Photos: Savage Gear · supplied retailer imagery
Predator lures · Eel imitations · Our take
Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel
17cm / 50g and 25cm / 109g slow-sinking versions
A slow-sinking eel imitation with a hard body, soft-tail appeal and two distinctly different tackle demands. Pick the right size and it’s a handy option for working likely pike water without rushing the retrieve.
- 17cm version: 50g with size #1 hooks.
- 25cm version: 109g with size #2/0 hooks.
- Slow-sinking design with 3D-scanned detailing.
- Magnetic hook holder and corkscrew tail attachment.
Make sure it’s the right one. Both sizes are covered here. The ABS body, built-in rattle and inclusion of two soft tails are confirmed specifically for the 17cm package.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A well-equipped pike tail bait with useful replaceability and two meaningful size choices; tackle demands and soft-tail wear are the main compromises.
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.3/10
- Ease of Use8.4/10
- Value for Money8.3/10
If you buy through our links, we might get a small kickback, but it won’t cost you a penny extra. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The full story
Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Pike anglers working open water and weed edges. The slow-sinking tail-bait format suits controlled retrieves through clear lanes and alongside cover.
- Anglers with a dedicated heavier lure outfit. The two weights offer substantial presentations, with the 25cm version particularly suited to a properly matched big-lure setup.
Maybe skip if
- Light-tackle perch anglers. Even the smaller version weighs 50g, putting it outside the comfortable range of many light spinning outfits.
- Anglers fishing straight through dense weed. This isn’t a weedless presentation; the hooks can collect weed and the lure sinks during pauses.
The lowdown
Introducing the Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel
A slow-sinking eel imitation with a hard body, soft-tail appeal and two distinctly different tackle demands. Pick the right size and it’s a handy option for working likely pike water without rushing the retrieve.
- 17cm version: 50g with size #1 hooks.
- 25cm version: 109g with size #2/0 hooks.
- Slow-sinking design with 3D-scanned detailing.
- Magnetic hook holder and corkscrew tail attachment.
Quick verdict
Big-lure appeal, without needing a frantic retrieve
The 3D Hard Eel makes sense for pike anglers after an eel-shaped tail bait they can wind steadily, pause and work around likely holding areas. The slow sink, scanned detailing and corkscrew tail attachment give it more going on than looks alone.
The 17cm is the easier starting point if your outfit comfortably handles 50g. The 109g version is a proper step up, not a cheeky extra to sling on a light spinning rod. Allow for soft-tail wear, too.
A well-equipped pike tail bait with useful replaceability and two meaningful size choices; tackle demands and soft-tail wear are the main compromises.
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.3/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.4/10
- Value for Money
- 8.3/10
The detailed body, magnetic hook holder and replaceable tail make a thoughtfully equipped package, though the soft section remains a wear point.
Slow-sinking buoyancy gives useful retrieve options in clear water, but demands care around weed and snags.
It offers a substantial eel-shaped target for pike, with placement and depth control still doing the important work.
A steady retrieve provides an approachable starting point, although the heavier version needs dedicated tackle.
Replaceable tails and the two included with the 17cm package support its value, with the deal depending on asking price and replacement-tail costs.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Savage Gear
Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel (this one)
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel
The Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel is one for the predator box, mate. Not a little perch snack to flick about on your lightest spinning rod, but a substantial eel imitation aimed squarely at the sort of fishing where pike are the main event. Its appeal is straightforward: a recognisable prey shape, a soft tail and a slow-sinking presentation you can work without constantly cracking the rod tip. If you like covering likely water with a deliberate retrieve rather than an exhausting dance routine, it’s a sensible lure to consider.
First job is choosing the right size, because there’s a proper jump between them. The 17cm version weighs 50g, while the 25cm comes in at 109g. Neither figure is something to shrug off when you’re checking your rod’s casting range. The smaller model is the more approachable option for a suitably rated pike spinning outfit; the bigger one belongs with tackle that’s comfortable throwing heavy lures. Don’t assume a rod is up to it just because it’s landed a lump before. Casting weight and fish-fighting ability aren’t the same thing.
