratches that barely bleed. the dead eels obviously will not bleed but something oozes out and helps . The blue irridescence you see on the inside of their skins when you skin them starts just blow their natural darker outside skin.

Don't overdo it as you may want to do it several times to the same eel on several different days as they do last a long time if no bluefish get ahold of them. Don't rough up the whole skin the first time. Save some areas for the next time.