Bait under float a danger to nates?

[Hogback]

I read a post voicing a legitimate concern (in my mind) about people using divers and bait in rivers with a large percentage of nates. I think that the chances of a fish swallowing bait suspended from a float is a lot less and wondered what the general consensus was.
Randy

[Dave Vedder]

I agree with you Randy. While I suspect there is a somewhat greater incidence of hooking mortality with the float and bait, then with a float and jig, I doubt it's significant. That's assuming you set the hook when your float goes down.

[ 02-23-2004, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Dave Vedder ]

[Redneck]

i've caught lots of fish with bait under floats and haven't had one swallow it deep. always hook'em in the corner or top of the mouth just like jigs. i think with the line hanging vertically, it hangs up on the fish's mouth and they don't get a chance to swallow it. by that time the float is already under. thats my 2 cents.
redneck

[C-lice]

I would suspect that under a float would be the most nate-friendly way one could bait fish. The elapsed time from the fish first biting your bait to you realizing it and setting the hook would be much less than with drifting or diver/bait.

[GOT2FISH]

I have to agree with Redneck I use bobber and bait alot and cant remember gut hookin a fish, I would say most are in the top of the mouth, but thats just me.