Looking for large eels

[shane99]

I Fish a water thats very established & near a tidal river. I have heard of large eels being in there & I am thinking of giving them a go.

I am good with the basics of ledgering & have a basic plan of attack but any stories, experiences, handy hints & tips or anything on eel fishing would be appreciated even if its about the eel that ruined your days fishing

 

[binka]

This chap is a good read, I really liked the anecdote in the last paragraph which I thought was quite amusing and not untypical of the 'urban myth' style tales which we occasionally hear...

The National Anguilla Club (NAC) - The Eel Specialist - Eel Fishing

 

[dicky123]

No resistance of any kind, free-line worms, or small fish. One hook single or two in a slightly bigger bait, you do not need a trace, but I would use fluorocarbon in 20lb as a trace. Its fine enough not to be felt, but resistant to those eel sandpaper mouths, you should be able to land most pike too. Barbless?

Don't over flavour baits, natural is best.

One of my old pals fished for eels and had them to over 8lb on a regular basis. He was an odd chap, kept very much to himself, but very good with eels. The Grand Union canal use to be one of his hunting grounds. He told me once he caught a 6lb eel on a dead coot (I said he was odd) I think his best was over 10lb. He said the darkest nights were the best.

I think its a very worthwhile quest, and you should have fun doing it. I had a 4lb eel once, and that was massive

They are a very nocturnal species. Sound as if you have a good idea where to look anyway. Lastly be kind to the little fellows.

 

[iain t]

Next, to Chub and Barbel i love Eel fishing. You won't go far wrong with ****y123 post. I use hooks between 10 and 6 Drennan super specialist depending on bait. Line wise i stick with my usual 8lb. As for bait, i use Luncheon meat or a few lively worms. Mussels seem to work well for me. I do it ledger style with the lightest weight i can get away with. My biggest was a 7lb 6oz but the average is around 4lb. To unhook lay the Eel on it's back as this calms them down and more or less sends them in a trance. One thing to remember is over the years there has been a decline in the Eel population. Elvers( Eel fry) are being introduced into our water to raise the population. In the River Severn the program is working well. please look after them and return them safely.

 

[shane99]

This chap is a good read, I really liked the anecdote in the last paragraph which I thought was quite amusing and not untypical of the 'urban myth' style tales which we occasionally hear...

The National Anguilla Club (NAC) - The Eel Specialist - Eel Fishing

Thats a good read binka, peeler crab from Southend !?!, Southend is about 10 stones throws away and a bit from where I fish so I could try that

 

[thecrow]

if its about the eel that ruined your days fishing

Never had my day ruined by an Eel but have been in a few situations I would rather have avoided because of them, fortunately every time I have caught one when I have been alone I have been able to unhook them without touching them as I have a phobia about long wriggly things, last time I caught one a friend was on hand to release it

 

[shane99]

Never had my day ruined by an Eel but have been in a few situations I would rather have avoided because of them, fortunately every time I have caught one when I have been alone I have been able to unhook them without touching them as I have a phobia about long wriggly things, last time I caught one a friend was on hand to release it

they are a handful

 

[no-one in particular]

I have found eels will almost take anything including bread and sweetcorn at times. However luncheon meat is good (let it go off a bit) and maggots; I cannot use these in the rivers I fished as I always attract eels in the end and I am not fishing for them. But something a bit off and smelly is best if your targeting them. Bits of fish strip, a rotted banana paste that had gone black, I caught a load of eels on this once. I have heard pieces of slightly off liver are very good somewhere. Even a half asleep eel dormant in his lair in the daytime will catch a whiff of something smelly and want to investigate
Have you thought of trying the tidal bit of river you are near? At the right time these can be full of eels, cast a lug-worm in there or maybe even try them in the water you are thinking of fishing nearby; full of amino, guts and blood and scent; (I wonder if carp would take them or big Perch!!) scent is the key, they have a nose for anything smelly..
Any method will do, I always float fished and caught plenty with the bait on the bottom is best. There mouths are quite small really so smallish baits. I always know if an eel is on, the way they wriggle and wag their heads when caught, watch for snags, they will head for them.
I believe big gravel pits or lakes are normally best for the very big eels where they have resided for a few years and got big. Eventually they slide out and make there way overland on a wet night to find a river and back to the sea but I think they will spend more time in them than in a river where they have easier access back to the sea hence, they can be bigger specimens.
I have never got the idea they are such an endangered species, I always encountered plenty of them but most of my fishing has been done in river sections very near the sea, perhaps they just congregate there at times but I always found them an abundant nuisance. I wondered on occasions if an elver count really reflects the status of this species.; does it affect the amount that survive into adults? However, a very big eel is something worth seeing..It will be interesting to know how you get on.

 

[reeltime]

a deadbait or sardinee always worked well for me also caught some large carp on deadbaits at night

 

[Jim Crosskey 2]

Had loads on the wye whilst barbel fishing... as a rule, luncheon meat seems to attract them best, but had them snaffle pellets as well. I love eels of all sizes (my mate thinks this is very weird!), for me they often brighten up an otherwise dull part of the day when the chub and barbel don't feed.

Even the ones that get away make me laugh. Many the times I've struck a "bite" on they wye fishing meat, only to have my bait come back with a comedy chunk taken out of it! Makes me smile every time!

