[Jdizzie]

Is it possible to troll live eels? I'm around new haven harbor looking for bass at night. Will eels work during the day? We went out last night with half a dozen eels, and 3 fresh bunker. I read on this forum to let them free spool with no weight, we got one hit. We never got around to bunker chunking. (1st time this year) Sorta ran out of time and tide. Always works out that way. So, we started in East Haven, and the current was dragging us toward Lighthouse Point, New Haven. We were getting bored, (no hits), so we started trolling the eels toward the breakwater. I'm running this old smokey ass Merc that I nicknamed the polluter. You get the idea, lotsa smoke = no Hits? But I'm assuming the eels were **** near the surface on mono. I'm not running wire, and don't really feel like dealing with it. Any suggestion?

Tight lines,

-J.

 

[RJCAPPY]

You can't troll live eels. As far as weight is concerned, well that depends on where you're fishing. Water depth, current speed, etc. Initially you want to present the eel just off the bottom and on the drift. I like to use them on structure,drop-offs and rips,and especially around BIG BOULDERS! I also never dead-stick when drifting eels because the bites can be very subtle. Tight Lines!

 

[CrabBass]

I dont think a live eel can be trolled and still be productive . I have trolled dead eels with lead heads on them like you would see on Flemm Eels and had luck , but its a hassel to rig them correctly.
Eels are more productive when drifted about 2 to 4 feet from the bottom around structure. Most of the time night is preferred , but I have to say in my own case I have had decent luck durring the day with them .I dont like to eel when the blues are in heavy tho because the eel never seems to make it to the bass ,most of the time you just wind up with a cigar hanging from your rig . If im free spooling an eel in the shallows I will tail hook them , they dont seemed to get line wraped as often .
Good luck
Steve

 

[Bigkeepers]

Ditto with what has been said already. Fresh bunker you are best off using a fish finder set up and free spooling. Same with fresh clams. With eels I've been told it's best to rig them with a sinker. Let the sinker hit bottom then give it two cranks to get it just off the bottom. As you're drifting if you feel the sinker hit something give a quick tug up. Either you're about to snag some snotty structure or you're getting a hit. I fished live eels once on Capt. Kess' boat out of OP and we were drifting real fast at night. The drifts over the spots he fished lasted about ten to fifteen seconds then you reeled up and he circled around for another pass. It really depends on your location and drift when considering how to present the eel to Mama.

 

[MakoMatt]

Yes, you can troll a live eel. I do it often in my inlet. What powers my boat for the troll is the current created by the tide, known as drifting, but that is in effect, trolling. Use enough weight to keep it on the bottom and go as slow as you can. This may require that you bump your motor in and out of gear.

For your area, I would suggest you visit your local B&T and inquire about tube n' worm fishing.

MakoMatt

 

[wader]

rj wrote:
You can't troll live eels.


I troll live eels all the time in the Nessequoge River with a lot of success.
As a matter of fact several of us do.


This post edited by wader 04:19 PM 09/21/2008