I've been reading this message board for a couple months and have enjoyed the constructive advice. I live in Norfolk and was curious if anyone knows of a bait shop that sells eel's and any thoughts on if they really produce results.

Since tommorow is the big day I would like to head out loaded for bear. Any information would be great.

I purchased live eels from Oceans East 2 on North Hampton blvd. Check with them, they usually have any baits you'll need. As for the producing part, my eels eventually died of bordom. I'm sure it was my fault for not being in the right location or something of that nature

EL

Eels can be deadly on stripers, especially on the bigger ocean fish as they enter into the bay in early November(timing depends on water temps here and up north). You've got to be working structure with eels, like the rocks or the pilings of the bridges. Drop them down right next to the structure and let the eel go to work. I like hooking the eel in the "tail" section. Seems to make him swim away from the hook and not get balled up like the tend to do.

As for tackle shops, I'm not sure of any in Norfolk, but Long Bay Pointe has them year round.

Good luck and Catch 'em Up!!

--Don

Have you ever hooked one, critter???

They work really well. Here is a link to show how to rig them when trolling. In the winter, at some point, you'll mark a school of fish but they won't bite your artificials that your pulling. I've noticed before when there is a big school chomping on the bait on the bottom, and with the 1,000 boats around them, they won't hit the artificials. Try rigging up a couple of these for that. If you put them in a bag with saltwater and put it in the freezer, they will last all season.
http://www.pswsfa.com/eel.htm

Not Yet....But I'm working on it!

I went out to the HRBT tonight for a couple hours with a two eels. The water temp at around 7:30p.m. was about 71 degrees. I had the eel hooked through the tail on a 2 foot leader and dropped him as close to the light line as I could. Roughly 17' of water. No dice.

Great night to be out so no complaints.

i use eels alot and find the best way to hook them is threw the bottom jaw and out an eye. this alows them to still swim freelee .and stripers like to hit the head first. most guys around here cast and retreve them slow. into the rocks. better luck at night time with them

[quote=critter717,Oct 4 2006, 09:14 PM][quote=peejcj8,Oct 4 2006, 08:28 AM]Have you ever hooked one, critter???
[/quote]
Not Yet....But I'm working on it!

I went out to the HRBT tonight for a couple hours with a two eels. The water temp at around 7:30p.m. was about 71 degrees. I had the eel hooked through the tail on a 2 foot leader and dropped him as close to the light line as I could. Roughly 17' of water. No dice.

Great night to be out so no complaints.

[/quote]


My first experiance with eel's was very humbling. It took me 15 min to get the first one on a hook.

Eric

If you put them on ice it slows them down,grab tight with a towell and hook em.

I know that now, but that day on the pier, I had some wide awake and fully alive eels making me look like an idiot.

I thought, it cant be that hard.


Eric

been there eric ... i had quite the bout of eel wrestling the first time too. had them in my livewell like a dumba&#! there we were, one on one, eel and bo. that was the slipperiest thing i had ever seen. through the hands on the deck .. tried a glove, a towel, pinning it down .... it fianlly won buy going through a scupper!

i now sport my 6 pack eel cooler, complete with drain wholes and a rag tied to it. no more problems!

bo

[quote=woody2,Oct 8 2006, 11:13 AM][quote=peejcj8,Oct 8 2006, 10:39 AM]I know that now, but that day on the pier, I had some wide awake and fully alive eels making me look like an idiot.

I thought, it cant be that hard.


Eric
[/quote]


been there eric ... i had quite the bout of eel wrestling the first time too. had them in my livewell like a dumba&#! there we were, one on one, eel and bo. that was the slipperiest thing i had ever seen. through the hands on the deck .. tried a glove, a towel, pinning it down .... it fianlly won buy going through a scupper!

i now sport my 6 pack eel cooler, complete with drain wholes and a rag tied to it. no more problems!

bo

[/quote]

Yeah, but the entertainment value was PRICELESS!!!!

how do you keep the eels from digging in the sand? Im thinking of heading down to the foot of the cbbt with a few and was wondering if anyone had any good rig ideas for eels.

Bo I was on a pier too, so I lost half of them before I got one on a hook.



Eric

[quote=woody2,Oct 8 2006, 10:13 AM][quote=peejcj8,Oct 8 2006, 10:39 AM]I know that now, but that day on the pier, I had some wide awake and fully alive eels making me look like an idiot.

I thought, it cant be that hard.


Eric
[/quote]


been there eric ... i had quite the bout of eel wrestling the first time too. had them in my livewell like a dumba&#! there we were, one on one, eel and bo. that was the slipperiest thing i had ever seen. through the hands on the deck .. tried a glove, a towel, pinning it down .... it fianlly won buy going through a scupper!

i now sport my 6 pack eel cooler, complete with drain wholes and a rag tied to it. no more problems!

I also put them in the live well. Only difference was I was only 2 weeks from fracturing my back. Couldn't bend over. There I was limping around all squatted over trying to get that sucker. Pretty comical. Ice works wonders....

bo

[/quote]

Is there size that works best, or just whatever the bait and tackle carries?

frazoo

The only way to handle eels are when they are cold and dormant. Get yourself 2 five gallon paint buckets. Cut the bottom off one so that it is 6" deep, drill some holes in it for drainage, this becomes your eel tray. Place the tray upside down so it sits 6" off the bottom of the other 5 gallon bucket. Add ice, eels and go fishing.

South Paw

Use a 1/2 inch PVC tube Cut a slot down one side with a jig saw.Stick the eel in the tube run the hook into the slot and its as easy as that to hook a live eel.Use larger diameter for the larger Eelvers.

very trickyit does2 things good, no hand sent and keep slime on bait

anyone have any luck with the eels now that the waters are dropping temp? just wondering before i go and waste my money.