HELP - how do you keep these damn eels from tangling my line!

[Sweetwater]

I see a lot of advice here...most of it's good EXCEPT for whacking them. Don't damage the eel, the live activity catches more fish. Here's the advice I would go with:

1. Keep them on ice, they are not nearly as active, but once they hit the water they come to life. They will not ball up you line when they are in the water.

2. Hook them through the lower jaw and out through one eye, being careful not to enter the braincase, this will keep them solidly on the hook and alive for a long time. I've caught as many as three bass on one eel.

3. Get them into the water immediately. When boat fishing this is easy, I simply make sure I have enough slack line to hook them and the immediately drop them into the water. Then I simply reel the line up to casting length and toss them out. From the beach, I grab the eel with a rag, hook the eel but I continue to hold the eel (in my left hand) with the rag until I get to where I'm going to cast. I drop the rag, rear-back, and cast the eel.

4. Never "whack" the eel.

5. I've had good luck with circle hooks, however they take some getting used to. Don't try to set the hook when you get a pick-up. Rather, when you feel the pick up (sometimes I even fish with an open bail or live liner set-up), you let the fish run. Then close the bail (or set the liveliner drag), and apply solid, steady pressure without snapping the rod tip. You'll get a hook in the corner of the mouth 90% of the time (use good sharp Gammies for this).

I don't get a "ball-up" using any of these approaches.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

I see a lot of advice here...most of it's good EXCEPT for whacking them. Don't damage the eel, the live activity catches more fish. Here's the advice I would go with:

1. Keep them on ice, they are not nearly as active, but once they hit the water they come to life. They will not ball up you line when they are in the water.

2. Hook them through the lower jaw and out through one eye, being careful not to enter the braincase, this will keep them solidly on the hook and alive for a long time. I've caught as many as three bass on one eel.

3. Get them into the water immediately. When boat fishing this is easy, I simply make sure I have enough slack line to hook them and the immediately drop them into the water. Then I simply reel the line up to casting length and toss them out. From the beach, I grab the eel with a rag, hook the eel but I continue to hold the eel (in my left hand) with the rag until I get to where I'm going to cast. I drop the rag, rear-back, and cast the eel.

4. Never "whack" the eel.

5. I've had good luck with circle hooks, however they take some getting used to. Don't try to set the hook when you get a pick-up. Rather, when you feel the pick up (sometimes I even fish with an open bail or live liner set-up), you let the fish run. Then close the bail (or set the liveliner drag), and apply solid, steady pressure without snapping the rod tip. You'll get a hook in the corner of the mouth 90% of the time (use good sharp Gammies for this).

I don't get a "ball-up" using any of these approaches.

Totally 100% disagree with your post on not whacking them, I have fished eels longer than most here, And never once did I have a problem after whacking my eel, I have caught countless bass with the methods I descibe above, They also live a long time on my hook, Trust me I have experiance in this area.

WHACK THE EEL! The worst thing you can do is let an take your line and swim into the rocks, bingo, your snaged on the bottom.

Whackem!

[Sweetwater]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

WHACK THE EEL! The worst thing you can do is let an take your line and swim into the rocks, bingo, your snaged on the bottom.

Whackem!

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, if you fish extremely rocky areas, then possibly I agree with you. But damaging the bait is a LAST RESORT. Note that the question was about tangling the line and not about getting stuck in rocks and obstructions. Given that, I stand by my recommendation.

Also, I've never lost an eel to a rock except in the ditch.

[Nebe]

do not question the #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&..

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, if you fish extremely rocky areas, then possibly I agree with you. But damaging the bait is a LAST RESORT. Note that the question was about tangling the line and not about getting stuck in rocks and obstructions. Given that, I stand by my recommendation.

Also, I've never lost an eel to a rock except in the ditch.

Nothing but problems, 99% of people who have never fished eels have the tangle problem, simple solution beat the sh$$t out of them, = no more tangles, they catch just as good , just as long....

Damaging the bait? there not pets, whack'm,smack'm,cast'm,catch'm!!

I think we may be here a while, hey eben pass the smokes and

extra butter please

[Roger]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

Nothing but problems, 99% of people who have never fished eels have the tangle problem, simple solution beat the sh$$t out of them, = no more tangles, they catch just as good , just as long....

How would you know since you always whack em?

I've done it both ways and can tell you that they last much longer without beating them up. It may not matter much though since I've caught lots of fish on fresh dead eels as well.

Feel free to whack em if you need to, there are lots of ways to skin a cat.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Roger

How would you know since you always whack em?

I've done it both ways and can tell you that they last much longer without beating them up. It may not matter much though since I've caught lots of fish on fresh dead eels as well.

Feel free to whack em if you need to, there are lots of ways to skin a cat.

When I whack them they are far from dead they can still squirm and move fine, they just cant tie me up, look I have no idea what the hell I am talking about and I am a googan.

