I tried braid for slinging eels for the first time . . .

[BassyiusMaximus]

. . . and wow, the sensitivity was definitely there, just like it is for all the bottom fishing I do in 20-240' of water for the Cod/Haddock, Fluke, Scup, Seabass, Blues, Stripers.

Definitely no stretch and I could definitely feel more with the braid than with the 12lb mono on the other rod that I was switching back and forth with. Lucky in that the fish were thick Saturday night and I could do back to back tries with keepers on the other end.

I had 12lb diameter/50lb line and will probably want to go with 8lb diameter in whatever corresponding break-test strength that is which must be at least 30lb, which to me, is like cheating. I guess I've liked the challenge of boating 10-30lb fish with 12lb test, but really do like the sensitivity of the braid for sure.

Any suggestions for a braid that I can get at, gulp, Wal-Mart?

[The Dad Fisherman]

walmart carries Big Game braid

[BassyiusMaximus]

I do, and did use the Big Game braid, the 50lb test/12 lb diameter, it worked well and I can only imagine that going to a smaller dia. could be better, more capacity, longer casts, even better sensitivity.

[JohnnyD]

Occasionally you can find PowerPro in the bargain bin. I picked up a spool of 30# PP for under $20 once.

[rickhern]

50# Big Game Braid is by far my favorite braid. I would stick with it unless fishing a 4000 size reel where you might need a little extra capacity. From my experience, the increase in distance is minimal, but the 30 is much harder to work with, particularly at night. Neither has any stretch, so sensitivity will not be an issue. Try circle hooks with the eels.

[BassyiusMaximus]

Thank you rickhern, I didn't even think about the difficulty with working with a smaller diameter, esepcially at night. I know that the 50/12 dia. has been tough enough, I can imagine that the 30/8?

I would like capacity over casting distance as I troll with the reels as well and I will be spooling my 40-series reels with it.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by rickhern

Try circle hooks with the eels.

Rick, I've had an awful hookup ratio with circle hooks, compared to regular octopus hooks. I started last year with circle hooks for a few weeks, then switched to regular octo and it seemed like my hookup ration almost doubled. I was catching relatively the same size fish as well - small keepers, up to 20+#.

I haven't gut-hooked a fish since very early last season.

Maybe I just don't have the technique with circles down. Any thoughts?

[BassyiusMaximus]

I, too, almost without fail, get the bass in the jaw with the Octopus Gamakatsu, or even lately, with the cheap Octo- Eagle Claw hooks.

Tap, tap, tug, tug, bow to the fish, rear back and set the hook, skill perhaps and to each their own.

I have even sunk to regular mono leader over floro, and regular barrel swivels over ball-bearing. The fish do not care and the catching is the same, just cheaper, great!

[rickhern]

I have been using 6/0 Gamatatsu Octopus Circles for a quite a while and LOVE them. Besides the great hookup ratio, there are other benefits. When I do miss a fish, the eel is still there, on the hook, and ready for a 2nd chance hit. More importantly, I generally fish rocky areas and the circle comes thru the rocks/weeks with far fewer hangups than a conventional hook. There was a bit of a learning curve, but I may have forgotten how to hook a fish with a J-hook. Good luck.

[JohnnyD]

The rocks and weed situation definitely makes sense. Unless the eel has been on there a while or is a small one, I rarely lose eels when I miss a fish. I might have to try the circles again sometime.