Missed Fish??

[Philo]

When I was fishing on LOW a few weeks ago, I missed a lot of fish on my bobber set ups. I tried bending the hooks out, but that didn't seem to work. I hooked my minnows through the back just below the fin and I used either #4 or #6 hooks. I usually wait until the bobber is a fair distance below before I set the hook, perhaps three to four inches. Any thoughts as to what is was doing wrong?<P>[This message has been edited by Philo (edited 01-22-2004).]<p>[This message has been edited by Philo (edited 01-22-2004).]

[widetrack]

Sometime for the heck of it, try a small jigging spoon tipped with 1/2 a minnow on your dead stick rod. I think you will like the results.

[Philo]

Sorry, my post wasn't clear. What I meant was I would get a strike and my bobber would go down and I would try to set the hook and miss the fish. I bet I missed about 1/3 of the hits I got. Thanks.

[toddb]

The fish you missed were probably the 6-9"ers that you didn't want to catch anyway . <BR>later,<BR>toddb

[widetrack]

I guess what I was trying to say is with a small Angel eye type lure, tipped with 1/2 a minnow, when the bobber goes down, you won't miss many.<P>With a full minnow, and jig you need to be able to feel when the fish has the hook and not just hanging on the minnow. A top of the line rod will allow you to feel this. (at least most of the time) Everyone misses fish from time to time though.

[kupcho]

If your having problems landing fish on a bobber try to lift slowly and if there is weight there then set the hook. One smooth motion will help increase your odds. <BR>Good luck<P>Kupcho

[Northlander]

Lots of those missed fish were the small ones as stated earlier. They will just grab a piece of the minnow, not enough to get a hook in them. As stated earlier go to a small crappie minnow and #8 hook or a 1/8th oz. spoon with a head or tail on your bobber or deadstick.

[The Big Gaffer]

Try some stinger hooks also. Are they legal? I have always used them so I hope so.

[widetrack]

Stingers are legal.

[i'majigger]

Another trick you might want to try is run the hook paralell to the minnow not crosswise. Start the hook at the dorsel fin on one side or the other of the backbone and when the hook comes out the point should be on the side of the mouth of the minnow. as you know or may not that a walleye usually swollows a minnow head first so this way the hook is there and ready for the fish, this has worked good for me. Good Luck!!!

[Northlander]

Curt my plans changed as well. With the poor weather I decided to hit Mil Lacs for the Ice Series event. Maybe Ill win something.