Missing a lot of bites

[Cane Pole]

When I have bad luck hooking fish, I adorn myself with genuine Marie Laveau chicken neck bone trinkets. Adjustments work.

This is the best solution. Trust me.

[crappie wrangler]

I kept 20 out of 59 fish today. Limit is 37 per day so what I kept was well below what I am allowed and was also all I wanted to clean. Catch to strike ratio was still easily 30%. I caught fish form 2' to 38' with the majority in about 12'. I also caught 7 small mouth up to 6.5 pounds and two carp 25+ pounds. Missing strikes is part of the fun and being as I am catching well over the legal limit (not keeping that many) as I said earlier if I caught every strike I would only be able to fish an hour a day which would not be enough for me. It was nice having guides watch me land the large carp on ultra light rods and six pound line. Being as fisherman can be a bit boastful I always provide proof.

[Hanr3]

Crappiepappy,

You could be right. I caught that monster in the Chicago River while my son was taking his bar exam. We stayed in a hotel on the river for the week. I discovered many things that week.
1) Well dressed executives give you strange looks when you walk through the hotel in shorts, polo shirt, and ball cap carrying a 6'6" St. Croix rod and small tackle bag. However, at night they will flag you down and ask how the fishing was and why I choose to fish the Chicago river?
2) Chicago park district offers free fishing classes in the park next to the river. They will give you bait, rod and reel, and show you how to use them. Had some great conversations with the staff and watched a bunch of kids having fun catching dinks. For most it was their first fish.
3) Bass in the Chicago river have stub noses from bumping up against the wall.

I caught this bad boy from the same spot. Chicago River in the back ground.

[crappie cowboy]

Take the slack out of the line, use sickle hooks, or sharpen the hooks you have...

[slabbandit]

I had a friend tell me one time "Wait till they got it in their mouth". I said "What do you think they got a hold of it with? They ain't got no hands!!"

[NightShift]

We are heading out tonight. Sickle hooks in hand and some other advice I got on this thread. I will let everyone know if the average moves in either direction. After a long nap!

[crappie wrangler]

I put a small album on my profile that shows what can be done without catching every strike. The album is a small sample of thousands of photos I have. The hook sharpener I showed can be bought from many of the large retailers for around $15.00 I order mine from China for $2.74 with free delivery. A cold front and storm blew here yesterday so I get a couple days off to work on equipment.

[yobuck]

Crappiepappy,

You could be right. I caught that monster in the Chicago River while my son was taking his bar exam. We stayed in a hotel on the river for the week. I discovered many things that week.
1) Well dressed executives give you strange looks when you walk through the hotel in shorts, polo shirt, and ball cap carrying a 6'6" St. Croix rod and small tackle bag. However, at night they will flag you down and ask how the fishing was and why I choose to fish the Chicago river?
2) Chicago park district offers free fishing classes in the park next to the river. They will give you bait, rod and reel, and show you how to use them. Had some great conversations with the staff and watched a bunch of kids having fun catching dinks. For most it was their first fish.
3) Bass in the Chicago river have stub noses from bumping up against the wall.

I caught this bad boy from the same spot. Chicago River in the back ground.

Never mind what you did, the important thing is did the kid pass the bar exam? lol

[Hanr3]

Never mind what you did, the important thing is did the kid pass the bar exam? lol

Yep, first time around. lol

[Hanr3]

We are heading out tonight. Sickle hooks in hand and some other advice I got on this thread. I will let everyone know if the average moves in either direction. After a long nap!

Sorry for sidetracking your thread. How did you do?
It is frustrating when they nibble at the bait. Sometimes they are just bumping the bait to see the reaction. Another technique is to slowly pull the bait away from them, then pause, move, pause, repeat. Recast and do it again, if still no hit, then recast and do a slow constant retrieve.