Not sure what the receipe called for, but I made an eel bucket about 5 years ago out of the old salad dressing/ mayo plastic jugs. I attached the lid via a cord. I have never had a problem with it being a snap cover. The big thing I have found with a good eel bucket is to make sure you drill large enough holes in the cover to allow the water/ slime to run out. Also, to drill the holes from the inside of the cover out. If you drill them from the outside in, it leaves little lips that trap the water/ slime in when you rinse your eels. I drilled wholes in the side and attached loops of cord with knots on the inside then clipped an old duffle bag strap onto the loops for slinging over my shoulder. Also, I found that you are better off not drilling holes in the bottom for drainage. If you do this, the slime runs down your leg and can make for some real stinky waders. Also it prevents you from being able to toss your eel bucket in the fridge when you get home as the slime will definately tick off the better half. I have kept eels alive for more than a week in my eel bucket by just periodically rinsing them off and draining ALL the water/ slime out.
My buddy came up with a good solution for a bucket too. He uses one of those buckets/ jars that the weight gainer/ workout supplement stuff comes in. They have screw on caps. Just attach the cover with a section of cord to prevent loss.
Have aslo seen guys using the little soft lunch cooler things, but then you have to worry about a zipper clogging with sand or corroding on thesalt water.
Have found that with the mash bag method, I rarely am standing in the water deep enough for the eels to be in the water. Then they are air drying the whole night, I have them banging off my leg as I walk all night, and then I would have eel slime all over my waders.
If I fished dead eels, I could just put them in a zip lock bag and store them in my waders so I always had them with me.
Just my opinion about eel maintenance. Sorry to hi/jack the thread.
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