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

[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

[Skitterpop]

Balls....great responses....Thank you very much!

I`ve got a lot of experimenting to do this season.

Question: I would like to send Steve McKenna a small pkg. (no not anthrax) and heard he works at a bait and tackle....any help here?

I`ve got some 15" rubber eels and wanted to send him a couple in appreciation. Though #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&`s response about rubber eels might be how Steve feels but what the hay....there is a time and place for these bigguns.

Mike

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Indanite

Balls....great responses....Thank you very much!

I`ve got a lot of experimenting to do this season.

Question: I would like to send Steve McKenna a small pkg. (no not anthrax) and heard he works at a bait and tackle....any help here?

I`ve got some 15" rubber eels and wanted to send him a couple in appreciation. Though #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&`s response about rubber eels might be how Steve feels but what the hay....there is a time and place for these bigguns.

Mike

I am not about to give out his addres but get them to someone at the MSBA or see us both at the MSBA show as we are putting on a seminar together.......and it should be very fun!

The shop is closed......

[Saltheart]

BTW , when I said live eels are easier , I mean they are easier to just put on a hook rather than rigging them. I am not implying that they are easier to fish. Just easier than rigging them.

[Goose]

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&s last post> Ok so there's eels and and there's slugo's which immate eels. How much can you emphsize live bait or dead bait for that matter... out fishing lures, thats a no brainer. Like slugo's or jigs knowing how to get your offereing to the bottem where they're at makes all the difference. If your furtunate to live near a rocky stretchs with ideal eelin conditions I think you'll out fish some cape guys who are throwin plugs mid summer. The way I see it is there's all types of different fisherman here, if you fish with same guys its going to take you a lot longer to get better bass #'s. If you can fish with one guy who shows you one thing you could have been fishin the rest of your life not knowing it. I agree there's tricks to everything under the right conditions, but IMo doesn't it break down to where you fish? The fish have to be there plain and simple. Isn't this why we often go through great measures to preserve what we worked for.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Goose

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&s last post> Ok so there's eels and and there's slugo's which immate eels. How much can you emphsize live bait or dead bait for that matter... out fishing lures, thats a no brainer. Like slugo's or jigs knowing how to get your offereing to the bottem where they're at makes all the difference. If your furtunate to live near a rocky stretchs with ideal eelin conditions I think you'll out fish some cape guys who are throwin plugs mid summer. The way I see it is there's all types of different fisherman here, if you fish with same guys its going to take you a lot longer to get better bass #'s. If you can fish with one guy who shows you one thing you could have been fishin the rest of your life not knowing it. I agree there's tricks to everything under the right conditions, but IMo doesn't it break down to where you fish? The fish have to be there plain and simple. Isn't this why we often go through great measures to preserve what we worked for.

yes the fish have to be there and one way to find out is with a live eel. Eels work every single place a striper swims. I have had the same results on the cape as I have had in rhode island.The other way to know is by learning how to read water and structure and how bass relate to it, structure is structure weather it be a sand bar or trough or drop off on one of the cape beaches or if its a boulder strew shoreline in rhody, the difference being that on the cape you have constantly changing structure, one day there is a hole the next the sand fillis it in, in rhody what you see is what you get , boulders do not move.In that regard rhody has an advantage.The old days of daignault and the plug are gone, there isnt that much bait anymore.

I emphisize it so much becasue I am amazed at the people who just wont use it or try it and then complain at there lack of success. I am not stupid, if bass are crushing live bait in front of me I will toss on a plug but the reality is it doesnt happen aften. Its not that its just that its is smart! and isnt cacthing fish what one wants to do? It only makes sense to me to use what works...That in my opinion is not an "easy" fisherman but rather a "smart" fisherman......

I have nothing against other methods, if you want to toss a danny swimmer in rhode island in july and august your going to get exercise and thats it........

If a trohy bass is something you want, toss an eel...........

I gave you guys some real good tips here, hopefully you will try them, this may be your last year to do so....

[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

[Nebe]

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

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.........

thats a good one!

[eelman]

The #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& knows a trick or two............even though most think I come from another planet.......anyway I hope you guys see I am trying to help you out and you try some of this stuff.

I will explain it all in the upcoming seminars a little better.