 

[iain t]

Not sure how to do links but this is quite interesting. There is even an Eel season i never knew about.
The slippery world of eel smuggling, Europe's illegal and booming trade

 

[steve2]

What size would you say is a large eel? I would class anything over 3lbs as large.

 

[binka]

What size would you say is a large eel? I would class anything over 3lbs as large.

I would have gone for 3lbs too.

I had some nice ones around that size many years ago from the upper Witham, it came about by accident when I chucked a handful of leftover sprats in after a pike session and they settled on a sloping concrete shelf below a weir and I watched the eels slowly appear out the darkness of the deeper water as they picked them up across their jaws (similar to a pike) and very slowly reversed back down the shelf before melting away back to the deeper water.

It was fascinating to watch and they were very timid, there were loads of 'em.

 

[Mark Salt]

Pleased you enjoyed my article. That was written a long time ago, and my tactics have changed substantially since then. I never free line now-it results in too many deep hooked eels. If you are fishing on bottom, use a big, free running lead; 3 oz is about right-you do not want the lead moving when you get a a take. Use a wire trace of about 6" in length to aid quick bite indication and help avoid deep hooking. Fluorocarbon or nylon last no time at all if the eels' teeth get near it. Strike immediately, as a missed run is better than a deep hooked fish. Never wait to "let the run develop"-once again, you will deep hook eels this way. Use one de barbed small hook, never two. A size 8 should be sufficient. I hair rig the bait tight to the hook, leaving the hook free. The National Anguilla Club website has loads of useful info: nationalanguillaclub.co.uk , and is well worth joining for access to the forum where all the members will help you.

 

[binka]

Pleased you enjoyed my article. That was written a long time ago, and my tactics have changed substantially since then. I never free line now-it results in too many deep hooked eels. If you are fishing on bottom, use a big, free running lead; 3 oz is about right-you do not want the lead moving when you get a a take. Use a wire trace of about 6" in length to aid quick bite indication and help avoid deep hooking. Fluorocarbon or nylon last no time at all if the eels' teeth get near it. Strike immediately, as a missed run is better than a deep hooked fish. Never wait to "let the run develop"-once again, you will deep hook eels this way. Use one de barbed small hook, never two. A size 8 should be sufficient. I hair rig the bait tight to the hook, leaving the hook free. The National Anguilla Club website has loads of useful info: nationalanguillaclub.co.uk , and is well worth joining for access to the forum where all the members will help you.

Thanks Mark, I didn't realise you were registered on here.

Yes, the 14lb eel story in particular tickled me

Just one question on the trace, is there any particular reason for wire as opposed to what some consider to be softer 'safe' leaders such as Korda Armour Cord?

I'm asking as I'm wondering if the stiffness of wire is an advantage when you say about aiding quick bite detection?

 

[Mark Salt]

Most of us have tried other forms of trace material and moved back to wire because it is more reliable. A big eel will make short work of any other trace material. They can spin, shake their heads and swim backwards, all at the same time. With teeth like a hacksaw blade it doesn't take long to abrade anything other than wire. You don't want to lose a monster at the net, after all. I should mention that I use circle hooks to 45lb Quicksilver, but that is because I do not expect the eels teeth to come into contact with the trace material.

 

[shane99]

I would have gone for 3lbs too.

I had some nice ones around that size many years ago from the upper Witham, it came about by accident when I chucked a handful of leftover sprats in after a pike session and they settled on a sloping concrete shelf below a weir and I watched the eels slowly appear out the darkness of the deeper water as they picked them up across their jaws (similar to a pike) and very slowly reversed back down the shelf before melting away back to the deeper water.

It was fascinating to watch and they were very timid, there were loads of 'em.

I am counting on them taking half a roach down head first & will hook accordingly, saying that anyone one use a two hook rig ?

---------- Post added at 12:25 ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 ----------

What size would you say is a large eel? I would class anything over 3lbs as large.

I would be happy with a 2lb eel

 

[no-one in particular]

2lb is a good eel I reckon, caught a lot of them around this mark in the rivers and to 4lb but, this seems to be the maximum in the rivers I fish. I believe they grow bigger in lakes and pits though.
Anyone thought of trying lug worms in a river or lake? I don't know why, I just imagine they would make an excellent eel bait. And what about Perch, they love worms and these will defeat the smaller fish, I just imagine one twitched could attract a very big Perch, just a guess.

 

[Mark Salt]

I am counting on them taking half a roach down head first & will hook accordingly, saying that anyone one use a two hook rig ?

---------- Post added at 12:25 ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 ----------



I would be happy with a 2lb eel

I would suggest that a two hook rig could be deadly for the eel. One hook is adequate. The aim must be to lip hook the eel. Missing the run is preferable to deep hooking.

 

[shane99]

I would suggest that a two hook rig could be deadly for the eel. One hook is adequate. The aim must be to lip hook the eel. Missing the run is preferable to deep hooking.

Thanks for the heads up Mark Salt. I missed 4 runs today on single Sakuma 440 size 6 on half a roach. The water hasn't any pike so it must be eels or the perch, my money is on eels so what am I doing wrong here ? or is that the way it goes ??