Hooks for regular rigged eels.

[Saltheart]

Curious what people think are best for regular rigged eels. Not the eel bobs but eels rigged with a head and tail hook with line inside.

I was once a big fan of chemically sharpened hooks cause they give you lots of foul hooks when the bass just wacks the eel with its body. lately I've become obsessed with Large gap hooks.

Anyway , I thought it would make a good topic to discuss.


http://www.striped-bass.com/StriperT...s=&threadid=73

http://69.93.108.13/StriperTalk/show...&threadid=6997

[Crow]

Take a look at the Al Benson chapters in the book 'Secrets of Night Fishing'. He is THE master of the rigged eel and he shows and tells all there is to know about hardware and rigging of eels. He uses Siwash hooks in the 8/0-9/0 sizes and thats good enough for me too. I think Salty still has some .

[Saltheart]

Big Siwash hooks are used by some good fisherman I know !

Im interested in the whys and wherefore.

For example , a smaller 4/0 lazersharp has spme real advantages too. The chemically sharp as mentioned penetrates anywhere on the bass that touches the eel/.That's important. I caught at least half my rigged eel fish as foul hooked do to very sharp hooks. the thinner wire on the 4/0 vs the 8/0 or 9/0 also means more snagged fish.

the smaller 4/0 also means you can pretty much drag them right through the rocks along the bottom without getting hung up like you would with a bigger hook.

However , all that said , I seem to be going to anchor size hooks as I get older. Its not so they won't bend or fail otherwise , its cause I like that big gap just to let some meat in for a good grab by the point.

Anyway , does he say why he likes big Siwash or just that he does?

[DZ]

Saltheart,
I also use 8/0 or 9/0 Mustad Siwash HOM9510 Tinned hooks for the traditional unweighted rigged eel. The reasons for these hooks is that: 1. They are strong, 2. They are heavy and act as a "keel" to help keep the eel upright and prevent spinning,
3. They have a "big bite" - when big fish hit these eels the hook, because its so large, tends not to bury itself in the eel on your hookset. You can also use other hooks as long as they fit the above description. I use a slightly different version on Bentsens rigging which I find much easier. Anticipating I'll have a full chapter about eel rigging in my book.
DZ

[Crow]

What DZ said! Remember these were fished on 50lb class tackle and on some rather large eels. If you want to use a spinning rod and smaller eels the you can go with the smaller hook, but I would stay with the Siwash.

[Back Beach]

My rigged eel mentor was one of the first to fish them on the cape, along with Al B. and others. The hook sizing was 9/0 in the head, and 8/0 in the tail for medium to large eels. 10/0 in the head and 9/0 in the tail for large eels, say 20 inches or bigger. His reasoning was that the different hook sizes caused the eel to sit head down in the water, thus allowing more water to pass over the tail section and create more action. Some guys use 2 10's or 2 9's and they work fine that way, too. The siwash hooks, like what was already mentioned, keep the eel from spinning by creating a keel. You typically fish the fished the rigged eel with heavy line, say 30 to 60 lb. test braid and a locked drag, thus the need for heavy wire on the hooks. With stout tackle, there will be little problem driving the hook home on a large fish, which is what rigged eels are intended to catch. Stout tackle would be something like a 1208 blank or comparable. Also, keep a file handy to touch up the hooks as they dull on occasion from contact with the bottom.