Please all further eel questions should be directed to the master of all things bass

EBEN

[eelman]

I am the eel-The eel is me

1)Thou shalt not fish the eel without massive whackith

2) Thou shalt not marketh the eel or prayith to any false eelgods exeptith the #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& master of all things eel


3) Thou shall pray to the lowely eelith nightly and give it offerings of ice


4) Thou shalt not hold any other serpant abovith the eel


5) before one fishes the eel one shall swim to the sargosso sea and watchith the eel spawn

6) Thou shall not covet anothers success with the eel (me)

7) Thou shall not ever fish the eel anywhere exeptith rocky out cropings


8) Thou shalt scorn lowley shoestring eels that makith there way to fine baitshops on cape cod


9) thou shall only fish the eel with conventional gear

10) thou shalt anoint himself in eel water at a local baitshop by ceromonisly having ones partner baptise him by dunking his head in the eel tankith, the eeltank is sacred ground and should be bowed to upon approach



"There are many eels, but this eel is mine, I shall whackith him to a dizzying stupor at will , I shall impale the serpant on my hook and cast my offering to a boundless sea in the hopes that a great fi%$%$%$%$h shall consume said offering, I will bow my great stick to the mighty bass as the offering is being taken out to sea, I shall smartly setith my hook on the beast by crossing her eyeballs, I shall haul out my trophy and postith my picture all over striped-bass.com, I shall pissith off the minions here yet one more time with my great prowness of the sea and yet again assert my eel mastery"

Praise be to me and my eel, you may go now in peace and slime!

[t.orlando]

Used to always ice down the eels. Lately just been giving them a good whack. Keep eel moving. You could also just get jumbo eels, their too big to ball up and will cull out the smaller fish.

[ThrowingTimber]

the nuns said I'd go blind if I whacked the eel

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

the nuns said I'd go blind if I whacked the eel

[Nebe]

sprinkle a little tobacco on the eels head- kills them almost instantly

[BigFish]

I am just going to have some more popcorn.... damn this stuff is good but we need some cotton candy!

[Roger]

I whacked the eels when I first learned to use them in the 70s. Once I got used to handling them I found it to be unnecessary. I don't use ice either. I keep it simple. A paper towel to grab the eel, hook it and catch a bass. Well, at least the first two steps are guaranteed.

FWIW, I don't have a problem with eels snagging bottom either (or other live bait). When snagged, I just give a moment of slack line so the eel can unsnag itself, then a quick pull to get it out of there.

[Sweetwater]

I should have also mentioned that instead of using a rag, I sometimes use a nylon "scrub pad." It's about a flat piece of nylon or plastic material and is about 6" x 6" and is un-soaped, that gives you a good purchase on the eel, but it doesn't get slimy with eel goo and water so you can really get a good hold of the critter.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

I should have also mentioned that instead of using a rag, I sometimes use a nylon "scrub pad." It's about a flat piece of nylon or plastic material and is about 6" x 6" and is un-soaped, that gives you a good purchase on the eel, but it doesn't get slimy with eel goo and water so you can really get a good hold of the critter.

Sounds like you read to many books, that could be a quote from "secrets of fishing at night by doc moeller"

Use a rag it give a fine"purchase" on eels

Throw them in the sand first and grab em with your bare hands! thats how the old timers did it.
I just love the word "purchase"

This is not rocket science, eels are easy to fish, whack em, put them on the hook cast out and bring in slowly, simple as that.............

[BigFish]

I am deferring all future striper fishing related questions to #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& cause he will just tell us how we are all wrong instead of just saying "everyone has their own way". Come on #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&....cut us some slack....we ain't all stupid ya know!

[Sweetwater]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

Sounds like you read to many books, that could be a quote from "secrets of fishing at night by doc moeller"

Use a rag it give a fine"purchase" on eels

Throw them in the sand first and grab em with your bare hands! thats how the old timers did it.
I just love the word "purchase"

This is not rocket science, eels are easy to fish, whack em, put them on the hook cast out and bring in slowly, simple as that.............

Yeah, I learned some good stuff from the "oldtimers." But progress marches on. The problem with throwing an eel into the sand, is now you've got sand on your hands, then you touch the rod and reel, and guess what!? Now you've got sand on the rod and in the reel. Nothing wrong with trying some new things.

But I must admit, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& has a 50 and I do not. So I'll admit that #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& is the expert. But, I'll leave it up to the rest of you...whack or don't whack, rag or scrub pad, do what works for you.

[CAL]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

the nuns said I'd go blind if I whacked the eel

[t.orlando]

Not you BM, sorry

[bassmaster]

Originally Posted by t.orlando

Not you BM, sorry

i like eels see........

[Slingah]

I like eels too
fishing eels is the easy way to catch big bass imo
slimey heathen devils
I keep em on ice and give em an occasional beating if they are bad

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by bassmaster

i like eels see........

looks like U liked "mullet" too..
nice hairdo