3 waying eels and other eel methods from boat

[TheSpecialist]

Chef I have fished with two guides who specialize in 3 waying, one chunks bait the other fishes eels. The way Mako Mike describes it is the way to do it from the boat, when fishing deep water with a strong current. Both of these guys were commercial guys at one time or another. The key is to drop the weight to the bottom, and the reel up a couple of turns. You want to keep the sinker just off the bottom. Hold your rod at about a 45 degree angle, when a fish hits the eel, you will feel light tap-tap. Drop your tip into the water, this will feed the eel to the striper, count to 5 and set the hook. In some areas you may get away with 2 oz, but you may need to use up to 8oz of weight depending on how fast the drift is, you want that line straight up and down. Also every once in awhile drop you tip to see if you are on the bottom.

[cheferson]

Thanks for all the advice , ill let you guys know how i make out.

[Goose]

yo billy...whats up or should I say whats down...you need to test them rods make sure they work.....slingin ta night in my tights

[TheSpecialist]

Tony right now I am watching the baby. We got to hook up, I have not been out yet. The rods are done?

[MakoMike]

Two ounces? Eight ounces? Where the heck are you guys fishing. IN the rips between BI and Montauk its not the least bit unusual on the moon tides to have to use 16 or 20 ounces to keep the eels down. One thing I forgot to mentions, but someone else pointed out. When you hit the bottom take two or three cranks up, and then hold your rod at a 45 degree angle to the water. Every couple of secondds drop the tip and see if you can feel bottom, if you can't adjust the line so that you can. Ideally you want the sinker about a foot off the bottom all the time.

[SeaWolf]

mako said it about right, except some of the place i go to you fish those 16-20s banks on half moons! on full/new moon tides during the strength you need 24 ounces or more, or you just troll. the key to 3-waying is staying in contact with the bottom. if your line is out too far, reel up and drop down again. stay in steady contact with the bottom. if you are steadily hitting bottom, reel up a few cranks. if you can't feel bottom, drop down again until you can. as for a rig, a 3-way swivel w/ about 50# loop about 6" to a foot of the swivel. then, 3' to 6' of line to a jig, eel, or whatever on the other end. never anchor to 3 way; you drift. if you anchor, you cast eels. and, you better be using braid in heavy tide rips.

[Nebe]

nice thing about useing the swivil is that you can tie on your weight with a weaker line. That way if you get hung up, you only loose a sinker and not a snake.

[Mr. Sandman]

Personally I will not fish the bottom if I need 10+ oz to hold. I feel like the bait would be spinning in current like that....I would break out the wire-line and start the motor.