Eels - Cutting the line

[Dales]

I agree ATS, forceps should be a part of any ones kit if fishing for eels. Sadly I think many do have a very negative view of eels and worry more about the mess they cause rather then the eels.

 

But saying that they do make great bait, shop bought ones obviously.

[AddictedToScopex]

I agree ATS, forceps should be a part of any ones kit if fishing for eels. Sadly I think many do have a very negative view of eels and worry more about the mess they cause rather then the eels.

 

But saying that they do make great bait, shop bought ones obviously.

I cant remember whether you said but will you be targetting them at the fish in? I am hoping to do some float fishing for them at night. Something different I guess

[great_badir]

I don't mind admitting I absolutely loathe eels (except for using them as pike bait!), but even so cutting line should be an absolute last resort if, as others have said, the eel is deep hooked (same goes with any fish).

 

Coincidentally, I dug out some of my fishing techniques books at the weekend, most of them dating from the early to mid 90s and a few from the 80s thrown in, and I was surprised to notice just how many of them flat out said "cut the line" with an eel, with not even a mention of attempting proper unhooking. Crazy.

[Dales]

I cant remember whether you said but will you be targetting them at the fish in? I am hoping to do some float fishing for them at night. Something different I guess

Yes, I am targeting them on the carp lake. Hopefully both pits will produce a few biggies this year.

[Andy_1984]

I once thought as you scopex, even going on a rant on a public forum. Ive since learned that Eels have a knack for getting rid of hooks all by themselves.

quite a few times now i have read this. The one that changed my mind was of a match held on a fishery near me and a few eels had been caught during a match the line was cut at the mouth.

At the end of the match all the hooks and a little line still attached were deposited by the eels in to the keep net during the match, and this was a regular occurrence, not just that one match.

 

Like the rest posting, if you can get at the hook with forceps near the mouth get it out. if not, let it be.

[philocalist]

A little while ago I started a topic asking for advice on handling eels:

 

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/4438506-handling-unhooking-larger-eels/

 

There was a good level of response, but just looking back over it (specifically to the second post I made, seventh in that topic) I was quite surprised to find what I THOUGHT came up at the time ... it seems that the 'advice' from the 'experts' (the NAC)

 

IS TO CUT THE LINE AND LET THE EEL SWIM OFF AND RID ITSELF OF THE HOOK! ... though there site appears to be down, currently.

 

That said, at the end of the topic, they apparently then contradict themselves! :-)

[Phone]

Philo,

 

I guess it comes down to an anglers decision as to whether the hook is "visible". If it's visible remove the hook. If it's not visible cut the line. There seems to be considerable differences on what constitutes a "visible" hook(?).

 

Phone

[AddictedToScopex]

Even IF there is some truth to them shedding hooks I would expect that those hooks would be barbless. Also I am sure that if they were to cut the hooks off in fishes mouths they may would find some of those could shed a barbless too. What if the hook is barbed however. I used barbed hooks in most of my fishing even if only micro barbed and I cant see any fish shedding one of those unaided.

[AddictedToScopex]

Yes, I am targeting them on the carp lake. Hopefully both pits will produce a few biggies this year.

I may have to come and find you on the sunday bbq to see how you have gotten on. I am crossing my fingers for no rain tomorrow night as I don't fancy sitting in the rain while float fishing for them. Should be quite interesting to float fish at night rather than ledger for them. I expect I will be able to see the merest bit of interest on a float that I may otherwise miss if using a lead.

[davedave]

Most people I speak to on club waters can't stand eels and many will just cut the line. You also get the ones that wrap them in newspaper and hold them with dry towels to unhook them. Most people against eels are the older generation but not always. I find it very rare to speak to anyone who enjoys catching them, apart from match anglers as they can put a good weight together with a few bonus wrigglers. I once fished a small club pond and there was a guy age mid twenties fishing opposite me, absolute moron, drinking cider, moaning that he'd been bitten off by pike because his cheapo braid hooklength had snapped (there were no pike in this pond), anyway, as I was packing up he proudly shouted across to me that he'd just caught a small eel which he'd cut in half with a pair of scissors, by this point the bailiff who had been fishing on the opposite side of the bank and had had enough of him asked him to leave and told him he wasn't welcome within the club anymore. Just goes to show peoples attitude towards them.

 

My opinion is that I wouldn't target them, and i'll admit they can be a nuisance when legering lobworm for perch in the warmer months, but they are getting rare and I respect them like I do all fish (with the possible exception of F1 carp). I always land eels no matter how small purely because it makes them easier to unhook, with my hands on the outside of the wet landing net I grab the eel near the head and take the hook out with forceps (which I find easier for big hooks).

 

Dave