I think the hook needs replacing... hooking those bites seem impossible... we hook 1 in 10 of the bites we get.

what size should i use if i replace the hook?

i normally use a #4 red octupus hook or a #6 baitholder for trout. Personally i think the red hook helps give your bait a little more flash. I don't know about kokes.

I normally retie Wedding rings with a two hook set-up (like a herring mooching rig) and use a #4 baitholder on the back and a #6 bait holder in the front. Space the hooks about 2" apart, this will allow a good amount of worm to trail off the back hook. Often times when a trout strikes, they hit just short of the hook on a single hook rig, and then don't come back to finish it off. With the double hook set up there's usually enough worm left to entice them back for a second strike. If you use corn or maggots in addition to the worm, reverse the hook sizes and put the small hook at the rear. Good Luck!

Hey thanks a bunch! So do I tie it like I normally do a bait leader? The ones I tie come out looking like the ones eagle claw makes, but longer.

Also do I tie the bottom ones then the top? Thanks a bunch!

Definately, tie on two hooks like Traut said. The worm and the fish stay on better.

Man I love this board... I can bring any kind of problem to it and know what is wrong in less than a day. Thanks guys so much! I'm going to tie some leaders up tonight for it.

Out of all the free sample's I've sent out, not even a mention of Uncle Wes's Custom Worm Trolls. Hand tied by the PELICAN himself. Blades that are made out of .025 marine grade brass (French Spinning Blade's at that) Individual ground beads, that are virtually flawless not to mention the gold and silver plated beads for a maximum flash and the blades are gold, silver, and black nickel plated, for max flash. Thank you.

Do you still have samples of those? I'd like to buy a few if I found that they worked.

Hey Fella's do they work?

Try this only if you plan on keeping the fish...

When they just nibble or short strike, drop the tip towards the fish quickly (giving some quick slack), then see if you feel him again. If he's still there, give a good solid hook set.

Just imagine a trout trying to keep up with your bait - mouth open trying to taste and smell it. Then it decides to take a little nibble. Suddenly the bait stops, but he is still moving forward. He now has a choice - open wide and swallow that tasty morsal, or duck! Most of the time, they elect to eat the thing.

This is also how a natural meal would react. When a fish hits his prey - they are often trying to stun it so it kind of curls up in shock. Then they eat it.

I like to say if they are being picky - you have to cram it down their throats. You will notice deeper hook sets - so plan on keeping these guys.

Works with other applications as well, like trolling flies, flat fish, rapalas, etc.

Well, maybe this is a bunch of BS, but give it a try next time and see what you think...

I've got to agree with you on that method, especially as the summer wear's on. One thing I have noticed about my troll's is that their big enough that I haven't had any gut hook's, I only use single hook set-up so the double hook thing I wouldn't know about. But what your saying about feeding it to them is 100% true. Take Care.

hey bbvd, are you fishing off a downrigger or line to lure directly? this year i've been really working on trying to control my depth with the downrigger, wether i drop the weight five feet or fourty. it seems like if i really put the line into the clip deep it acts as a hook setter much more quickly then if i'm trolling even with rod in hand. the other thing i sort of chanced into was by using fireline rather then mono line there is much less slack between the lure and my rod so when i set the hook i really have much less line to pull taught. fireline costs a good bit more but seems to last atleast a hole season. good luck.

I'm using line to lure.... Unfortunately I cant put much money into fishing right now, as I have a $66 fine to pay off from forgetting to put my access sewardship decal on... Then a new rod... a new reel... etc. etc. etc.

But I'm definitely going to try ALL these techniques you guys are offering. They all have some good logic to them and I plan on going out thurs or fri.

Thanks a bunch guys!

Curtis

BBVD - you should be able to get that fine thrown out - if not, sustantially reduced.

I haven't had one of those tickets, but if you have the option of taking it to court, and money is a concern, then go for it.

As long as you have proof that you had the decal and purchased your liscence before that day, you should have no problem getting it dropped\reduced...

Hey I just might take that I guess. Yes, I do have the option of a mitigation hearing... I did break the law though as I did not have it on my truck. So who knows, maybe I'll take it to the hearing.

Yes mono has much strech. Are you trolling with too much line out? Try to troll on a shorter line, for a quicker response time.

Hey thanks guys! I'll be going out tomorrow with a couple friends, and I'll tell yas how it went. I'll use all your techniques to, and tell what worked well and what didnt.

hey guys i tookout the wedding rings... a few with two hooks, a few with one.

we ended up getting skunked, but it was nice to be out there on the water again. maybe next time.

we did get a few bites but no serious takers really. i think it was just a bad day.