Salmon fishing

Lakegeezer · 04-29-2005, 05:03 PM

While fishing for salmon today, we caught two at about 15-16". Threw them back for being too small, but noticed that both had swallowed the smelt. We just tore the line and left the hook in the fish. Are we doing something wrong, or was it just bad luck that both swallowed the hook? I'd rather hook them in the lips.

Jonas Pilot · 05-04-2005, 05:18 PM

Were you trolling or drifting the smelt? Usually you will "lip 'em" while trolling. If you were and they swallowed the hook it's probably just a bit of bad luck. If you were drifting the smelt it could have been because you waited too long to set the hook. A lot of "old timers" think you should slowly count to 5 before setting the hook. Others think you should let the fish run after it takes the bait, wait for it to stop, and wait until the fish starts to run again before setting the hook. This is fine if you are going to put the fish into the cooler, but not if you plan to catch and release. Remember, fish don't have hands! When most fish take a bait it's in their mouth. They open their gill covers a split second before they open their mouth. This displaces the water in front of the mouth, sucking in the prey. By striking immediately you're setting the hook while it is still in the mouth before they get a chance to swallow it. You might miss a fish here and there by setting quickly but if your plan is to release the fish it's the best way to assure a lip set. You'll make up for those missed fish anyways because by staying on top of the hook set you'll hook more fish before they have a chance to spit the hook.

04-29-2005, 05:03 PM	#1
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,677 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 354 Thanked 639 Times in 290 Posts	Salmon fishing While fishing for salmon today, we caught two at about 15-16". Threw them back for being too small, but noticed that both had swallowed the smelt. We just tore the line and left the hook in the fish. Are we doing something wrong, or was it just bad luck that both swallowed the hook? I'd rather hook them in the lips. __________________ -lg

05-04-2005, 05:18 PM	#2
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	swallowed hooks Were you trolling or drifting the smelt? Usually you will "lip 'em" while trolling. If you were and they swallowed the hook it's probably just a bit of bad luck. If you were drifting the smelt it could have been because you waited too long to set the hook. A lot of "old timers" think you should slowly count to 5 before setting the hook. Others think you should let the fish run after it takes the bait, wait for it to stop, and wait until the fish starts to run again before setting the hook. This is fine if you are going to put the fish into the cooler, but not if you plan to catch and release. Remember, fish don't have hands! When most fish take a bait it's in their mouth. They open their gill covers a split second before they open their mouth. This displaces the water in front of the mouth, sucking in the prey. By striking immediately you're setting the hook while it is still in the mouth before they get a chance to swallow it. You might miss a fish here and there by setting quickly but if your plan is to release the fish it's the best way to assure a lip set. You'll make up for those missed fish anyways because by staying on top of the hook set you'll hook more fish before they have a chance to spit the hook.