keeping sand eels on the hook

[DRUMCORPFAN]

i've got some frozen sand eels i want to use, whats the best way to keep-em from falling off the hook? i was going to put them on a spro bucktail jig.

[Bigcat]

You have to use fresh raked eels,frozen are a waste of money.

[Jenn]

ditto what bigcat said......

if desperate try the bait hooks with the barb on them....(is there a special name for them by the way??? like "bait barbs???)

[Karl F]

Frozen, then thawed, too soft, good for chum!

(Why do they stink worse aftah froze/thaw, then just a coupla days old, and soft?)

I am going to try my my friends method, seems better... get them fresh, if you have surplus, rinse them good and clean with salt water, put in ziploc, cover with salt water, zip up tight, freeze, they seem to hold the hook better, firmer... wonder if you could just kosher salt 'em and freeze 'em, like clams?

[capesams]

when their bunched up in a bag , they heat up,,,,going...going ...gone.......when frozen the meat is distroyed turning to muck.

[ProfessorM]

I rake my own sand eels. It is the only way to go. Frozen from the bait shops are left over fresh ones they couldn't sell and decided to freeze after a week. Just throwing money away. The ones I rake that I do not use are taken home and dried off in newspaper and then frozen asap in small bags for future fishing. Of course you must put them on ice as soon as you rake them. I have just used this past weekend sand eels that I froze last July and had not a one fall off the hook or mushy. They were in great condition belive it or not. Usually use them up by the end of the year. The key is put them on ice, dry completely and freeze asap. Bait shops don't spend the time and who knows how long they have had them. As far as hooking them on the hook I go with putting the hook thru the two eyes they stay on the hook great. Sand eels are the best bait for Fluke there is on the Bay side. Stripers won't turn their noses up at them either. Good raking. Mr. M.