Keeping fish on the line

I've finally found the time to go fishing, it's been a busy year so far. I've essentially had one honey hole that I've frequented for the last year, which consistently produces large numbers of large (fat and 8+ inch) fish. In an effort to diversify the places I fish, I've started to explore new waters, and today I visited New Croton reservoir, part of the NYC water supply system.

There were no shortage of bites, and I had plenty of fish on my line, but so many spit or shook out the hook. I'm not sure if it's a lack of a hookset (I'm using braid and reeling them in usually sets the hook well). I lost a perch, a nice bass, and so many bluegill.

With that being said, I did land a number of fish, all small, but still fun. Attachment 488176Attachment 488178Attachment 488177Attachment 488179

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It’s always nice to get out and explore new waters. Thanks for sharing

I’m also always in search of the next honey hole. I’ve found several close by in years past and the catch rates keep me looking for more. Glad you found some and hope you find another soon.

Bluegill often just nip at and hold on to the tail of my jigs. Maybe this is what's happening to you as well? Or perhaps your hook has been in use for a long time and is not as sharp as it once was and not poking in as deep as it used to. Just a couple of guesses.

One other think I've noticed is that I lose more fish on my softest rod, the TCB, compared to my other favorites. I believe that the soft action of the TCB just doesn't give me the hookset that the slightly stiffer rods do. I have to remember to SET the hook harder when using the TCB. If you're switching rods that may be contributing to your problem.

Good job trying new water; if can be fun learning and finding them all over again.

stiffer rod and sharper hook is my take , but it could be other things as well ...
congrats on the new spot and KABOOM

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Originally Posted by 6poundtest

Bluegill often just nip at and hold on to the tail of my jigs. Maybe this is what's happening to you as well? Or perhaps your hook has been in use for a long time and is not as sharp as it once was and not poking in as deep as it used to. Just a couple of guesses.

One other think I've noticed is that I lose more fish on my softest rod, the TCB, compared to my other favorites. I believe that the soft action of the TCB just doesn't give me the hookset that the slightly stiffer rods do. I have to remember to SET the hook harder when using the TCB. If you're switching rods that may be contributing to your problem.

Good job trying new water; if can be fun learning and finding them all over again.

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I only use a TCB :). I love the feel, but it might be time to look for another rod because it can certainly get frustrating to lose so many. Thanks for the advice!

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I quit having this problem with my TCB by going to 6lb braid. With the soft tip action combined with any stretch from mono, = missed fish. Also as previously mentioned is the fish just grabbing the tail. try shortening them up a bit. It might help a bit too...Good luck with it, and land a boat full of them nice colored up beauties...

Its not lack of hookset, it takes no effort to penetrate a panfish mouth. You are possibly pulling hooks with too stiff of a rod with braid.

Its usually quite difficult to lose panfish during the fight due to the small mouth and lack of acrobatic skills, i routinely fish with barbless hooks and cannot remember the last time i lost one during a fight on a spinning rod, that did not wrap itself in a snag.

I also rarely set the hook, just lift up on the rod and start reeling so i dont think that is your issue.

If you are using a super light ultralight, i would guess your braid is pulling a hole in the mouth and you are giving slack somehow during the fight where the hook falls out, possibly while netting. I have this issue with my fly rod often.

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Going to be very frank here. It is not the TCB that is the problem. I have not set a hook in years. I don’t have to. I use much softer rods than the TCB and fish hook themselves. I use only JDM jig heads with hooks as sharp as needles. I took a trout trip this past week and used a great lure with a crappy hook. I caught fish but nowhere as many as I should have. If you ever try a jig head made with a Japanese hook I venture to say you won’t go back to US market jig heads. I_fish was so frustrated with US domestic jig heads he started having his own jig heads made. He sells those, and I have used them, and I have to say his hooks are pretty darn good.