The construction is particularly interesting on the 17cm model: a hard ABS body paired with a soft tail. That gives you a solid main section with a more flexible trailing element, rather than an entirely hard lure or an entirely soft bait. There’s 3D-scanned detailing as well, which helps sell the eel-like appearance. Nice to have, certainly, especially when a fish gets a close look. But don’t get so wrapped up in pretty finishes that you forget the basics. Putting it at a useful depth, near a pike, matters more than admiring it in the box.
Slow sinking is a useful middle ground, provided you understand what it means on the bank. Stop winding and the lure descends; it doesn’t hang perfectly still or rise clear of trouble. That gives you room to add pauses and let it settle into a different part of the water column. It also means a distracted moment over shallow weed can end with a green beard on the hooks. Start somewhere you can see the lure, watch what it does during a pause and use that as your guide before sending it out across the swim.
A steady retrieve is a sensible starting point. Get a feel for the lure, keep contact and change one thing at a time rather than chucking every trick at it on the first cast. Along a clear weed edge or through open water beside cover, you can vary the pace and add a brief pause where you think a fish might be sitting. There’s no need to promise yourself a savage hit every time the tail passes a gap. Good lure fishing is often about repeatable depth and coverage, not making every cast look dramatic.
There are a couple of handy practical touches here. The magnetic hook holder is intended to help keep the hook positioned against the lure, while the corkscrew tail attachment means the soft section can be replaced. On the 17cm package, two soft tails are included, which is welcome on a bait with a tooth-friendly rear end. Still, soft material is soft material. Check it for splits and make sure it sits straight after attention from a fish or a snag. A replaceable tail is useful, but it isn’t a promise that tail damage stops mattering.
The 17cm model also carries a built-in rattle, adding sound to the visual presentation. That’s another option in your armoury rather than an automatic advantage in every swim. Some days you may want a noticeable bait; on others, a quieter alternative deserves a turn. Whichever size you choose, use a proper pike-resistant trace, suitable connections and tackle that lets you stay in control. Have your net, long forceps and cutters ready before casting. A lure with substantial hooks is much less of a faff when the unhooking kit is already beside you.
So who should have it on the shortlist? Pike anglers who already enjoy purposeful lure fishing and want an eel-shaped option for clear lanes, open water and the edges of cover. The 17cm is the logical starting point for many suitably equipped anglers, while the 25cm makes sense when a heavier presentation is a deliberate choice. Neither is a shortcut to a PB, and neither belongs buried in thick weed. Pick the size your outfit handles properly, watch the sink on those pauses and give the fish a well-placed target. That’s the bit that counts.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- 17cm version
- 50g; size #1 hooks
- 25cm version
- 109g; size #2/0 hooks
- Buoyancy
- Slow sinking
- Detail and hardware
- 3D-scanned detailing; magnetic hook holder; corkscrew tail attachment
- 17cm construction
- Hard ABS body, soft tail and built-in rattle
- 17cm package
- Includes two soft tails
Specs checked with Savage Gear, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Choose the outfit before the eel
The important choice isn’t just which colour looks tasty. It’s whether your rod, reel and trace are suited to casting and controlling the lure you’ve picked.
At 50g and 109g, these versions sit in different casting-weight territory. Match that first, then think about depth, retrieve pace and where a pike can intercept the lure.
Build and presentation
Closer look: more than an eel-shaped hard bait
The 17cm model combines an ABS body with a soft tail and built-in rattle. It’s a useful distinction: you’re buying a hard-bodied tail bait, not a one-piece soft eel. The scanned detailing supplies the visual finish, while the flexible tail gives the trailing section a different character from the body.
