Rigged eels & rubber eels, Slug-gos, etc.

[eelman]

When I rig an eel , both hooks are down. If you use a swimplate such as PT.Jude joe sells the hook is up and has to be because thats the only way you get the action out of the plate, these do work very good and my largest bass this year came to a riggie with the swimplate.

But overall I prefer a rigged eel the old fashioned way,with both the anal hook and the mouth hook down, acually this is really the only way to rig an eel right unless you are using a swimplate. I use big siwash hooks and rig with 80lb dacron. Fishing a rigged eel this way and fishing it right takes alot of work, the action is critical and there is only one right way to do it, you "pump the rod sharply up and let the riggie fall back down, keeping the rod under your arm ( and you better because the hits are vicious!) Even when I fish the swimplate version I still pump the rod somewhat but not as much because the swimplate gives it action, the hook being up on the swimplate really doesnt hurt the action in any way, its just a different action and way to fish.Rmember also that before you rig an eel no matter which method you use , you have to break every bone in the eels body to get the wild action you need, I do this by kind of bending it and kneeding it with my hands and you can hear ot pop and break as you go.

As far as rubber eels go, I wont even go there, I think they are terrible and would chose a sluggo 100% of the time because a 9 inch sluggo fished right is the closest thing I have ever seen in my life to imitating a live eel. You have to fish it fast and that because its up to you to bring it to life.

So the short answer is to keep your hooks down unless you go with a swimplate.

When I fish a live eel I also keep my hook down as many of you know and , toby is right, I see a big difference in the action because of the keel effect, when the eel is hooked up thougth the head Your bait has a tendency to "turn over" and come back belly up, I dont want that, I want it to swim rightside up and look natural. Most times I just fish live eels now because I am sick of rigging eels, every once in awhile I feel like fishing them and will rig a couple up.

I dont think that the hook being up or down makes much diffence in how the fish "fights" What affects that more is where the fish is hooked, hook them in the lips and you have quite a fight, hook them in the throat and they tend to follow your lead more.... Fish do what they do out of instinc, we will never know but I dont think the fish uses there brain and says let me rub on this rock, they always head for the bottom , thats where the safety is, they will wrap around boulders and try to get rid of what it is pulling on them. This whay I advocate heavy tackle, I cant stand to see these light setups especially around boulders...its stupidity and just plain not going to put a decent fish on the beach, get them out as fast as you can. To the fish it isnt a game its a matter of life or death, and getting a fish in fast means less stress on the fish and an easier release if thats what you want to do.

I use heavy leaders and my leaders are 12 feet long, I use fluro but not becasue the fsih cant see it, they could care less at night what leader material you are using, I use flouro simply for the abrasion resistance and the overall strength, For years I used ande 60lb mono and still do sometimes... makes no difference in how many fish I hook.

If your using a rigged eel with conventional gear, tie direct, if your a spinnner you need heavy duty snap swivel with a large barrel ahead of it, dont use small wimpy stuff ! use heavy duty. Dont use the spin tackle without it or your line will twist so bad you will pull your hair out!

[tlapinski]

Bill, when you fish a live eel with the hook pointing down, do you go in the eye and out the bottom of the mouth, or in the mouth and out the lower jaw? I always fish my live eels with the hook pointing up, but rig them with the hook pointing down.

[eelman]

Ok, let me ask you this and yes I am being nice! Why would you think it makes a difference if your riggie is hook down, why not fish the live hook down? It only makes sense, the method of hook down is actually called (and you will like this) "The cuttyhunk method" Below is a picture of how I hook it[IMG][/IMG]

[eelman]

The hook down keeps the eel on a natural plane and also keeps it belly down, important in my opinion. Yes I know many guys catch well the other way also, but for me its one of the little things I do that makes a difference. And no, I dont cast off eels more often or less than the next guy, I use and prefer slow action rods for eeling beacuse number 1, they take more of the force on the cast, and they tire a fish out much faster, I lay into my casts and dont baby it at all.

[Saltheart]

Hook down definitely gives you a keel affect on either live or rigged.

