VS bail or no-bail

[vanstaal]

yea what they said

[fishaholic18]

I was kind of worried about getting used to bailess reels, seeing that I've used a bail forever. But after a few times out with my VS, it's like second nature, I don't even have to look at the reel anymore to put the line on the roller. I dread having to use a bail reel again.

The only thing I haven't tried is drifting an eel out on an outflow, not sure how it will be getting line on roller if a fish hits while free spooling.
Has anyone done this?

[RIROCKHOUND]

Dave;
What I do eeling...
When I get the hit, I drop the tip and freespool the line (2-5sec depending on eel size) while raising the tip slightly, then drop the rod tip and pull the line on the roller and set the hook in one motion... that makes it sound alot more complicated than it really is....
If I was free spooling an outflow I would have my rod tip high anyways so I would just dip and then set the hook.... first couple of times I missed, second nature now...

[riverrat2]

That is the exact reason why I don't mess around with bailess. I fish eels 90% of the time. When fishing eels a bail is definetly more convienent, why mess around with trying to get the line under the roller while a fish is making its run. More room for error in my opinion.

[The Iceman 6]

I primarily fish eels too and I love the bait runner features...

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by riverrat2

That is the exact reason why I don't mess around with bailess. I fish eels 90% of the time. When fishing eels a bail is definetly more convienent, why mess around with trying to get the line under the roller while a fish is making its run. More room for error in my opinion.

Fish circle hooks and you won't have a problem, you'll miss less fish and you'll kill very few. Circles are BY FAR the best eel hooks IMHO.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Canalman

Fish circle hooks and you won't have a problem, you'll miss less fish and you'll kill very few. Circles are BY FAR the best eel hooks IMHO.

And that's a fact, Jack!
7/0 Gami Circle....

[riverrat2]

I have fished with circle hooks before and absolutely hated them. Lost more fish than I can count, weather it was from setting up on the fish to hard or the hook simply not connecting with the fish's lip. One of the best part of fishing is setting the hook and I lose very few fish with a straight hook. The way I look at it is I would rather gut hook the fish of a lifetime than drop it due to hook failure. Call me a heathen

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Dave;
What I do eeling...
When I get the hit, I drop the tip and freespool the line (2-5sec depending on eel size) while raising the tip slightly, then drop the rod tip and pull the line on the roller and set the hook in one motion... that makes it sound alot more complicated than it really is....
If I was free spooling an outflow I would have my rod tip high anyways so I would just dip and then set the hook.... first couple of times I missed, second nature now...

OK, figured that's how it was done. Thanx, I'll give it a shot soon.