EELS

[Rock Hopper]

I don't throw out dead eels unless they are bit in half by a blue. I keep dozens in a deep freezer either in a frozen brine or kosher salt sprinkled on them. They keep really well and I have used them over and over.

I love to fish rigged eels and have great success with them...to be honest, I prefer my eels dead. They work just as well without all the hassle of a live trying to free itself and twisting and curling the line or leader up.

I actually just made up about dozen eel skin rigs (thanks Joe from Pt. Jude and John from NJ Tackle!!! ); my first time and it wasn't that difficult to my surprise. I am going to make up even more and probably won't need to by eels this year. My local tackle shop throws out the dead ones from the tank (unless someone asks for them) and I asked them to freez the dead ones for me that are in good shape.....why let em go to waste when I can rig em whole or as a skin????

Rigged whole and rigged skins are coming back and in my opinion it is a great thing. These practices are somewhat of a lost art that we should all look at....a lot of today's anglers do not value the things left for us by our forfathers and go they go the easy route....it is sometimes best to go back to go forward. Just my opinion.

Kadir

[tattoobob]

Kadir,
That is a great idea, I went up to my bait store yesterday and spent
about 2 hours talking to the owner, I am going back next saturday to
get something I ordered and will ask him to save the dead ones.

[kevinrut]

rockhopper-
can you expand on how you rig eel skins?

Kevin

[Rock Hopper]

Kevin,

I am by no means an expert. I was lucky enough to be taught how to rig a whole dead eel by a shop owner on long island who was taught by "an old timer".

The skins are new to me, I bought some eel skin jigs from Pt. Jude and NJ Tackle and proceeded to give it a try. It was relatively easy.

You cut the skin around the head of the eel, some say nail the eel down on a tree or a board but I found this was more difficult in handling the eel. Using surgical gloves, after cutting the skin, I took a rigging needle and pushed it into the eel between the skin and the meat and proceeded to turn the needle 360 degrees (kind a like stirring soup). This loosens the skin off the meat. I then took a needle nose plier and turned the skin inside out about an inch all the way around. Once I have in this position, I hold the eel by the head as tightly as I can and pull the skin down with the pliers in one continious motion until it is off.

Once it is off, the difficult part begins, reversing the skin. Again turn the right side out about a an inch and then gently push the rest of it through with the end of a wooden spoon (some have suggested running water through the skin to get the right side out).

After the skin is turned out, run it through the hook (measure approximate by aligning the open end of the skin to the area of the jig to tie off to) and push the hook through. Pull it to the tie off area on the jig and tie it off with two double overhand knots using 80 lb. dacron and then drop a drop of crazy glue.

You are now done. Pyt them in a freezer bag and sprinkle kosher salt.

Good luck....you will have sucsess with them (dead eels - rigged eels and skins).....they do work.

Kadir

[Jenn]

Wow, some good ideas Rock Hopper!

I must say I am a little amazed that with all the concern over 72% say that they will still use them as long as they are available....I thought that number would have been much lower.

[Goose]

I found its much easier to buy eels at the shop then potting. Its not only a bigger chore but more costly, unless you have a system and spots down packed and I think most of us don't. When you consider $ in gas/time/hassel maintaining bait, buying a dozen at the shop is well worth it unless your getting selective for skins.

If in the case they put tuffer restrictions on the sale of eels at B&T shops I'll devote more time into catching bait. I think cape guys would rather throw plugs if this where to happen..... where the rocky shore anglers prefre slingin eels especially in the warmer months. Although the amount of plugs I throw isn't much I know that done right, fishin nights with eels will consistanly catch bigger fish most of the time.

I would definantly chunk more. Every year I do less. With eels you cover so much more water. Also I think not every spot are ideal for chunkin. I throw chunk much like I do eels, wading or wetsuiting in heavy surf, having a zip lock with chunks in a plug bag. I'm a bigger beleiver in bait, I think I'd think differently if I fished the beachs and other places,,,maybe If your targeting qaulity then do what you got to do.

[Krispy]

Got a dozen in the tank already
Ill be skinning everything that dont survive this year

[fishweewee]

I'm reluctant to use live bait such as eels. It's just a personal thing. Call me a wuss, I feel strangely weird trying to have a good time while some poor slimy critter is writhing in discomfort on the end of my hook. Go ahead, flame away and call me a wuss.

[kevinrut]

Originally Posted by Rock Hopper

Kevin,


After the skin is turned out, run it through the hook (measure approximate by aligning the open end of the skin to the area of the jig to tie off to) and push the hook through. Pull it to the tie off area on the jig and tie it off with two double overhand knots using 80 lb. dacron and then drop a drop of crazy glue.

Hey Rockhopper-
thanks for the tips. What kind of jig do use? do you have any pictures of what the finished product looks like. i'm just trying to envision this.
keep em coming!
Thanks,
Kevin