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		|  08-12-2014, 04:54 PM | #1 |  
	| User 
				 
				Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cape Cod 
					Posts: 5,536
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				Eel size
			 
 The other day I hands my lunch box eel transporter to the kid at the shop, he goes out back and loads up some eels,,, I get to fishing and almost jumped out of the boat,,,, monstersSo how big is too big do ya's think?
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		|  08-13-2014, 06:41 AM | #2 |  
	| Registered User 
				 
				Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Reading Mass/Newburyport/merrimack river 
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	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by Guppy  The other day I hands my lunch box eel transporter to the kid at the shop, he goes out back and loads up some eels,,, I get to fishing and almost jumped out of the boat,,,, monstersSo how big is too big do ya's think?
 |  it's a loaded question.... a lot of factors need to be determined....
 
a shoe string eel in a mixed school of large, mediums and small will most likely catch the little guy's.. big bait is the order here... as big as your tackle can handle.. I draw the line at 2' ...... take that same shoe string on a night when the water is full of fire and it will out perform the big "snake" 10:1...
 
heavy water and fast currents require a bigger stronger bait... again tailor it to your tackle...
 
Trolling with an electric motor requires smaller eels...no larger than 12"...lest they cause and unnatural appearance while in tow .... 
 
casting into the wind... the little guy's just don't go far( not that you always need the distance)... larger specimens are needed. If your tackle can handle it... go with a anaconda sized serpent...
 
Each extreme in the spectrum has their own problems...
 
Large eels require large hooks.. heavy leaders  a rod with a lot of back bone...( not to mention a strong grip)
 
little eels are not with out their own set of issues... first and foremost.. they LOVE to tie knots... they are good at it.. quick too.. so keep an eye on your leader.... they also are more fragile... it's hard to catch more than one fish with a little guy.. big ones can catch several.. then be skinned to make skin rigs, or plugs..
 
I trap and keep my own eels  and have done so for over 40 years.. I keep a variety because no one size is perfect for every condition...
 
My largest( officially weighed) bass to date (61lbs) took a tiny shoe string eel on a night as dark as an editors heart.. with enough fire in the water to light my way home...  last Labor day I took another outsized specimen on a eel as thick around as my arm... the tide was running hard and the bait needed to hit the back side of the bar quickly as a 5 knot current pushed the boat past.. a shoe string wouldn't have done the job.. point is.. you need variety...  so I like anything between 10" and 24"...and on a given night I may need a combination of all of them...selecting one size only puts you at a severe disadvantage... |  
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A good run is better than a bad stand!
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		|  08-13-2014, 07:44 AM | #3 |  
	| Seldom Seen 
				 
				Join Date: May 2001 
					Posts: 10,553
				 | I don't fish eels a lot. Never have. But with one post, Joe has taught me more about the how, when, what sizes, and why, than I knew before. His comments, though fewer in number these days, are always well thought out observations from years of first hand experience, backed up with situations the reader can learn from and understand. Never skewed with a personal preconceived opinion. Probably one of the top educational posts I have read on the board. Thanks, Joe. |  
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		|  08-13-2014, 08:39 AM | #4 |  
	| User 
				 
				Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cape Cod 
					Posts: 5,536
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					Originally Posted by nightfighter  I don't fish eels a lot. Never have. But with one post, Joe has taught me more about the how, when, what sizes, and why, than I knew before. His comments, though fewer in number these days, are always well thought out observations from years of first hand experience, backed up with situations the reader can learn from and understand. Never skewed with a personal preconceived opinion. Probably one of the top educational posts I have read on the board. Thanks, Joe. |  you can say that again!  :-)
   
 Thank you Joe for taking the time to share some of your knowledge,,, I'll see what happens this evening if the weather cooperates ...   |  
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		|  08-13-2014, 03:35 PM | #5 |  
	| President - S-B Chapter - Kelly Clarkson Fan Club 
				 
				Join Date: May 2005 Location: Rowley 
					Posts: 3,781
				 | sorry, I have comment on Joe's post as well - that should be stickied or something as all the advice you will ever need on eel size! |  
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		|  08-14-2014, 06:48 AM | #6 |  
	| Super Moderator 
				 
				Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Middleboro MA 
					Posts: 17,126
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					Originally Posted by Rockport24  sorry, I have comment on Joe's post as well - that should be stickied or something as all the advice you will ever need on eel size! |  
Yup,  done 
great informative post 
thank you Joe
				 Last edited by Slipknot; 08-14-2014 at 06:56 AM..
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		|  08-14-2014, 11:59 AM | #7 |  
	| Registered User 
				 
				Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Reading Mass/Newburyport/merrimack river 
					Posts: 3,749
				 | you are all  welcome.... sometimes just  like plug fishing , presentation is everything... I'm glad I can be of assistance.. |  
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A good run is better than a bad stand!
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