EEL
Where to look for the eel?
You can say about the eel, that it is a ubiquitous and common fish. It inhabits all types of water except the highest ones, very cool streams. Its wide spread is due both to its mobility, as well as systematically conducted stocking. This is how he got into the Danube basin, where the eel fry cannot pass by the natural route on their own. This species is not very demanding as to environmental conditions, however, we meet him mainly in areas rich in hiding places and food. These are sections and regions of water with a rocky bottom (although this factor is of secondary importance in natural lakes), washed banks, with the roots of coastal trees and shrubs immersed in water and with strongly developed aquatic vegetation. This fish feels good, when part of the bottom is muddy. It is usually abundant in cut off oxbow lakes and sandbanks, clay workings, sand and gravel and lowland dam reservoirs. In Poland, it occurs in all waters, m. in. in all types of fishing lakes, except for the carassie. During the day, we look for eel in the deep, in the areas of its permanent hiding places, in the evening - in shallower parts, at the shore. We catch it close to the shore especially in the spring months, when different species of fish are spawning, especially roaches and bleaks. In most cases, however, we meet it at the bottom; sometimes we can have good catch results in the summer, if we catch eel in the late evening near the surface. He is happy to stop under the weirs, in bays and on the border of the underwater vegetation belt.
When to catch eel?
The eel is a typical nocturnal fish and predator. Takes from early spring (when the water heats up to 10 °C) until the autumn cooling. It resets in the evening, preferably from sunset to midnight. In spring and summer, it is flooded during the day, in cloudy water or clean water, but close to its hiding place and if we have previously made it used to daily feeding by long-term baiting. Often so "trained."” We feel sorry to catch eel! Low air pressure is beneficial for the intensity of the eel's feeding, dark and starless nights, warm and stuffy weather, even drizzle, a night without dew and without morning and evening vapors by the water. An old fishing proverb says, that the eel does not take, when black elder flowers.
Eel catching equipment.
A stronger rod is needed, line 0.35-0.50 mm, hooks 2-3/0, swivels, float, load or stress system. The rod must be installed with as few knots as possible on the line. A good flashlight is a must for night fishing, and always ticks or special gloves to hold caught eels. A landing net is necessary, sharp knife or scissors.
Eel catching methods.
They are adapted to the nature of the water and the baits used. Eel is most often caught as an appetizer with or without a float, the flow or the "gallows."”, it is very rare to lower and raise the bait. Spinning and fly fishing are out of the question.
Eel lures.
At the beginning of the season, loths are usually used, but also lively slurries, larvae of water insects and leeches; from July, a live or a dead fish is also effective, and from August only a fish. When it comes to fish, the eel likes to eat these, that occur in his environment, and if different, it in the following order: perch, ruff, bullhead, slip, piskorz, cocoon, gudgeon, strzebla, and finally even the sunflower. These fish must be of a size appropriate to the size of the eel's mouth, but they should not be larger than 8-10 cm. However, it is even better to use pieces of fish meat or the so-called. fishpipes. If we catch an eel, then we can sacrifice a piece of his meat for bait, to catch a second on it. Yellow cheese is a good bait. In the fishery, dominated by narrow-headed eels, we use worms as bait”, and there, where they are broad-headed - rather fish.
Other comments.
Even though eel fishing does not require special knowledge and experience, certain rules of conduct must be followed, especially at his haul and landing. After jam, as far as we are sure, that the hook sits firmly, by pulling the line, we first stop the eel from escaping, and then by lifting the rod up, we tear it off the bottom. As soon as we find out, that it is already at the bottom (the resistance weakens for a moment), we do not tire him with long towing, but hard, and at the same time carefully pull it ashore. We should select the appropriate places for the eel to land in advance. Basically we do not use the landing net; we use it exceptionally in fisheries with high and steep banks. We should never put eels in the net alive, but kill him immediately after catch, away from the coast. An eel pulled out of the water makes various twigs and flourishes on the rod. So that he does not twist the fishing line, the rod must be equipped with a leader with a permanent swivel. When fishing for this fish, we are often caught at night, therefore it is advisable, so that we could familiarize ourselves with the surrounding area beforehand and be equipped with a well-functioning electric flashlight. Night fishing requires a sufficiently visible float or other fish-catching measures.
The eel comes in two forms - as wide-headed and narrow-headed. They differ from each other in the type of eaten food. The narrow-headed eats mainly on "worms."”, insect larvae, leeches and other invertebrate animals, while the broad-headed eats mainly fish and frogs. The eel has a statutory minimum size, below which it cannot be fished, so we have to put the undersized fish back into the water. How to do it, since most of them have a hook deep in their throat or intestines? We will not be able to pull the hook, so in this situation you just have to cut the line; the released eel will get rid of the hook after some time. Eels, who are about to leave our waters, they have a black back, and the belly of the body is silver-gray; to, which still remain in our waters, have a golden-yellow-orange or greenish ventral part of the body. Pay attention to the blood of the eels. It irritates the body's mucous membranes and can cause painful inflammation, especially the eyes or skin at the wound site. In Poland, the eel is a highly valued fish, because it is an export commodity. The eel's conservation dimension is 40 cm, no grace period has been established. You can catch a maximum of two eels per day (including sowing).