Eels anyone??

There’s a good write up in the last Outdoor News regarding a youngster reeling in an American eel. That species has been on top of my “wish” list for a while. The article makes it seem like a one-in-a million catch however it seems like quite a few river fishermen have had encounters or at least know someone who seen one in the wild. Obviously, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, but I’m just wondering if anyone has any suggestions or stories to share.
Thanks.

Ugh once in a lifetime or not, the whole thought give me the willys, I’d cut the line personally.

Try fishing under the Camden bridge in north MPLS after dark. We used to catch them down there. Once in a life time might be right for that area. Not sure if it has gotten any better down there but you might want protection after dark.

Caught one on Miss pool 4 once on a #5 shad rap. Bout 3 feet long, strangest fight I have ever had. Ever snag a carp in the tail and see your line swish back and forth. Well it is like that except slower and 5-6 times as wide back and forth. Fortunately as I had its head out of the water and was contemplating what to do, it fell off and releived my anxiety.

Never caught one myself, but people caught them in the Mississippi around Winona once in a while. From what I have heard they will hit nightcrawlers, but I don’t know how or where to go about trying to catch one.

Some interesting trivia about American eels in the Mississippi, or anywhere else: they are all born in the Sargasso Sea in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean (several thousand miles from the mouth of the Mississippi), and will all return there to spawn. An eel caught in the Midwest is a female, as the smaller male eels stay at the mouths of rivers, and do not travel into fresh water like the females do.

I have a couple spots on pool #4 that I would be confident in catching an eel or two. You can tell right away from the fight that it is an eel on the line. They just pull different than any other fish.

Just don’t understand…how can they pull differantly…I mean I know you eye guys use ultra sensitive graphite rods…but when the line is cut…well, I guess that IS sensitive!

I caught one some years ago and don’t care to catch another.Icut the too. They catch quite a few off the float here in Alma