Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Rigged Eels for Big Stripers

Eels have long been one of the top striper baits around, particularly along the New England coast. Some anglers become so heavily invested in live eel fishing that they build complex eel tanks in their garages, and either buy in bulk, or trap their own eels so they always have a healthy selection at their disposal. All this effort to fish eels is certainly worth it, as live eels account for incredible striped bass catches year after year.

I never really liked fishing live eels, even though my largest bass to date was taken on a live eel.  A few years ago I started to explore options with rigged eels, and have been extremely impressed. Though it takes some time to rig eels, and there is a bit of a learning curve, the effort is well worth it. Here are a few videos on how to rig eels, using a few different methods. The first features Rudy from the Saltwater Edge in RI, and the second, John Skinner from FishersLog and author of A Season on the Edge.

These two guys are excellent fishermen, and are great a rigging eels. If you want to try rigging some eels, you can't go wrong with either method. The zip tie method will save some time, while the rigging floss style leads to a more natural look and usually more durability. You decide which is best for you. Check out their YouTube channels to learn more: The Saltwater Edge and John Skinner.



No comments:

Post a Comment