Eel is one of the most unusual species of underwater inhabitants, which is of great interest not only to scientists, but also to ordinary fishermen. The habits of the snake-fish are not fully understood, however, this does not prevent real professionals in their field to obtain specimens reaching several meters in length. What is eel fishing on the river and what bait to use to capture a freshwater inhabitant?
Snake or fish?
Appearance of eel causes a lot of controversy among professional and novice fishermen, even in the age of highly developed information technology. Some people call it an "underwater snake", which can do without air, while others are convinced that this is just an unusual fish, like some kind of stingray. What do scientists say about this? Yes, practically nothing. They simply ranked both freshwater and sea eel as fish, despite their resemblance to snakes.
The appearance of the fish is quite remarkable: it has a very long body, which is completely covered with scales. Color can vary from black to dark green, depending on the reservoir in which we live eel. The small head has a lower jaw extended forward, which makes the fish look so much like a snake. The oral cavity is completely covered with small teeth. In length, individuals reach an average of two meters, and the weight usually does not exceed 4 kilograms.
Behavior features
Have you decided to catch river eel? Then you should know about the basic habits that are characteristic of snake fish. In most cases, eel is found in deep water bodies - this includes not only rivers, but also lakes, reservoirs and ponds. The type of soil is not so important, because the fish perfectly adapts to both sand and silt. The salinity of the water also does not matter much - the eel feels comfortable both in the sea and in the aquarium.
In the rainy season, eels usually swim from one reservoir to another - the ideal time of year to catch them. As nests, they usually use various snags, vegetation, burrows and other natural shelters. At night, the fish goes hunting. Of the possible prey, the predator prefers small fish, which it will be able to swallow. The conclusion follows that the bait will become the optimal bait on it.
The best time of the year for fishing
Thinking of going fishing for eels in winter? We recommend immediately abandon such a futile exercise. Since this fish is considered very thermophilic and begins to peck well only with the advent of spring. Of course, many examples can be given when professional fishermen caught several individuals in the winter season, however, this is only an accident, and not a pattern. It is best to fish snake in summer in warm water.
As a rule, they go for eel in the evening, because the main activity of the fish is manifested at night, and subsides by dawn. In addition, in cloudy and rainy weather, you can wait for a bite in the afternoon, however, the chances of catching a truly trophy variety are much higher after sunset. To catch eel in lunch, you will have to know the habitat of the fish in order to lower the bait attached to the bottom tackle into the nest.
Bait and methods of extraction
To catch electric eel, which is best harvested in muddy freshwater, you will have to properly prepare. For example, you should stock up on a tent in advance, good tackle, and warm clothes, since it can take a lot of time and effort to catch a predator.
As for the bait, the following types of bait are usually used:
- bunch of red worms;
- pieces of fish or bait fish;
- boiled crayfish neck;
- chopped pieces of meat;
- insect larvae, leeches.
Also, one should not forget that the size of the bait should fully correspond to the size of the oral cavity of the eel. A large individual will almost never bite on one worm or a small piece of fish. Such a rule sounds especially relevant if you decide to use some emitting bait - a twister, a spinner, a wobbler, and so on.
Using donkeys as gear
Eel is a pretty strong rival, so you will have to use a fishing rod to catch it, which will not break until the fisherman tries to pull the catch ashore. An ideal option would be a regular bottom tackle - a feeder that will not break due to its small size even under the pressure of large eel. However, the fishing rod must be equipped with a high-quality reel and fishing line with a section thickness of at least 0.5 millimeters or a special braided thread.
As for the sinkers, they are selected depending on the depth of the reservoir in which eel hunting takes place. As a rule, from 50 to 100 grams of lead, attached 5-10 centimeters from a single hook, is enough. Do not forget that the fish has a very small mouth, so double or triple models significantly reduce the effectiveness of its capture - during cutting, there is a high probability of tearing the lip of a snake-fish.
Features of eel fishing on a pipe
Everything new is well forgotten old. If you want to catch a fish without causing it in the process of injuries, then this method is very useful. It was used several centuries ago (the method is still used in Asian countries). For capture, it will be enough to use an ordinary bamboo pipe, with a diameter of up to 10 centimeters. Having fallen into such a trap, the eel will never be able to get out. However, the technique is associated with some risk for the fisherman.
First, you have to go into the water to get to the snake-fish nests. In the hot season, eel prefers to settle closer to the shore, where the water warms up much faster. Therefore, it is best to look for fish near reeds or trees that have fallen in the water. Remember that electric eel can sting a person pretty much, after which a fisherman will need medical attention.
Where to catch eel in Russia?
At various fishing forums you can find a lot of interesting information about where it is best to catch river eel. The most promising place is Stary Ostrog, located 32 kilometers from Petropavlovsk. Avachi River is ideal for freshwater eel. Therefore, fishermen from all over Russia go here in order to catch a trophy variety of this unusual fish.
What are the features of eel fishing on Stary Ostrog? Of course, in the search for a promising place in which many fish will be found. Preference should be given to beaches, around which there is a lot of reeds. However, the largest specimens prefer to settle at great depths, so you will need to use not only good bottom tackle, but also some kind of swimming tool.
If you can’t find a place with eels, you can use the help of local residents, advice from the forums or purchase a special nibble activator - an electronic device that emits sound of a certain frequency and lures large individuals from all around. Although professional fishermen say that such decoys may soon be banned.
Catching eel on Seliger
The ideal pond for catching fish will be Lake Beloglazov. At a great depth of this reservoir, you can catch really large individuals, the size of which often exceeds 2 meters in length, and the mass reaches 5 kilograms. As for the color, it is mostly black. Therefore, the eel caught on Seliger can be easily distinguished from the one that was caught in the Old Ostrog.
The fish behaves quite passively, so you can use almost any tackle to catch. The most important thing is that the fishing line can withstand the weight of a large individual, and the hooks fit in her mouth. As for the bait, in most cases, fish meat or bait fish is used. However, the largest individuals, as a rule, come across various imitators that can be purchased on the spot.
It is also best to pre-acquire a bait that will allow you to lure individuals from all over the area to your place. Finding eels nests on the lake can be incredibly difficult, so most fishermen simply swim in a boat away from the coast, drop a few lumps of fertilizing with pheromones and wait for the bite.
Video and conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to catch eel that any fisherman can use, regardless of his experience. If you still have any questions about catching snake fish, you can watch a short video. In which a professional tells the audience how to prepare for an event to capture an eel. Also, the video will show in detail how a fisherman should behave during a bite so that the fish does not break.
As you can see, catching an eel is not such an easy task as it seems at first glance. This species of fish is very powerful, so pulling it out of the water will be extremely difficult even for an experienced fisherman. You should get quality gear in advance and find snake-fish nests. All this sounds rather complicated, but the game is worth the candle spent on it - we assure you. If you have never tried smoked or baked eel, then you have missed a lot in life.