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hooklength type for eels

John Weddup

By John Weddup
in Coarse Fishing

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John Weddup Member

John Weddup

Posted
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I know we have a few good eel anglers on here.

 

 

I am a novice at them having caught them as a nuisance fish for years but only enjoying and fishing for them on purpose last autumn. I intend to catch a few biggies this year aswell.

 

What hooklength do others use. I was recently told on a pike forum that wire is the only sensible option.

 

Is this true?.

 

John

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Dick Dastardly Member

Dick Dastardly

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Depends on what other fish are present in thje water and what bait Im using John. Some eel anglers believe that a truely big eel can bite through mono/braid allthough not 100% convinced I prefer to play safe! Problem with wire is that it can damage other species that can be hooked by mistake. On waters where Im using worm for bait and there are a lot of carp,tench,bream that will possibly pick up my worms (not to worried about perch) I compromise and use Kryston Quick Silver (a highly abbraission resistant leader material in 35lbBS) Not totally 100% other fish friendly (or 100% "big" eel tooth proof either!) but a safer compromise.Ive never had an eel bite through this.It can if you pull to hard damage "lipped" fish but its a case of simply not pulling hard once you realisre its not an eel you have hooked!

 

Regarding the Pike issue.As I dont believe eels are put off by wire I do use this for traces when using dead or live baits for eels (as I do if using worms on waters without any other "lipped" species present?.Simply as it dont affect the eeling and stops pike biting through (as they can bite through mono or Quicksilver with no problem) If pike are present when Im using worms then I accept that I may get bite offs and am prepared to do so as I dont think the single hook will cause to much problem to them and Im happy enough to accept this in return for not damaging the "lipped" fish. Some will do doubt freak over this statement (especially as Im known as a pike angler) but Im just being practical.To my knockers I will simply say "do you use wire when carping with boillies or tench/bream fishing with worms?" No of course not and all have just as much chance of hooking a pike!

 

There is a lot of talk that only wide headed "fish eaters" can bite through wire and the narrow head "worm eaters" cant. Well I simply dont know but despite another once common myth you can find both in the same water so why risk it?

And thats my "non indicative opinion"!

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Dales Member

Dales

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Hi John

 

While not one of the good eel anglers, I have caught a good number over the last few years and am learning along the way. I should warn you that I have a healthy disdain for a lot of views held by a lot of Pike anglers. Wire is an option but not needed for most eel situations, I use Quicksilver 45lb for almost all my eel fishing and have never had an eel bite through it. Maybe one day if I catch a super sized eel maybe it will cut through the quicksilver but I adamant that you can not and should not have to fish to cover every possibility that might occur.

 

I strongly believe that you need to decide what you are fishing for and tackle up accordingly, this is where I part company with most Pike anglers thoughts. I think many Pike anglers will worry about Pike taking eel baits and bite offs happening. Pike can and will bite through Quicksilver but my experience is that eels do not, but maybe some monster sized ones would. i should also add that I have never had an eel bite through fluro hook lengths either, but for me Quicksilver or a similar product is the way to go. I do use Quicksilver in 35lb when using small hooks or maggots as it goes through the eyes.

 

I think if most Pikers had there way, no one would fish for almost any species with out a wire trace on. For most eel fishing wire is not needed but if you know a pond with a double in it, I would use wire just in case.

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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Dave H Member

Dave H

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I am very much in the same boat as dales and have just started to target them. Basically I have been tapping Budgies brains on the subject. Recently I used circle hooks but I never got a bite so I can’t comment but certainly budgie has had much success.

Still learning but the quicksilver and the uni rig and circle hook is in my armoury

Budgie also put me onto roll over’s and they are a must for me now eeling and I recently caught two Zander on them.

I wonder if circle hooks would be good for zander due to their small mouths ...mmmm?


There is not one thing different between ideology and religeon
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John Weddup Member

John Weddup

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Thanks to you all

 

I have rollovers and have been using them. AS said a pike forum did a thread on eel fishing and stated wire all the way.