I use fast action rods and braid and I do cast them off sometimes if I hook down through the throat.

[tlapinski]

Bill, I wasn't arguing, just asking. I have meant to give the hook down method a try for some time, I just always forget and jam the hook in the way I'm used to doing it. I do like the idea, though, for when the eel begins to die and I need to add some action to it. With the hook pointing up, it comes in belly up and never catches.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

Bill, I wasn't arguing, just asking. I have meant to give the hook down method a try for some time, I just always forget and jam the hook in the way I'm used to doing it. I do like the idea, though, for when the eel begins to die and I need to add some action to it. With the hook pointing up, it comes in belly up and never catches.

I know , no argument, just trying to help and explain, its really not rocket sceince but like I said I do think there are combinations of things that make one guy stand out with any method and sometimes there so simple there stupid. But please I am really not arguing I am just passionate about fishing eels and I am convinced its why I have some of the catches I have.

I know lately plugs are the in thing, I have no problem with that but, I do see people struggle and while they catch sometimes there is a period especially in rhode island where as steve has said and I agree "you can toss a plug till the paint comes off and not catch a decent fish" In rhode island thats from the time the herring dry up until the fall, sure you will catch now and then, mostly dinks but if anyone wants a good fish the eel cannot and will never be beat in my opinion.and to do it right there is certainly a skill involved without a doubt

[Saltheart]

Good stuff Bill!!

here's a few more ideas

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...read.php?t=687


http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ead.php?t=1483

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ead.php?t=6997

[eelman]

I know this may start something but I am really trying not, just trying to help.

Many people say live eel fishing is the "easy way" etc. That plain BS, I know plenty of people that dont have good luck with them and indeed there is a skill to fishing eels a "touch" so to speak. Just ask clammer or john or anyone else I have fished with why at times the difference is 3 to 1 or more in hookups.

Secrets? Nope there are no secrets, everyone basically knows that an eel is cast out and brought in slowly, That is where the sepration begins and where some guys either have lots of success or limited.

So we know there are no secrets, but there are details and it is a combination of many things that separate the average eel fisherman from the good one. I pay attention to every single small detail I can

It all has to do with the choice of tackle, line, leader, speed, I can tell you 50% of it is due to my use of conventional reels, you are never going to go as slow as I can and still keep touch with the bait on spin tackle sure, your going to catch fish but not in the same numbers. I use no hardware at all, I tie everything direct (again its the little things) Sometimes you need a little more speed, sometimes less, You never toss away an eel thats been hit, the more fish it catch's the more appeling it becomes to the fish, in rought water most forego the eel, not me I use all kind of bifferent weighting methods for various depths of water and rough seas, I know the depth at which I want the eel to "fish" I know from fishing the spots I do where the bite will be. Learning your spot is just as important as anything, Is there a sweep in current? do the fish lay here or there on a certain tide stage? are they rooting the bottom looking for lobster or crabs? is there structure under the water you cant see but maybe should know about? there are many factors and just as I respect a good plugger, eel fishing has its own nuances.

[cheferson]

Bill, how do you weight the eels when the water is rough??

[eelman]

Take a couple of 1/2 ounce egg sinkers and shove them down the snakes throat(it does not kill them) dont tell anyone you did it cast out and slaughter the fish, watch them cast there eel and have broach the surface, be dragged all over the place and look at you with smoke coming out of there ears

Pinch on a rubber core about a foot and a half above the eel, drift out in a current, land big bass! 3/4 ounce

eels do sink but sometimes not fast enough.

On a cross rip on the beach, I have doen this at the cape. Put your egg sinker ahead of a barrel swivel and cast, then walk along with current.....deadly.........

Use a shoestring eel as a trailer on a big smilin bill jig in the gallilie chanell or any other inlet and well lets just say its incredible........best trailer in the world and it wiggles and moves!

use a heavy snap and put a ball sinker on it use a weight to get to the bottom, ahead of that about three feet attach a barrel swivel and another leader which is where you will put your eel on, just like a three way rig only fish this just as you would a jig in any breachway..Ummmmmmmm hold on