Eel Shark

Use the instructions above to learn how to properly rig your eel shark

After catching a fish, restore the hook position to the “running position” with the shank inside the bait.

We recommend attaching the line directly to the wire leader.  This allows the body to slide all the way up the line, which makes it almost impossible to throw.

We recommend line with very high abrasion resistance, such as braid, especially if you want to take advantage of dropping the Eel Shark into cover.

The Eel Shark can be fished with spinning or baitcasting gear.  (It may be possible to fish smaller sizes with fly gear, but this is for experts only.)

If it is not swimming correctly, check that everything is in the right place and that the tail is not impaled on a hook point.

The Eel Shark naturally swims to 5-12 feet, depending on the size.   It sinks about a foot per second, so it can be fished in moderately deep water, but it tends to seek a certain level when retrieved steadily.

The Eel Shark is excellent anywhere where you’d fish a lipless crankbait, such as drop-offs, sea wall, suspended fish, etc.

It can also be fished in many places that are not practical with a standard crankbait, such as dropping into structure, or jigging on the bottom.

While the Eel Shark has fairly good snag resistance, it does NOT work in floating weeds or similar debris, as these wrap around the lip and prevent it from swimming.

One simple and effective presentation is to reel at a steady, moderate speed – just fast enough to feel the bait thumping back and forth.

Even though fish hit it very hard, try to be patient in setting the hook.  The hooks are self-aligning if the fish has closed its mouth, so you don’t want to risk pulling it out while the mouth is still open.

The Eel Shark can be used in any retrieve suitable to a crankbait, such as steady, stop-and-go, yo-yo, etc.

It is also very effective to swim it near a structure and then let it drop alongside the structure.

It can be fished like a jig, and will sit upright on the bottom.  It can also be used for vertical jigging, including through the ice.

The Eel Shark is suitable for any gamefish that feeds on fast-moving targets in fresh or salt water.

The size 5 is especially effective on largemouth and smallmouth bass.

The size 7 targets pike, musky, and inland stripers.

The size 9 is suitable for off-shore stripers.

Be aware that you will typically not catch fish that are much smaller than your target, because of the hook size.

The Eel Shark can be fished year-round, including through the ice.

It has proven especially effective in late summer and into the fall, when fish are active a little bit away from the shore.