Freshwater Eels
- Thread starter GrahamM
- Start date
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Stuart Bullard
Guest
I didnt think there was any question that they do Graham. Lakes that are no where near any form of flooding river get them, and as they do not breed in the freshwater systems in the UK how else do they get there?
......well, thats what my big boy book of knowledge says!
......well, thats what my big boy book of knowledge says!
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Dave Slater
Guest
I can only repeat what Stuart has said, but if you asked if i have actually witnessed it my answer would have to be no.
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ED (The ORIGINAL and REAL one)
Guest
It says they do here(its in Australia though)and lots of wierd things happen there
http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/1998/archives/26/pets,_pet_care,_backyard_&_native_animals/eels
http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/1998/archives/26/pets,_pet_care,_backyard_&_native_animals/eels
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ED (The ORIGINAL and REAL one)
Guest
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Chris Bishop
Guest
Didn't a big one come out of the water and slither off up the bank when Rex Hunt was playing it..?
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Stuart Bullard
Guest
Yeh - it was trying to get away. Cant say I blame it. Fancy being kissed by that lump!
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Ron Troversial Clay
Guest
Although I have never seen eels crossing land, I don't doubt that they may do it.
An eel can live longer out of water than most other fish. It can also crawl though grass very well indeed, almost as good as a snake. They are certainly, next to catfish, some of the most tenacious of life of any fish that swims.
An eel can live longer out of water than most other fish. It can also crawl though grass very well indeed, almost as good as a snake. They are certainly, next to catfish, some of the most tenacious of life of any fish that swims.
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The Monk
Guest
they do travel across land, particularly when being transported to restuarnts
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stephen cotton
Guest
Kevin,
There's no doubt in my mind that eels are extremly mobile. However I have never seen a mature eel travelling overland myself, I have heard quite a few convincing stories from fellow eel anglers. Overall I think it might be quite a rare occasion as mature eels are very cautious and probably mostly leave stillwaters via ditches/overflows during periods of high rainfall. On some waters I think eels only manage to gain access during very extreme wet conditions and are most probably disinclined to leave until these conditions occur again (however infrequently). Stories I have heard include an eel being found in the morning, in a poor condition at the base of a recently built wall around a pond that blocked its movement to a nearby stream (from whence it originally came??). Another story is of eels leaving a water during daylight and moving into a wooded area to escape a massive deoxygenation of the water in question. Also my father has seen small eels leaving a local canal during a rainstorm a passing a short distance over grass before disapearing up a land drain. Given its likely rarity and the fact that it happens during dark rainy conditions its hardly suprising that it doesn't get observed that often.
There's no doubt in my mind that eels are extremly mobile. However I have never seen a mature eel travelling overland myself, I have heard quite a few convincing stories from fellow eel anglers. Overall I think it might be quite a rare occasion as mature eels are very cautious and probably mostly leave stillwaters via ditches/overflows during periods of high rainfall. On some waters I think eels only manage to gain access during very extreme wet conditions and are most probably disinclined to leave until these conditions occur again (however infrequently). Stories I have heard include an eel being found in the morning, in a poor condition at the base of a recently built wall around a pond that blocked its movement to a nearby stream (from whence it originally came??). Another story is of eels leaving a water during daylight and moving into a wooded area to escape a massive deoxygenation of the water in question. Also my father has seen small eels leaving a local canal during a rainstorm a passing a short distance over grass before disapearing up a land drain. Given its likely rarity and the fact that it happens during dark rainy conditions its hardly suprising that it doesn't get observed that often.
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The Monk
Guest
Kevin
you could try joining either the National Anguilla Club, they have a website or the secretary of the European Eel Anglers Association, Brian Crawford who has written a number of books on the subject, I`ll email some information to you.
you could try joining either the National Anguilla Club, they have a website or the secretary of the European Eel Anglers Association, Brian Crawford who has written a number of books on the subject, I`ll email some information to you.
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Chris Bishop
Guest
Forgive my scepticism but how come no-one's ever photographed it happening..?
An interesting chracter in King's Lynn years ago used to catch eels fishing down the drains, they ran up these out of the R Ouse at high tide.
It was in the papers 15 or 20 years ago, mate of mine phoographed him catching one.
An interesting chracter in King's Lynn years ago used to catch eels fishing down the drains, they ran up these out of the R Ouse at high tide.
It was in the papers 15 or 20 years ago, mate of mine phoographed him catching one.
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The Monk
Guest
drain fishing for eels is quite common place in some areas, I have it on video somewhere?
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Budgie Burgess
Guest
I have never seen it or know anybody who has.I have seen two things that make me believe it is possible though.
1.When I used to net eels comercially we used to store them in tanks untill they were collected by the fishmonger.These were sexually mature eels caught whilst migrating.During a particularly slow period I had to do a water change in the tanks.As you can imagine eels and water every where! Some 2-3 hours after finnishing I found a some what dryed up but still alive eel that I had missed hiding under a car.Popped it back in the tank it rehydrated and was fine.
2. During a major de-oxygenisation,(caused by an algae crash)of a water I ran, I (and many others)witnessed hundreds of eels in the margins and slithering out of the lake on to land.
1.When I used to net eels comercially we used to store them in tanks untill they were collected by the fishmonger.These were sexually mature eels caught whilst migrating.During a particularly slow period I had to do a water change in the tanks.As you can imagine eels and water every where! Some 2-3 hours after finnishing I found a some what dryed up but still alive eel that I had missed hiding under a car.Popped it back in the tank it rehydrated and was fine.
2. During a major de-oxygenisation,(caused by an algae crash)of a water I ran, I (and many others)witnessed hundreds of eels in the margins and slithering out of the lake on to land.
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Dave Slater
Guest
Monk,
Drain fishing? How do you get a drain on the hook?
Drain fishing? How do you get a drain on the hook?
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The Monk
Guest
well Dave you need a really big hook, I prefer the magatised super drain specialist as advertised in Big Drain World, I think it was in Octobers edition, volume 56, series 2, In feature called Drainpipes, My Fishings Going down the Drain
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Dave Slater
Guest
Nice one.
Terry Harvey
New member
As a youngster my dad used to take me to one of the local water meadows at night eel hunting. It had to be raining or just after a down pore, and you would see a lot of eals leaving the severn for other places. useuelly in late September early October never any other time. I don't know why but yes they will travell over land given the right conditions. As long as they don't dry out they can live out of water for a couple of days.
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paul williams 2
Guest
I have said this before on FM.......i have witnessed elvers leave the river Severn, they were crawling on the concrete section of a weir that is the only reason i saw them.
How many have we not seen because of long grass etc etc?
I have no doubts whatsoever that they are capable of traveling over land...what i don't know is their survival rate per 100yards!
How many have we not seen because of long grass etc etc?
I have no doubts whatsoever that they are capable of traveling over land...what i don't know is their survival rate per 100yards!