question for the eel guys

[LeCounts1099]

The dilemma as I see it: at least in my experience, the amount of ice a surfcaster can easily carry, does not do much to slow down "frisky" eels during the hooking process! The second they feel that hook- point, ice or no, they go bonkers for me every time! So I gave up on carrying ice... who needs more weight when walking miles of beach?

The ultimate best solution I've found is to use live, but "non- frisky" eels! These are my favorite-- for me, these are the dozen or so that've been in my cooler for 2- 3 days. As long as they curl up after hooked, & retain the curl each retrieve, they're fine to use-- better even than "frisky" ones IMO!

But I'm a firm believer in never "wacking" eels, even frisky ones! They do die much more quickly after doing so-- a non- wacked eel can be cast for an hour+ often & not die, if never hit! And I know for sure good Bass can still easily catch these frisky non- wacked eels: I've caught hundreds of 20+ lb. Bass on eels from the great Backside... and nary a rock to wack an eel on if I wanted to North of Chatham!

Key is to get the frisky eel into the water ASAP after hooking: like in one second! I false- cast & put him right at my feet in the water to calm him down immediately... (figure- 8'ing him with the rod tip)... then quick/ snap cast him out after 10- 30 seconds before he knows what's going on! Doing this eel- balls/ snarls (for me) are rare-- but some will always happen, it's just part of the game...

[DZ]

I whack em on the rocks. When I'm on sand I whack em on my knees. Not to kill - just to slow em down. When they slow down - I can slow down too.

DZ

[cheferson]

I ice them in a bucket for 20-30 min before i go, then into a soft sided cooler with a ziplock bag of ice.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by cheferson

I ice them in a bucket for 20-30 min before i go, then into a soft sided cooler with a ziplock bag of ice.

Yup, saved me some typing.

[Steve K]

I too use a soft sided cooler with the eels in a mesh bag. I use a frozen bottle of water instead of ice cubes. That way I can through away the bottle at the end of the night and the eels don't drown. I used to wack them against a rock when I carried them in a bag on my hip but I rarely need to now because of the cooler. Whether or not hitting them kills them makes no difference to me. My biggest fish have all come on dead eels.

I don't even use one the 3m scotch pads anymore. The cool eels are easy to grab. When it is cooler out and I wear my Aquaskinz gloves, they provide plenty of grip to grab an eel plus you don't get the slime on your skin.

[DZ]

Originally Posted by Steve K

Whether or not hitting them kills them makes no difference to me. My biggest fish have all come on dead eels.

SteveK,

Agree!

[jim sylvester]

I agree as well
most of my big fish have come on dead eels

I truely believe that a big fish....I'm talking the 40 and 50 lb class do not want to exert much energy..I think they would have an easier time tracking down a slow or dead eel as opposed to one that is way to frisky and is all over the place

[reebok]

Originally Posted by Steve K

I use a frozen bottle of water instead of ice cubes. That way I can through away the bottle at the end of the night and the eels don't drown.

And it's a nice cold drink in the middle of the night after it's melted some. I've been thinking about freezing gatorade or something.

[Clogston29]

i carry them in a soft sided cooler with ice in a zip lock. grab them with a brillo pad. Whether or not I smack them is an eel by eel decision based on how active it is - I usually don't. When I do whack them, its about 1/3 of the way up from the tail, never near the head. There's a great line in one of Laptew's videos about not hitting them on the head so they keep their faculties. I think bob rochetta says it.