 

I have so far had better success with lobs than baitfish. I am using fluoro at present but would consider wire if lots of pike were present. However at night with a single hook I would probably be prepared to take the risk.

 

I did ask on the pike forum should I use wire for my roach fishing.

 

Any more discussions on eel fishing would be most welcome.

 

Thanks

 

John

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Dales Member

Dales

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I stumbled on to an interesting method at the weekend while targeting Tench. I was fishing an inline maggot feeder with a short 2" soft braid hook length and Korum S3 small hooks and had 7 eels on the method in one night before calling a halt to the eel catching and changing method. Every single one of them was hooked dead centre in the lower lip and this is what must have saved me from getting bitten off. Obviously this made unhooking a doddle, so it's a method I think is worth some more experimentation. I do like bolt rigs for Eels but have often fished much longer hook lengths and had them hooked in the mouth. Den has posted before about using very short bolt rigs but it's the first time I have had so many fish so well hooked and only in the lip. With a stronger hook and Quicksilver it might be a very good eel method.

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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Dave H Member

Dave H

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To me the way I am thinking is they are very rare now. When I started back in the 70’s I remember on the broads getting eel after eel and a fair size too. The Eel club came down to wingham a few weeks back and I was grateful Steve invited me to the fish in too. Sadly I fished in – 6C and i was the only one probably stupid enough to give it a go but if you have a bait in the water you never know i guess but what was more interesting was just talking to some of the guys in the club. The distances now they have to travel to get a fair sized eel incorporates quite a bit of travelling. One guy was from Yorkshire I believe. The chairman who had EEL 1 ( now that’s a specialist angler ) as his car number plate really did travel everywhere. I know I could not do that now and so far I have been so unlucky at Wing ham with mainly Temperatures and being piked out but if I can bag a 5lb I would be happy. I really tried last season to get over the 2lb mark and I must have caught near on 100 Eels but although I shall dabble a bit this year I will not be going all out.

I am still wondering if location is that important with Eels in the height of summer I think their terrific sense of smell will find your bait and ground baiting it certainly does but then you attract the boot laces in. I think like most large fish the big eels are solitary. Baiting up another area and fishing just off it as many on here know is a good way of getting one. I can tell you for sure it is for Zander


There is not one thing different between ideology and religeon
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Dave H Member

Dave H

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On a question of roll over’s I have been thinking about fishing with the bail arm shut. The theory being that there is still no resistance on the line and it still gives you a foot of so free running before it hits the reel. If the bait runner is set on the lightest of settings it then hooks the eel. It’s a thought I have had for bream with those finicky bites.

Just a thought at present ....


There is not one thing different between ideology and religeon
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Dick Dastardly Member

Dick Dastardly

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Posted (edited)

I dont think eels (like pike) mind resistance at all what they DO dislike is (same as pike again) a CHANGE in resistance. Thje whole idea of the Rollover indicator is to cut out the change of resistance you get when the line pulls out of a standard clip.If you want to use a baitrunner then I would sugest fishing ultra tight to it so the moment a fish picks up the bait it would feel the baitrunner imediately....however this is of course impossible to acieve and there will be the killer "change of resistance" as soon as the baitrunner comes into play regardless of how light it is set.

 

Regarding the foot or so of slack line,this would be fine if you were going to strike before that line was taken up but 1 I seriously doubt most would be on the rod quick enough and 2 most would want to (with standard baits) strike that quick.

 

Dales I had similar experiences with accidental eels caught on small hooks and maggots on short hooklinks bolt rigged.Definately worth further investigation.However obviously wouldnt work on baits any larger.

Edited by Dick Dastardly

And thats my "non indicative opinion"!

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Dales Member

Dales

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Dales I had similar experiences with accidental eels caught on small hooks and maggots on short hooklinks bolt rigged.Definately worth further investigation.However obviously wouldnt work on baits any larger.

 

I agree, I can't think of anything else to use other then maggots but if that's the bait you are intending to use it might be the way to go.

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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