Live ones - just toss them out, let them sink.
Passive fishing - you have a sinker, and the eel is tethered to it with a 3 way swivel, at least 24" away. When the bass hits, you will feel a bunp. Do not strike on the first bump, let it chew, wait 3 secs, and cross its eyes.
Active fishing - no weight - You are basically crawling livies back across the bottom if you are actively fishing them. Wait for the bump, which is when they are inhaling it. Give it a sec more, set the hook.
Dead ones - rigged usually with weights, either e lead head or point jude type flat lead head. The Point Jude type lets is sway back and forth as you retrieve, very seductive. bass love it, can't resist if they're around.
The difference here is if you feel the bump, set the hook right away.
hope that helped, good luck, report back if you get a fish.
Here's the best way if ya got some deeper water or current and ya want it to stay closer to the bottom, dead sticked. Could also use this setup on a boat or kayak in deeper water.
A point about the hooks. If you are using double hooks (doesn't make sense to go thru all that trouble without double hooks), you should connect them with wire. Sometimes the rear hook will become crooked, you should sew it to the body with dacron so both stay straight.
A great way to fish rigged eels is deeper water or near an inlet. Where you can find that from shore, you will hit bass. I will take my kayak out and fish them when there is bait around. I haven't caught fish in 3 weeks, I think it's over up here.