Who would fish without eels?

[Pete_G]

Shore Angler of the Year prior to Mike taking it over was being held by someone who got the job done on plugs. Topwater no less in several cases.

For me where I'm fishing dictates what I use as much as anything else.

If what I need to cast to is out of reach of an eel, what I need to cast to is out of reach of an eel. So I plug.

And if the spot is known for giving up big bass on eels that usually ignore plugs and are fortunately at close range, well, then the spot is going to get eels.

[piemma]

So this is one of the reasons for Rigged Eels. You never run out. I have switched over to riggies exclusively. Cast farther, more durable (except when the yellow eye dogs are around) and the bass absolutely clobber them. The big girls love riggies. Easy to store (just freeze and re-use) and if you rig enough in advance you are never without the most deadly of baits.

[striperondafly]

Originally Posted by bart

bunker heads

thats what works down here for the big girls - or live lining them in the spring

[Kierran]

I keep a stash of eels in the freezer just in case that is what they are keyed on. But if I didn't fish everytime I didn't have eels, my trips would be cut in half. They are striper candy, but not having some won't keep me from going out. I don't worry about that much anymore as I started trapping them this season.

[doc]

as with anything...i think it is whatever floats your boat..i pretty much only fish plugs, topwater at that...have seen plugs outfish eels and bait many many times...although live-lining a bunker now and again is pretty fun...

[Flaptail]

Actually the best of both worlds, and beats the sh!t out of the mess of rigged eels and the caring of live eels, is a skin on a needlefish!

Never leave home without them.

[beaver]

Long time ago my great uncle landed a 63 lber on a pencil in the canal. He was a friend of Stan Gibbs and I believe they were fishing together on that day, along with my father at a very young age. Big fish can be caught on plugs. Big fish can be caught on eels. I'm sure guys using bright yellow Benny's special rods have hooked into big fish. In my opinion it shouldn't matter whether you fish plugs or bait, going large is an accomplishment regardless. Although I do fish plugs, jigs, and plastics almost exclusively, I occasionally enjoy throwing an eel or live lining a bunker, and I've had decent success with both the artificials and the real things.

[rizzo]

Is there a chance? Yes, here are my thoughts.

I've caught nice fish at dawn and dusk before on plugs so full moon is the same conditions. The key factor for me has been large surf/white water and water depth. White water makes the fish feed with its lateral line - its looking for movement. Shadows are key areas as well, large boulders and getting out far with the wetsuit helps tremendously.

Obviously if I had my choice its a dark moon phase and always eels, but this has worked for me.

[Pete F.]

I am glad to see all are taking this seriously.
My answer is me, well usually.
Stay tuned next week when we explore the New testament and the question: Is using flyes with leaden eyes sacrilegious?

[ProfessorM]

3 Hail Marys and a couple Our Fathers and you will be good to go George. Thanks for the laugh. I am glad I don't take fishin as serious as youzz guys.
George's Hail Mary

http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/so...x?SongID=29692