Eels

I'm fishing a lake that holds massive eels, but also pike, zander and even catfish. What type of hook should I use?

Also, if I was fishing a water with no pike, would I still need a wire trace?

Replies:

1. I know that eels will only take deadbaits that are very very fresh, but a bunch of lobworms is another good bait.

If there is a chance of a pike or a zed I would use a wire trace, it may reduce the number of eels, but it will stop a pike snapping the line and leaving it with a hook in it.

2. Regarding tackle wire is a definite must, and I definitely wouldn't use trebles. Archie Braddock has some info regarding using one single hook wire traces when fishing for pike, and he reckons he's having more success than the standard snap tackle.
Have a look here: www.braddocksbaits.co.uk

3. All eels dont all eat the same thing. It varies from water to water. I would fish two rods, one with a single hook with a big bunch of lobs on, say a 4 with like 8 lobs on, and a wire trace on the other rod with two trebles baited with a small deadbait.This way you get the best of both worlds.

4. Eels will eat any deadbaits.....fresh or not so.....however I would prefer fresh to old but thats me...friends have had much better results using old frozen baits.

If you fish for eels......always use a wire trace and always use a single hook.....and that don't mean it has to be a big single....I use size 4 Drennan boiliee hooks for deadbait sections....and bunches of lobs.
Livebaits go on sizes from 4 to 10....depends on the size and the specie used. (Small catfish are a bugger to use on size 10's though).

Very few waters do not contain Pike......however there are some.....the trace is a cover both ways.....incase a pike comes along or...and this is the bigger reason....in case a large predatory eel comes along.

I and friends have been bitten off by eels using wire.....only the odd time but we have....if they can do wire then they can do mono. If you use mono only as the hooklink material you run the risk of losing the fish of your dreams one day.....however thats your decision....knowing this may happen and continuing not to use wire is. with respect, daft.

Wire does not affect run ratio dramactically...it may mean the loss of a few runs but by simply putting some soft rubber tubing on the trace at the hook end, this infact does away with the thought process of "eels drop the bait when they feel the wire".(Push the tubing over the eye of the hook....4" is a good length and if the eel is deeply hooked and you cannot see the tubing, then you know it is well down and your only course of action should be to cut as near to the mouth as possible and return the fish alive back to the water.....if you can see the tubing but not the hook then you know that it is possibly 'get at able'...depending on how much tubing you can see.)

Everyone should consider the possibility of also hooking perch...they do not take kindly to trebles as well......and I shouldn't think catfish are too chuffed either. I have caught many tench, carp and roach at night with deadbaits on the hook......imagine them with a treble as well.

Always return your eels alive......they are more important to the water systems than most realise....and are becoming less populated in many areas.