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"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message ...
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message SNIP One thing I can say is that almost everytime I got excited and set the hook as soon as I saw the strike I missed the fish. ***That's very common and easy to do. Topwater bites can be very subtle or as explosive as someone dropping a cow from a bridge! Now for my question. I got into some smallmouth on a local canal that I managed to hit the same time on three different days. On two of those days I tied into a larger fish that got off. They both got off when diving away from me in the current. I had tension on them, but because they had the current helping them I was careful not to horse them. I basically felt like the hook just pulled free. They didn't shake it out. ***If the hook pulled free, either it wasn't hooked securely, i.e. thin tissue/barely hooked or your hookset wasn't what it could be. Today I boated a 14 inch LM fishing the mouth of the Arizona Channel on the Colorado River. (picture in ABPF) He was barely hooked by one barb of the rear hook. If I had a long fight or if I had to drag him out of the current I am sure that hook would have torn out. What can I do to minimize the loss of lightly hooked fish like that? ***You don't say if you're using spinning tackle or baitcasting. Regardless of which method you use, it sounds like you might have the drag set too tight, loosen it up some so that the fish can strip drag if needed. If using spinning tackle, you can backreel, a method that offers superb control IF you know how to do it properly. If using baitcasting tackle, you can also freespool the fish, applying pressure with your thumb as the fish surges. One of the smallies I lost was probably a much larger fish based on the fight. ***If you're like me Bob, it probably was! ;-) -- Steve OutdoorFrontiers http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods http://www.herefishyfishy.com -- Bob La Londe Yuma, Az http://www.YumaBassMan.com Promote Your Fishing, Boating, or Guide Site for Free Simply add it to our index page. No reciprocal link required. (Requested, but not required) -------------------------------- Bob, you can also try replacing the hooks that come on the bait. Many times the hooks on the bait are to small, not very good etc. I like the 4 barb hooks (Strike King Saber Point Super Quad hook). I use these on my spooks, etc. -Justin -------------------------------- |
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"Justin Hires" wrote in message
m... "Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message ... "Bob La Londe" wrote in message SNIP One thing I can say is that almost everytime I got excited and set the hook as soon as I saw the strike I missed the fish. ***That's very common and easy to do. Topwater bites can be very subtle or as explosive as someone dropping a cow from a bridge! Now for my question. I got into some smallmouth on a local canal that I managed to hit the same time on three different days. On two of those days I tied into a larger fish that got off. They both got off when diving away from me in the current. I had tension on them, but because they had the current helping them I was careful not to horse them. I basically felt like the hook just pulled free. They didn't shake it out. ***If the hook pulled free, either it wasn't hooked securely, i.e. thin tissue/barely hooked or your hookset wasn't what it could be. Today I boated a 14 inch LM fishing the mouth of the Arizona Channel on the Colorado River. (picture in ABPF) He was barely hooked by one barb of the rear hook. If I had a long fight or if I had to drag him out of the current I am sure that hook would have torn out. What can I do to minimize the loss of lightly hooked fish like that? ***You don't say if you're using spinning tackle or baitcasting. Regardless of which method you use, it sounds like you might have the drag set too tight, loosen it up some so that the fish can strip drag if needed. If using spinning tackle, you can backreel, a method that offers superb control IF you know how to do it properly. If using baitcasting tackle, you can also freespool the fish, applying pressure with your thumb as the fish surges. One of the smallies I lost was probably a much larger fish based on the fight. ***If you're like me Bob, it probably was! ;-) -- Steve OutdoorFrontiers http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods http://www.herefishyfishy.com -- Bob La Londe Yuma, Az http://www.YumaBassMan.com Promote Your Fishing, Boating, or Guide Site for Free Simply add it to our index page. No reciprocal link required. (Requested, but not required) -------------------------------- Bob, you can also try replacing the hooks that come on the bait. Many times the hooks on the bait are to small, not very good etc. I like the 4 barb hooks (Strike King Saber Point Super Quad hook). I use these on my spooks, etc. -Justin -------------------------------- Replacing the hooks is an excellent idea. I was so impressed witht he Excalibur Rotating hooks on my Spiitin' Image topwaters that I replaced the front hooks on all my small poppers with them. I had a lot of fish get hooked outside the mouth with that hook. You know the fish I mean. The ones that just come up and kill the bait without opening their mouth. In fact I caught a striper that way last night. I haven't replaced the back hook because it has a nice hair and tinsel streamer. I suppose I should get out my fli tieing vise and tie some of my own stramers on the rotating hooks to make my own trailer hook for those. Since I had to use what seemed like a much alrger hook as a replacement I think the action ont he smaller poppers is slightly harder to impart properly. Perhaps increasing the size of the rear hook too will make it sit more face up in the water. Thanks Justin. You got me thinking again. -- Bob La Londe Yuma, Az http://www.YumaBassMan.com Promote Your Fishing, Boating, or Guide Site for Free Simply add it to our index page. No reciprocal link required. (Requested, but not required) |
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