Eel and eelskin lures are used mostly in saltwater to catch such fish as striped bass, bluefish, snook, and marlin. The most difficult part about making eel and eelskin lures will often be obtaining the eels themselves. The eel usually used is the so-called "common eel" found from Labrador to Brazil along the Atlantic Coast.
The females reach a large size and live in freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes. The males are much smaller and live in saltwater bays, sounds, and tidal creeks. These are the ones usually used for bait. Live eels are caught with eel pots baited with dead fish, small baitfish, crushed clams, or crabs.
These pots, which are similar to minnow traps, are wire cages with funnel entrances on both ends. The eels enter through the funnel holes, but once inside have trouble finding their way out.
Live or frozen eels can also be purchased from many fish markets, bait dealers, and fishing tackle stores. The size will depend on the fishing tackle you use and the fish you want to catch. Small eels from 8 to 12 in. long are best with light tackle such as spinning outfits; the larger eels from 12 to 20 in. are used with heavier surf outfits and for trolling for big fish.
To rig an eel you will need a long needle such as an upholsterer's needle. It should be anywhere from 12 to 14 in. long. You can also make your own needle, using a brass or copper rod about 1/8 in. in diameter. One end should be filed to a point while the other end is given an eye or a slot to which a line can be tied.
You also need some 6/0, 7/0, 8/0 or 9/0 hooks, again depending on the size of the eel. The larger the eel, the larger the hooks required. Light tackle and lines need smaller hooks than heavier fishing tackle. The sizes of hooks range from 10 (tiny) down to 1 (small) and then back up from 1/0, 2/0 (medium) through 8/0 (large) and all the way up to 24/0 (great white shark size).
Steel is usually the base metal from which hooks are made but there are also other types of steel including high carbon, blued, black, bronzed, cadmium, nickel-plated, stainless, etc. The O'Shaughnessy pattern of hook is usually used for rigging eels, but some anglers prefer the Siwash or salmon pattern and still others use Eagle Claw hooks. Whichever type of hook you use, it should have a ringed eye.
Finally, you need some linen or nylon fishing line testing from 45 to 60 pounds. But more importantly, you should pay more attention to your fishing leader which is potentially the weakest link. More information on making fishing leaders can be found at my website.
Keith Lee is a practical, do-it-yourself angler and owns Make-Your-Own-Fishing-Lures.com, an info-packed website on making fishing lures. Learn how to make fishing lures and use this website as your trusted guide on home made fishing lures.
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your newsletter or on your website so long as you leave all active links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed here.
limousine chicago serviceMake Small Fortune In Fishing Industry.......now there is a headline... Read More
There is a fairly new technique when it comes to... Read More
Rainbow Trout: Few freshwater fish can match the fighting spirit... Read More
Great fishing supplies are an essential when it comes to... Read More
In order to better understand why swordfish concentrate their feeding... Read More
Have you ever fished with a Heddon Meadow Mouse? How... Read More
Fishing spring creeks isn't easy. Don't expect large quantities of... Read More
Dry fly angling is at the top of any fly... Read More
Having been an avid basser for years, and not having... Read More
PondsAnywhere there is a pond; it could be a hidden... Read More
One of the most versatile of all lures, the grub... Read More
When looking for information on how to fly fish, fly... Read More
Why Night Fishing Beats Day Fishing Any Day of the... Read More
Stopped into The Fishin' Hole the other day, which happens... Read More
More and more women are learning to enjoy fishing each... Read More
Method 1EquipmentI fish baits at all depths, not just the... Read More
Competition between offshore and inshore anglers has skyrocketed within the... Read More
The beginner must learn to look with eyes that see.... Read More
Steelhead GearLike many things in fly fishing you can ask... Read More
Fly fishing has a history stretching back... Read More
IntroductionMany of the people about to take one of my... Read More
Every River Tells a StoryThe next time you begin a... Read More
One of the most important things to consider when fly... Read More
Well, we have talked about flippin and now we'll mention... Read More
Perhaps the most rewarding element of fly fishing is the... Read More
Ketchikan, located in southeast Alaska, is a good place to... Read More
High fuel prices got you down?Imagine how most of us... Read More
Like all bass fishing, bass fly fishing has exploded in... Read More
When most people think of saltwater fly fishing their minds... Read More
In the text below I shall try to give a... Read More
For many fishermen Alaska is the ultimate "mecca" of fishing.... Read More
Method 1EquipmentI fish baits at all depths, not just the... Read More
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri Common name: Chinese algae-eater Family: Gyrinocheilidae... Read More
Hi Lee Palm/Red Rooster crew(San Diego - California).. Keep my... Read More
Inflatable boats, also called rubber boats or dinghies, have been... Read More
Have you ever been on a lake and thought to... Read More
Just when you thought you had seen it all. Just... Read More
A big buzz within the fishing community that is spreading... Read More
Why Night Fishing Beats Day Fishing Any Day of the... Read More
Whether it's the peaceful and serene beauty of being on... Read More
When it comes to catch and release lakes, it is... Read More
Many people go to Florida to fish for that trophy... Read More
Cheap SinkersSpark plugs make excellent disposable sinkers. Need some cheap... Read More
Written on the rod blank or handle is a code... Read More
I have to admit this subject bores me to tears.... Read More
Some of the baits I have used for used for... Read More
Well, we have talked about flippin and now we'll mention... Read More
What lures are 4-13" long, been used regularly on the... Read More
The name Lake Trout lends a slight misnomer to the... Read More
Rainbow trout are a fresh water fish. They are aggressive... Read More
Fishing Fishing |