Fishing for Freshwater American Eel

[@DriedMuffin-qk6tv]

Great video! Just found the channel. As someone who fishes the creeks of Delco these videos are great.

[@delconashvilleline]

I appreciate it! I've been fishing these creeks since I was a kid. I just love being outside. I appreciate you checking out the channel!

[@Damuihchanel]

Good job ❤🎉🎉

[@delconashvilleline]

Thank you! I appreciate you checking out the video!

[@drdungusmd4659]

Just saw 2 absolute monster eels in the Darby creek

[@delconashvilleline]

That's awesome! I love to hear they are thriving!

[@willalwaysfishing3136]

Nice work 👍🏾

[@delconashvilleline]

Thanks man! I appreciate it!

[@willalwaysfishing3136]

I never caught none that big

[@raydalton1110]

nice catches..... to improve I recommend a landing net, the type trout fisherman use , find one with little holes, the net is rubberized and protects slime coat, when the eel can crawl he has advantage, but in a net you can control it better, i also think to use barbless hooks for smoother and easier de-hooking, then after hook out then for a better video let him crawl on tarp so we see his length, then allow the eel to glide itself back into water, the struggle of squeezing then to de-hook is not necessary and causes them too much stress and slime coat loss.... 1. control its moving body in small net 2. use long thin pliers to easily remove "barb-less" hook using eel's weight in net to get hook out, so basically ur never touching eel.... problem solved

[@delconashvilleline]

I appreciate the tips! Thanks for checking out the video! I was legit just talking to my buddy about using barbless hooks next time! Lol Unfortunately there is no one the larger eels would be able to fit in a trout net. Some of them get up to 3 feet long!

[@raydalton1110]

@@delconashvilleline cool timing, and ok i see , well give me a bit and i'll come back to this chat and tell you a good net, it will help less stress on eel, u can control it alot easier for un hook and then a easy show and tell on tarp, cause man squeezzing them to un hook i can tell almost kills them with stress they swim off so slow, i think cause they never get squeezed in their life and it stresses them too much they think they caught by a bird of prey which is all fishes worries, and too much stress they can die a day or so later i read about this, .... so 1. a net i will send to comment here soon and 2. easy de hook with long skinny pliers hands free barbless or make barbless by bending a barbed hook with pliers then 3. easy slide unto tarp, for show and tell only using hand to gently guide them away from escape then when ready let them glide into water to be free.... the squeezing to de hook is the main problem for its stress thats why it swims away in a stunned state, also this eliminates all sand or rock particles scraping off important slime coat..... thanks for listening bro, cause i love catch and release also all fish , but i will eat walleye and blue gill and crappie, God bless you

[@thewrxshop8213]

A lot of people i heard say american eels are underrated eating fish, and after i thought abt it, it would make sense that eels are prolly little bit cleaner eaters then catfish and everybody likes catfish

[@delconashvilleline]

That is what I have heard! I personally don't eat them only for the sole reason that I think they are the coolest fish.

[@raydalton1110]

One more thing then im good for this video lol.... when you say you only fish for the eels once a year, do you mean cause its just that one hole ? It be nice if in same stream you find a new spot to explore, or new stream to try explore, i acutally skip all ur other videos, you got me wanting to eel fish in potomac river soon lol, and because of ur channel i google for eel documentarys now lol, its just amazing how they live from ocean to a little stream

[@delconashvilleline]

Haha you are good! Comment as much as you want! I'm glad this video got you interested in the American Eel. That has been the intent of these videos. To try to show people how amazing the species is. They are often viewed as a trash fish and in my opinion they are the coolest fish that we have! When I say I only fish for them once a year I mean that I only fish for them once a year at this spot. I truly love this species and I visit it multiple times a year but the majority of times I just go there to feed them. I also have an underwater camera that I use to record them. It is so funny that you mentioned going to another spot because I legit texted my buddy yesterday about filming another eel video at a different spot lol. You truly are thinking along the same lines as me.

[@raydalton1110]

also remove go pro battery then use the external port of go pro to connect to a portable usb charger like cell phones use, go pro wont ever overheat again plus unlimited battery space if you bring a few portable battery's

[@delconashvilleline]

Oh wow! I've never heard of that idea to try to prevent it from overheating. I'll have to give it a try I appreciate the tip!

[@raydalton1110]

@@delconashvilleline your welcome bro.... yeah i watch alot youtube and learned this off top fisherman channels, this method solves over heating problem and with just 2 or 3 external batterys you can film all day in hot sun no issue, i think only problem is it takes away from the water proofing so in rain i wouldnt do it,,,, i see them rigging it so external battery is in like a fanny pack and they clip the usb wire inside their shirt

[@TNtreasurehunter]

Always wanted to catch one but I live in East Tennessee. What is closest place to catch them from where I live

[@delconashvilleline]

That's a good question! I'm not sure where the closest to you would be. If I had to guess, I would think potentially the Carolinas.

[@fishingwitlucas3]

What creek

[@raydalton1110]

is the summer time only time you can catch them in ur hole ? or do they al migrate back to sea

[@delconashvilleline]

Only the largest full grown ones will migrate back to the sea! If they decide to make the journey they will do it in the fall but they can be caught year round.

[@raydalton1110]

@@delconashvilleline that is awesome, amazing fish, ur videos make me excited to try catch some

[@ph00z00]

I wonder how they'd be as unagi sushi.

[@delconashvilleline]

I'm not sure! I personally think they're the coolest and most unique fish, so I don't eat them. I only fish for then once a year, and I just catch and release.

[@ph00z00]

@@delconashvilleline I catch them in the middle of Maine in lakes and mouths of rivers. had to look up to see if there were any dams, and if wild populations exist in fresh water only. still not sure, but apparently they get up to greenland rivers, so i don't doubt it. there are still active weirs on the middle Delaware River that trap them.... might be worth a video.

[@ph00z00]

@@delconashvilleline when it comes to unagi, it may be more about the presentation and sauce tbh. nice uniform flakes.. a little muddy tasting.