Rigging eels for trolling?

[179]

Ok I'll bite at the reports in OTW and the Journal about hot fishing going on trolling eels. Anybody here know how to rig these guys?????

I'm hoping for a break in the weather tonight or tomorrow morning, although not looking to promising right now.....

[capndave]

179...

Live eel, 5/0-6/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook, 30" 40-60 Lb. Mono leader, 75 Lb. Sampo ball bearing swivel (eel spins), 2-6 0z. trolling weight.

Trolling as slow as you can possibly go, this should cover depths up to 30-40 feet with the superbraids like PowerPro or Fireline... less with mono. Let the live eel do it's work.

You'll have to experiment with varied conditions, length of running line and your particular boat... but s-l-o-w is the key.

Fair wind and tide, you may actually have to slip out of gear to stay slow. Against the tide or wind you may have to speed up to not fetch bottom.

Drawbacks: Bluefish. With a brain the size of a pea, it never ceases to amaze me that they can eat everything BUT the hook.
A stinger, on single strand light wire, trailing on the outside, from the hook back to the tail of the eel, often takes care of that problem and the Bass don't seem to mind.

Best of luck, Dave

[JohnR]

Drawbacks: Bluefish. With a brain the size of a pea, it never ceases to amaze me that they can eat everything BUT the hook.

LMAO - Very Funny, but true