Has anyone ever used eels in freshwater for Stripers?
It seems like I read on here that someone either tried it or at least mentioned it. I know they’re a go to bait in the salt up north of here.
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ive tried with little success. the darn catfish seem to get to them before the stripers.
M1, since you are bank fishing, I wouldn’t even consider it. It’s not like you can just cast it out and let it sit like you would with something like cut bait. It will wrap all around your line and/or the closest structure it finds.
Surfcasters up in the NE cast them from shore, but they normally reel them in slowly.
I imagine there’s a way it could be done, but I’d definatley start off trying to catch a few with more conventional methods before going through the hassle of coming up with and trying to fish with eels.
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That’s what I was thinking with a live eel. Have used them for cobia before. I have some savage gear eels that look just like a live eel in the water. I was going to try them out and since I probably wont be cobia fishing this year this may be the only chance I get to use them. I attached a pic of what they look like. What do you think?
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=OIP.M2d58cb13f6597404e52b406a992bd88fo0&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0&r=0
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All I know is someone must have used them at some time in the Saluda river because I have caught some big ones trying to eat cut herring. Nasty slimy things.
quote:
Originally posted by sully1All I know is someone must have used them at some time in the Saluda river because I have caught some big ones trying to eat cut herring. Nasty slimy things.
Those are natural freshwater river eels. If u catch them, put them back out on a hook! The stripers eat them on the river.
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I’ve fished with them many times up in the Chesapeake Bay and only from a boat, but never in freshwater.
I don’t believe it would matter where you used them, Stripers would still eat them. But, as said catfish will also.
I don’t think I would try it from shore either. Striperskiff makes some very good points, and they probably wouldn’t be worth all the mess or constant changing of your hooks & leaders you would have to deal with.
Artificial eels might be a different matter, but won’t be my first choice from shore unless I knew the fish were there to cast to. I’ve used them & even ribbontail worms as eel imitations with very good success, both trolling & casting, but again from a boat. Yes, surf guys use them too, but that’s a different situation than from shore in a lake.
We didn’t use any weight when fishing from a boat with live eels, we just let them swim so not much concern about them tangling up the line. Most times artificial were fished on a jig head or behind a spoon that had a single hook.
When I was a kid growing up in MD I caught a lot of big eels in a tidal creek near my home. I fished primarily for perch & bullhead catfish in that creek, and didn’t mind the occasional big eel. They mess up line & usually swallowed the hook so I would have to cut the line but went home with other fish to be eaten. They’re very good and not difficult to clean, they’re just slimy. However, there doesn’t seem to be as many big ones now, and those that are 12" or so are favored for bait so they don’t get to grow up.
If you can get some small, live white perch, they make a good Striper bait. I know many who live line in MD. Small Spot are actually preferred & Stripers seem to favor the Spot when they’re available, but otherwise, they’ll eat the perch too. Of course I would bet the catfish won’t turn them down either.