Regards


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I will add my 2 cents here, and it builds on a theme that has already started. My Mrs. was having issues with keeping fish on recently, and she had never struggled before. I thought maybe her hook was dull so I changed it with no difference. I was not having any issue and she was starting to get upset so I checked her hood again, and it would not catch my thumb nail. I got her another hook (same brand) from a new pack, problem solved. later that evening I got out several packs of hooks and started doing some random checks. Most of the hooks in the new packs were dull. These are brand new ,purchased in 2024, packs of Eagle Claw hooks. I think QC has gone to crap and you now have to be skeptical of all brands.

First off, I have to say that I agree with all that’s already been said. An ultralight fisherman has a different bag of tricks than some of the other styles of fishing. I’ve had days where I seemingly lost more fish than usual. One thing I’ve done is to not react to the fish til they load the rod. I watched Victor have three and four hits that never got the hook enough to get connected on the same cast. Watching this brought back memories of when that happened to me. The fish ran small and they were interested but too small. It doesn’t happen much since I’ve gone to a #8 sickle but it’s still a thing.

Most of the time I don’t set the hook , I raise the rod , and start winding.
On several occasions, I’ve gotten my hemostats out to remove what I thought was a deep hook and when I open the fish’s mouth , the point wasn’t in the fish’s skin . The fish was holding onto the jig .
A lot of the ones that get off , are the ones that are holding onto the jig with their mouth without the hook being impelled in the flesh . If they swim toward the rod and open their mouths , the jig comes out .
BTW , I use size 10 hooks 90% of the time .

I started using 1/32 oz jigs a friend pours. By using a jig, I do not miss many and they are never gut hooked like a bream hook does. My hooks are not JDM sharp, but they do work with a hook set. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice! I went back to my spot for big fish, where there are far fewer nippers, although they were present too.

Throughout the fight, I ensured that there was tension the entire time, and I lost far fewer, making me think that the hooks aren't fully penetrating their mouth.

I'll look for some sharper hooks (and potentially some new line, I found that my braid was fraying and breaking far more often than I'd like, now that I'm muscling them in).

Thanks again!


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:ThumbsUp

Good deal, thanks for the report.

I used to fish Croton a long time ago. I live near Newburgh, NY and fish many water within 45 min. from the house.

Suggestions for keeping the little dudes hooked (from a little-dude fish expert):

1. light action rod a must!!! 5'6" or 6'
2. 6 # test braid gets it done for the following reasons:
a. no stretch
b. faint strike detection even at a long distance
c. fish are more apt to panic once the feel the hook point and many times make hooksets much easier
d. most times once the hookset is started, a slow sweep of the rod upward or to the side finishes it. One more rod tip set - get it in the boat
3. smaller fish or those that nip many time require downsizing - either the lure the jig head or both. I got into some nippers yesterday, went to a smaller soft plastic and smaller jig hook for size. Once I got nippers to bite, many in the area fished were hooked.
4. lure design does make a difference for nippers: a curl tail not so much/ a straight tail or no tail usually a winner.

Of course nipper schools don't happen very often and heavier 1/16 oz jigs with a #4 hook does fine. No tail example and thin tail :
Attachment 488407
Attachment 488408
A small swimbait on a small jig /hook:
Attachment 488409

These are my suggestions - don't shoot the author. My partner and I have had over 140 fish days this spring and if they work in Orange L. they work anywhere.

You're not that far from me, probably just about an hour or so. Thanks for all the tips!

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I had an uncle that lived near Newburg. He was a maintenance supervisor for fort Buckner or camp Buckner which was a training camp for West Point. Loved that area, good memories.

Proof is in the catching!
Yesterday I fished a padded area that held some tail nippers but no takers. So just for the h of it, I downsized to a 1/64 oz. jig and 1 3/4" soft plastic. Started catching those little guys one after another and then the big boys joined the party in the same area.
Attachment 488593 Attachment 488594 Attachment 488595

44 fish for the outing on a hot sunny day ain't bad which included other species thanks to light jig and finesse-action lures.