JayR

I've been looking for a real eel spear for years. Where did you get that!!!!!!!
I commercially speared eels as a teen and it was the most fun I have ever had. Filled a 21 foot boat to almost knee depth a couple times.
Man would I love to try that again. Big ones are tasty as can be!!@!@!

__________________
I really don't care what you have to say about me, just as long as you mention my name

Scup

Wilcox, in the Mystic Stonington area just off route 1 on Wilcox road. He had only one spear head left on the shelf last week with zero probability of ever getting any more of them in as the maker of it is dead. Wilcox is asking around $60 for it. I really do not think they would be that hard to make as I would like to get a smaller version for bait. This type of spear does not put a big hole in the eel so for the most part they will survive being caught. I was surprised at watching some of these old time eel spears being bid up to over $200 on Ebay. The one I shown in the sketch is somewhat more of a modern version meant for catching eating/smoking sized eels. Still, if blacksmiths could make these heads more than 100 years ago, I do not understand why somebody today could not fabricate them in stainless steel especially considering all of the marvelous TIG/MIG equipment that is currently available. I also purchased a small stainless (12 inches) bull clam rake basket from Wilcox as well. This is a far more of a complex construction project than the eel head. Whoever makes these clam baskets is talented. Wilcox asked $100 for the basket, which I thought was a great buy. I wanted a 24 inch basket but he did not have any in stock. My chest has slipped down to where my gut is and I can no longer wield a 30 inch bull rake comfortably. Still a 12 inch rake is better than a 30 inch rake that is fast becoming too much for me.

__________________
"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go" by William Feather

Bob & Mag

OH OH, we'll need to have Jim start making spears now. ;)

__________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Smoke free 4 Months!

Scup

Bob, I could almost make one myself as I did fool around a bit with blacksmithing in my youth. There is no question that Jim could do it. Take a look at the spear head that was up for bid on Ebay a couple of days ago (Item 270233544744). Eleven bids and the old spearhead went for $204. The problems as I see it is: today's steels are not of the same quality as yesteryear's iron, bidders want antiques not a working steel (or stainless) spearhead made recently, and there are simply no where near as many eels about today as there were fifty years ago. Therefore, unless one has an antique (and can find it), there is not going to be too much of an incentive to start making them for sale or profit.

__________________
"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go" by William Feather