Is the fish biting or everybody is snagging?

[getin]

I was on one of the eastern tribs today and for a good portion of the time I only watched what people do. There were big pools full of fish and people were trying everything from roe, worms, plastic worms, spinners, etc. I could see baits in front ot the fish mouth but no bite but every once in a while someone hooked a fish and 8 out of 10 times it was not in the mouth, when it was, I think it was just accidetals snagged in the mouth. Clearly, at this time the fish is not biting. So I wonder if everybody is snaggeing one way or another or there was something I have misshed. Should say that I caught two as well, one hooked in mouth and the other in the belly, again I think the hook just got in their way for both cases. Both were released although one was almost dead

 

[RedSkullz]

NO snagging going on around here that i have seen...every trout i have hooked except one has 110% went for the bait.(one i accident made a poor cast with my spinner and had him on for a minute) Went out sat and had 2 big ones on, but lost both.

 

[getin]

NO snagging going on around here that i have seen...every trout i have hooked except one has 110% went for the bait.(one i accident made a poor cast with my spinner and had him on for a minute) Went out sat and had 2 big ones on, but lost both.

Thanks RedS. I am not accusing, just wondering and wanting to learn. and by snagging, i do not mean people target fish and snag it, but rather the hook gets caugth on the fish one way or another, as it drifts. Not sure what I am missing but I did not see any fish going for bait and I think it is a fact that when spawning, the fish do not bite. Maybe there are special baits which I do not know of?

 

[adrianf]

When I was out last week up north, tons of people were intentionally snagging and that bothered me a lot. I called the MNR to come out and have a look. If the fish are still spawning at this time it ruins thier spawning cycle. I even saw 2 guys fishing in sanctuary which they then told me to F off when I tried to NICELY inform them of what they were doing.

 

[RedSkullz]

Thanks RedS. I am not accusing, just wondering and wanting to learn. and by snagging, i do not mean people target fish and snag it, but rather the hook gets caugth on the fish one way or another, as it drifts. Not sure what I am missing but I did not see any fish going for bait and I think it is a fact that when spawning, the fish do not bite. Maybe there are special baits which I do not know of?

Well the fish can get lockjaw for sure as the season progresses. Fish around here get spooky, by the end of the season especially on river that see many anglers. RIght now the few big fish that are still around have to be caught with the perfect presentation.(whether its roe, spinners or whatever) One wrong cast and your chance is over. The rivers we fish are smaller, with not large amount of spawners so not alot of accidental hooking seems to happen.

 

[Smellyfingers]

Sad.... All I got to say.

People lead by example

I have a buddy of mine and when he drinks he is a totally different person when it comes to fishing. Unfortunately people are just drunk 24/7 and act that way

 

[MichaelVerdirame]

NO snagging going on around here that i have seen...every trout i have hooked except one has 110% went for the bait.(one i accident made a poor cast with my spinner and had him on for a minute) Went out sat and had 2 big ones on, but lost both.

Yeah but that's trout... salmon I feel are a whole different story. In the rivers that is.

 

[pop-vlado]

Salmon are said to stop feeding 1-2 weeks after they enter small streams or rivers. They are aggressive at the river mouth (hence, going after flashy and vibrating lures) but this changes as they move up-water. I once read that 99% of salmon caught in small streams are snagged (intentionally or not). Since they keep their mouths open as they swim, it is easy to mistake a real hit as opposed to a snag in the mouth.

I personally, have mainly had success at the river mouth stage with salmon. Does anyone want to discuss some river baits that they feel REALLY do attract salmon to strike??

 

[NADO]

I have this large pink fly I use and twitch infront of salmon and it seems to trigger territorial strikes out of them. I first drift it through the pool then I reel it back and twitch it and let it fall back to the depth of the salmon. It was working very well for me, only problem is that it was an older fly and they shook the hook every time they jumped i'm going to work on getting some of these patterns tied for the next time i go out. And there is also salmon running late in smaller numbers too so there are fresh fish coming up periodically.

With that being said it would probably be fair to say that 90% of the salmon caught are snagged seeing as most people out there dont have a clue how to fish for them.

 

[Frankyfish]

well i have to say i went up last week end and they werent biting on roe or white tubes.. so i started using spinners with single hooks well a spinner in particular flashy pink mepp midium size and i like to tie buck tail on the single hooks in this case i put red bucktail and well i caught 4 fish in 3 hours now weather i was unintentionally flossing them or they were actualy going for it im not sure but i did see a couple flowing and turning around as i was pulling it out of the water and this was in deeper pools but in shallower water wasent working as well they would ignor it and keep booking it up the river....

 

[Frankyfish]

and they were all males....

 

[NADO]

Id say steelhead are way easier to catch as long as you have the right presentation. Salmon are much more difficult IMO, when they are silver its not too difficult to get them to take roe but once they are up in the river the only way I can get them to take is to prey on their territorial spawning instinct. Using minnow imitations such as marabou jigs can work, spinners and spoons can work but you are much more likely to snag a salmon and any angler who knows what they are doing will take one look at your spoon or spinner and instantly assume you are a snagger. I yelled at some kid this weekend fishing shallow rapids with a big 3/4oz spoon, I woulda talked to him casually but he was downstream a bit so the good ol’ HEY BUDDY! seemed like the best way to go. lol