Eel fishing - Can you single out the big boys?

[Dales]

I don't have a great deal of experience of fishing for eels and like many most have been accidental captures, but I have handled enough to feel competent fishing for them. I have been mulling over the idea of maybe doing a single night targeting them some time over the summer when conditions are better and I don't mind sitting out side all night.

 

However I can't say I would like to be catching lots of little ones. So to my question, is there a good bait that might sort the bigger specimens out from the smaller ones? Fish baits are not allowed, so I was thinking worms and maggots would do the trick, but I can not see that this would be very selective. The point of the session would be to try to improve on my eel PB 3.06 and just because its been so long since I have done a night fishing session that does not involve boilies and pellets it would be interesting to see what if anything I could hook on a more back to basics approach.

 

I think I know the answer and that to catch a big eel, I would have to accept that smaller ones come as part of the deal in fishing for them.

[Dick Dastardly]

Basicly youve allready sussed it mate! One good thing at Wingham is that most of the eels are of a good size.

 

Basicly youve allready sussed it mate! One good thing at Wingham is that most of the eels are of a good size.

[Dales]

Basicly youve allready sussed it mate! One good thing at Wingham is that most of the eels are of a good size.

 

Thought So

 

I caught the 3.06 back in March before that my biggest in all the years I have fished was 2.05, it's amazing how bigger the extra pound seems to make an eel look. So being an all rounder with out any obsession with any one species I think they would make a worthy species for a single night session when time is short as I prefer to do multi nights when after other species.

[Tigger]

I'd say just get the biggest fattest lob worm you can find and cross your fingers. Or just try and fish through the smaller ones till a biggie latches on.

[Dales]

I'd say just get the biggest fattest lob worm you can find and cross your fingers. Or just try and fish through the smaller ones till a biggie latches on.

 

I've noticed before that when using big lobs they often just tear bits of the worms off and leave the bit with the hook behind

 

I guess the only way is to fish through the smaller ones and hope I get lucky that a big one puts in an appearence.

 

A large eel does look pretty impressive and on the right gear I bet they put up one hell of a fight.

[Dick Dastardly]

They certainly do mate even on heavy gear.One trick eel anglers use if they are getting problems on worms is to cut a big lob up into lots of small pieces and hook all these on.Loads of attraction and no irritating "tail nibbling" Eels may be a pain the backside when Breaming with worms but are certainly worth the effort targetting.

[Dales]

They certainly do mate even on heavy gear.One trick eel anglers use if they are getting problems on worms is to cut a big lob up into lots of small pieces and hook all these on.Loads of attraction and no irritating "tail nibbling" Eels may be a pain the backside when Breaming with worms but are certainly worth the effort targetting.

 

Cheers for that tip, I had that problem years ago when I fished a pit with a few eels in it. Yes they certainly can be a problem when you are after other species but a very interesting species to go for in there own right.

 

I will no doubt be posting some time in July and August saying I sat up all Satuday night, put out dead maggots and chopped worm and could not even buy a bite. To be followed up with another post 2 weeks latter saying I was after Tench or Bream and got a load of eels

[Dales]

Ooops, double post

Edited May 6, 2010 by Dales

[Anderoo]

I will no doubt be posting some time in July and August saying I sat up all Satuday night, put out dead maggots and chopped worm and could not even buy a bite.

 

...or that you then caught no eels but a massive bream

 

I am not an eel expert but to avoid them I don't use maggots (especially dead maggots) or worms after dark. So, I would stick out lots of dead maggots and chopped worm and play the numbers game, and try to catch as many as possible. The average size is high, so there's every chance of a really big one.

 

Good luck

[Dales]

...or that you then caught no eels but a massive bream

 

I am not an eel expert but to avoid them I don't use maggots (especially dead maggots) or worms after dark. So, I would stick out lots of dead maggots and chopped worm and play the numbers game, and try to catch as many as possible. The average size is high, so there's every chance of a really big one.

 

Good luck

 

I found about about the dead maggots the hard way, when I did not want to catch any eels

 

At the back of my mind is the idea that you never know what if anything else may come along using these tactics. But it would be a non starter at the wrong time of year or with bad weather. But on a warm summer night, when I just want to enjoy catching a few fish on a short session it could be very interesting.