Take a look where the hook is on this fish,m (right in the chin), I left it there so I could ask this question.

I get this a couple times a year. Im pretty sure its from a late hook set. In this case I was free spooling in a fast deep slot and when I thumbed the spool the rod just doubled over, didnt even get a chance to set the hook. This fish tore me up and I was excited when I saw it was a little larger than avarage but when I landed it I saw where it was hooked it bothered me a bit.

The fish wasnt hurt and no damage was done, It revived and left me nicely but never the less it was foul hooked.

Has this happened to you?

Rich,
Could have happened in the fight when the fish was rolling?? Had serveral that when you initially hooked the fish you could see that it was right in the corner but in the fight it dislodges and ended up else where. Nice fish though.

Thight lines

Kevin

Rich

I have caught a couple of hatchery brats drift fishing in that same manner. Makes you wonder if the fish took the hook or if the hook took the fish. I tend to believe the fish was going for the bait and just kind of missed running into the hook.

While float fishing with a jig I have also hooked many white fish in that same spot on the underside of the mouth.

That happens to me several times a year. I think it has to do with where in the drift you fish. Ive hooked up this way whe I'm in a rock garden that has a pretty good flow to it I free spool through the tail out area behind a rock. I believe once you start to free spool you have minor separation between the hook and corkie and the fish hits the corkie while the hook dangles slightly under it. You set the hook or in your case just hang on and the hook is lodged under it's jaw. Right or wrong thats been my thoughts on this over the years.

I have done the same thing many times, and I just wonder if it was a result of the old "Garden Slug" hook set. Kinda like falling asleep at the wheel.


One thing for sure, is that they fight pretty hard when hooked that way, as you kind of have control of them, but can't lead their head around the same way as when they get hooked in the mouth.

what size hook and corkie were you using, i have found if im using a smaller corkie and a bigger hook, it will float jus below the fish, i hooked several silvers in this manner, so i went with a smaller hook and didnt hook them like that..jus a suggestion

Berkley,

3/0 mustad and a 6" floating plastic. drift fished.

Can't speculate as to how it happened, but it sure is a dandy fish!!

Rich,

That,
might explain it. A steelhead picks it up at the head and voila, the hook is danglin' just enough out of it's mouth to hook it under the jaw. That fish would have had to been asleep or dead (doesn't look likely) to get flossed by a big ol' 6" piece of pink plastic. Did I say pink? Oh my. Anyway, this has happened to me, sometimes in the gill plate, but usually when fishing with double hook set ups with a bobber and shrimp. Very rarely, if ever, for me with a solo corkie. But the way steelhead twist and roll after getting hooked I guess anything could happen. My guess would be it's because that 3/0 is hanging 6 inches out the posterior of that worm. Did I say worm? Oh my.

By the way, naaaaaaaaaice fish! Oh my.

Nice Fishey Rich,

I have this happen to me every once in a while, and in thinking back it normally happens when the fish takes it hard, like a Mack truck.

My personal opinion is that they are going fast, or the lure is going fast, and its just that bit of extra speed that makes them miss the hook just a bit. Or they swipe at the head of the plastic and catch the hook a little low.

Good thing your hooks are sharp:)

Off the top of my head, I've hooked four fish that way.

The first was probably fifteen years ago on a very small stream, using a corky. I saw the fish, casted, drifted to the fish, which moved up a good foot to grab the corky.

Set the hook, fought the fish, landed it, and found it hooked right where yours is.

It was somewhat slow, swirly water, so my guess is that the corky slid up the line and hooked up on the bottom of the chin when I set it.

The other three times were hooked on...drifted pink worms. If I put the hook in the head of the worm, I get short strikes. If I put it 2/3 of the way down, I get more hookups, but occasionally hook a fish in the chin. If I use two hooks I don't like the drift of the worm anymore....so I go with one hook 2/3 of the way back.

Fish on...

Todd.

BTW, nice fish, Rich!

Rich-\
a pretty lady!!

I don't think it happens when the hook slides up the leader. If that was the case after the fish took the bait/lure the hook would be pulled into the side of the face opposite the angler. The fish would be hooked similar to those hooked while flossing or fishing an egg bead pegged several inches up from the hook.

Rather I think what happens is that the fish changed it's "mind" at the last minute and snagged itself. Basically the fish sees the bait/lure from a distances, makes a rush and at the last minute turns hooking itself. This accounts for the hard take. It occurs when there is good visibility in the water but rarely (ever?) in dirty water (less than a foot); if it was a case of a droopy hook water conditions would not make a difference.

In clear water I have watch fish make a move towards the fly (usually while watching from a high bank) and turn at the last second. The shock-wave cause the fly to move or tumble and the angler may feel a slight "pluck" even though the fish never took. If the fish turns away and up its chin is exposed. . . . Just a theory based on observation.

Tight lines
Smalma

Don't think I've ever hooked a salmon or steelhead there, but I've hooked a number of trout there while flyfishing. Kind of like Smalma said.

that is a sweet lookin fish

Did the same thing last sat with 4" of floating plastic.She slamed my worm first cast.I missed her but had very obvios teeth marks on my worm.next cast she slammed it again and I set.I got her in very short order and it was hooked in the same spot.I wondered also as I am used to corner of the jaw and she obviosly bit the hook.

nice fish!!!!

I dont know how many ive caught like that, 8 to 10, i was told that sometimes the fish like to smash the bait against the bottom..do i believe that? not likely... i think they just spit it out just before the hook set.

Rich


I don't want to start something here that gets misconstrued, but I have a few questions to ask you. First off, that a nice fish!

Secondly, it appears to have a full adipose fin intack, indication that it was a wild fish (is that correct?). If that is so, why would you be using a size 3/0 hook in waters that are holding wild steelhead?

I thought it was the general consciences of this board from reading the numerous posting about hooking mortality that the larger the hook size was, the higher the fatality rate will be on hook and released fish. It has been my experience as a guide, that when I was using hooks in the size of 2/0 and up, I experience a lot more bleeding and possible body damage to the fish that we had hooked. A 3/0 hooks leaves a lot larger exit wound then lets say a 1or 1/0 hook does.

Rich, please don't take these question personally, I do not want to offend any one, but I did find it strange that hook and release advocates such as you, would be using hooks in that size range in waters that are holding wild native steelheads. I find it even stranger that fellow c&r members hadn't already asked you the same question!

Am I missing something here? If so, what is it?

Was it a "hatchery" fish?



Cowlitzfisherman

when fishing for steelies i use a #2, and kings #1 or 1/0, i personally like the smaller hook so it doesnt drag my corkie down...anyone fish the puyallup recently and has the water dropped any?

CFM,

All my 5/0's say "Hatchery Fish Only Please". Problem is , there just isn't enough room to scribble "Please" on a 3/0.

One observation though on behalf on larger hooks is they are definately much easier to remove when releasing fish. Personally, I just can't see that much difference in the size or severity of wound made by a 3/0 as opposed to 2/0 hook. At least I'm sure we can all agree that a 1/0 barbed can do far more damage coming out than a 3/0 barbless hook.

Rich - happens a lot when using the plastic. The fish grabbed the plastic someplace other than the tail (and hook). As you set the hook, the hook basically just snaps up and whaps any and all flesh it finds, be it in or out side of the head.