Only ever caught small eels and never in my life had such slippery customers. I've read all the stuff (myth,folklore and cobblers) about making the sign of the cross in the sand (what sand its the Trent I fish lol).Laying them on their back (the eels havent read this one) and the cobblers part as I recall was laying them on newspaper,I rarely take a newspaper fishing with me and it might be suitable for wrapping fish and chips in but not very good for an eel I am sure. All these measures make the eel go limp and allow you to take pictures and everything else (again the eels never read the angling books I have lol). I have to give my utmost admiration to guys who can catch and photograph such fine specimens,even though I do not target eels (not had the time) I think they are a magical looking species particularly when one considers how far they migrate to get to the Trent in Nottingham and other places further inland! Glad about the hook advice as thats what we were told when match fishing,better to cut the line and leave the eels digestive juices to work on the hook, always felt a bit iffy about that but didnt think poking around would have done the eel any favours. Is the gastric juices thing correct then or is that another myth? Funnily enough I was reading an old eel fishing book by the late John Sidley the other night cracking read too.