The corkscrew attachment gives you a way to change a damaged tail rather than write off the whole lure. Fit it neatly and check that it sits straight. The magnetic hook holder helps manage hook positioning, but don’t mistake that for weedless protection; you still need a reasonably clear route through the swim.
Worth knowing. Two soft tails are confirmed in the 17cm package. Don’t automatically carry that detail across to the 25cm pack. Check the pack contents and availability of suitable replacement tails before buying extras.
Tackle and tactics
Who it suits: pike anglers with the right gear
This is a good fit for an angler who wants to work defined areas rather than cast blindly and wind flat out. Think the outside of a weedbed, a clear lane beside cover or open water where you can explore depth with controlled pauses. Keep the retrieve repeatable so you know roughly where the lure is travelling.
Choose between 50g and 109g around your tackle and intended presentation, not a belief that the larger lure guarantees larger pike. Use a rod with a suitable casting range and avoid treating its upper limit as a target to exceed. Smooth, controlled casting makes more sense than trying to smash a heavy bait to the horizon.
It’s less attractive for light mixed-species spinning or retrieving straight through thick vegetation. In those situations, a smaller lure or a genuinely weedless option is the better tool. Here, the sweet spot is having enough clear water to let a sizeable eel imitation do its thing.
Quick bank-side answers
FAQs in full: size, sink and tail changes
Which size should you pick? The 17cm is 50g with size #1 hooks; the 25cm is 109g with size #2/0 hooks. Start with the one your outfit comfortably handles. The smaller version is still a substantial lure, while the larger version needs a deliberate move into heavier tackle.
Will it stay above the weed when you stop winding? Not automatically. It’s slow sinking, so a pause costs you clearance. Watch it in visible water first and shorten pauses over shallow cover. There’s no single countdown that puts it at the same depth in every swim.
Can you change the tail? Yes, via the corkscrew attachment. Check the attachment area for damage and seat the replacement straight. The 17cm package includes two soft tails, but it’s still sensible to check compatible replacements before you find yourself needing one halfway through a trip.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Two sizes let you choose a substantial or genuinely heavyweight pike presentation.
- Slow-sinking design allows pauses without an immediate plunge.
- Corkscrew attachment makes the soft tail replaceable.
- 17cm package includes two soft tails.
- Scanned detailing gives it a convincing eel-like profile.
Worth knowing
- The 109g version needs an outfit comfortably rated for heavy lures.
- Soft tails remain vulnerable to teeth and repeated wear.
- Exposed hooks and sinking buoyancy limit its usefulness through thick weed.
Want one?
Add it to your Wanted list or join a Group Buy — shops see anonymous totals only.
Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What’s the difference between the two sizes?
What’s the difference between the two sizes?
The 17cm weighs 50g and has size #1 hooks. The 25cm weighs 109g and has size #2/0 hooks. That weight jump matters when choosing your rod, not just when choosing the size of meal to offer.
02Does the Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel float?
Does the Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel float?
No. These versions are slow sinking. A pause lets the lure descend, so keep the bottom, weed height and available depth in mind.
03Can you replace the soft tail?
Can you replace the soft tail?
Yes. It uses a corkscrew tail attachment. The confirmed 17cm package includes two soft tails; check the contents of the particular pack you’re buying rather than assuming every version includes the same extras.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: big-lure appeal, without needing a frantic retrieve. The strongest reasons to choose it are two sizes let you choose a substantial or genuinely heavyweight pike presentation. and slow-sinking design allows pauses without an immediate plunge.; the main trade-off is the 109g version needs an outfit comfortably rated for heavy lures..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Two sizes let you choose a substantial or genuinely heavyweight pike presentation.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Pike anglers working open water and weed edges: The slow-sinking tail-bait format suits controlled retrieves through clear lanes and alongside cover.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The 109g version needs an outfit comfortably rated for heavy lures.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel
No angler score yet — nobody's reviewed Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel here. Be the first and get the score started.
Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Savage Gear 3D Hard Eel. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
No owner reports yet.
Alternatives & go-withs
