mode of transport

[Crafty Angler]

I use the 2 bucket system to keep them most of the time if I don't want to set up the big cooler with pump for the long term - big trick I found was putting a layer of bubbleweed over the eels to avoid direct contact with the ice.

Last year I started using a couple of handfuls of the weed over the eels in my soft-sided lunch cooler with a small cold cold pack on top of that - seems to keep them less stressed when they're covered and away from direct contact with the cold pack meaning they'll survive longer for another trip if you don't use them all that night.

I saw a soft lunch cooler bag at Wallyworld that had a good velcro closure for the top - that will be my eel bag for this coming season - a lot easier than fumbling with the zipper tops in the dark -

[BassDawg]

DITTO, Chuck, on the two bucket system!

however, that is usually when i pruchase dozens of eels
and am planning on fishing for two or three days straight and
don't want to have to keep returning to the B&T. they ride just fine
in the passenger's floorboard; from there i'll pull 4 or 5 for
the softsided cooler to take to the rocks of an udl,,,,,,,,,,,

i also use the bubbleweed, the only difference with the ice is what the Mayor of CTown once showed me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i place a bag of ice on top of the eeeeels and change the buckets often. i also use black buckets, i dunno if there's any science to back it up, but it seems to add to the calming factor
~~along with the bubbleweed, of course

here's sum pix of my softsided cooler insert, seems to work for me.
be sure to wet the "slime drainer" with some cool tap water pre-eeeeeels.