how to target an EEL...safely

ryandudley · Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

Guys, an almost terrible question for this forum.
I live in Somerset, plenty of lovely eels around.
Been a carper.coarse fisherman for years & having met the legend 'eel' & seem his eel Smile

I want to catch a decent one. I have a very local lake to me which holds boots so guess it holds decent size fish. Have seen one of your members on the bank & he used roach heads & running rigs I think?
How do you avoid deep hooking ..I can't remember the advice, help would be appreciated as want to catch one & more importantly release it safely?

Cheeeers

Eel · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

Hi Ryan,
The rig I was using was a adapted J.S Rig. A 1 1/2 ozs Pear lead running style stopped off by a bead next to the swivel. A lenght of florocarbon. then another swivel. Then the hooklength which was wire.
Some anglers use quicksilver which something I was going to to try.
The bait was indeed a roachhead but I also caught using the tail section. One eel was caught on the middle section. So don`t waste your baits.

As you noticed, I was fishing up close to my rods most of the night.
I was hooking the baits through the mouth or in the last bit of tail. I am hoping that this way it will help to avoid deephooking. Again, as you noticed I missed a lot of runs. I was trying to strike as soon as possible. In the end I was touch ledgering, feeling for that first knock then striking. It did convert some bites into fish on the bank.
You did commet that I was fishing all night. Well it is a very exciting form of fishing and I hope that you will give it a try soon. Keep us informed m8.
My home no is 01443 757140. It is also in John Sidley`s book from Beekay. Try to get hold of a copy if you can. It is a great read and will help you put some fish on the bank.
Other than that. After I fell into the lake, I was laid up in bed with a water infection. I am on tablets etc. So a lesson in that somewhere.
Tight lines and May I wish all your eels be big ones.

ryandudley · Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

Thanks Eel. I will give this a go, and let you knowresults/problems Very Happy

Shame about the illness mate, get well soon!!!

Still worth it for the 4 pounder....