snagging a steelhead

articulate leech · 12-15-2003, 07:27 AM

This weekend I hooked a very fine native steelhead. It struck and played like it was hooked in the mouth, but when I landed it I found the line passed through the mouth (where it was wrapped around the bony part at the upper corner) and around the side, where it was foul-hooked. I caught him on two red pearl corkies above yarn and a No.2 hook with eggs. I'm wondering:

1) Might this steelhead have hit one of the corkies where it had slid a distance above the hook, and has anyone observed this;

2) Does anyone think it's important to tie something (yarn or whatever) above a corky to prevent it from sliding away from the hook while drifting?

--A. Leech

Fish-n-Fever · 12-15-2003, 07:57 AM

It's possible the corky slipped up the line. We always take a tooth pick and "jam" the corky in about 1/4" above the hook. It's simple and inexpensive.
Ron

RichH · 12-15-2003, 08:39 AM

I have seen steelhead take a corky that slid up the hook during the summer. The reason I knew the corky slid is because I had sandshrimp on the hook and could see that too.

SHOUGALNITE · 12-15-2003, 10:13 AM

I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think that happens very often.

Holehog · 12-15-2003, 12:25 PM

How long was your leader?
Did this occur while side drifting?

This will happen so seldom that you need not worry about it.

SciGuy · 12-15-2003, 12:48 PM

It might have been the sliding corkie idea (use a tooth pick) but more than likely it was flossed (as I think Holehog was implying with the leader length comment). Again, don't worry unless it happens repeatedly.

LuckySteelhead · 12-15-2003, 01:10 PM

sounds like you might have flawsed your self a fish. I've done it myself. Its legal as long as its hooked inside the mouth. Snagging is "attempting to snag other than the mouth" you were going for the mouth right? nothing to worry about as long as you put it back. Most guys keep them if they are anywhere in the head. Some guys keep them if they reel in forwards.

Twitchs_Tackle · 12-15-2003, 01:38 PM

I've watched Coho come up and grab a sinle corkie above my eggs so steelies may do it too. What I like to do is us a 10" piece of mono (usually plenty lying around the bank), cut about 1- 1 1/2" of yarn, put the two ends of mono together and run them up through teh bottom of the corkie, leaving abouta 1" loop sticking out from the bottom, put the yarn in the loop, then pull the ends of the mono, thus pulling the yarn inot the bottom of the corkie. Then trim, the yarn to the length you want. It works well to hold them in place and makes a neat looking little rig.

(you have to have the corkie on your leader first, otherwise you cant't get your leader through after you put the yarn in :grin: )

Picture loading page isn't working, I'll try to post some later.

articulate leech · 12-15-2003, 02:20 PM

I swallowed the fish whole right on the riverbank. Was this wrong?

I'm kidding. The big guy swam happily away.

My leader was about 2.5 ft. I'm too naive to know how to floss, even if that's what happened.

I'd hate to foul hook another fish, so maybe I'll try the toothpick trick.

Thanks all for the input!

A. Leech

Ty · 12-15-2003, 05:32 PM

I have observed rainbows in AK often getting hooked outside the mouth when using beads or especially flesh fly's. Either the bead slides up the line and the fish is "lined" by the hook or the fish just hits the fly or corkies w/ such aggression that they are hooked outside the mouth.

If you choose to "peg" are add yarn above your corkies I suggest you understand that this really changes the effect of your presention.

SciGuy · 12-16-2003, 06:27 AM

Good tip Twitchs...I thought I was the only one doing that.

articulate leech · 12-16-2003, 07:19 AM

Ty,

How does pegging change the presentation?

A.Leech

foxer · 12-17-2003, 01:17 PM

Slide the corky down to the hook eye, then jam a toothpick in the hole on the top of the corky and break it off so it is flush, Voila'! corky no longer moves and will float with your hook.

Siwash · 12-17-2003, 11:31 PM

I had a similar experience with my first winter-run this season, only I was using a spinner. I spotted the fish holding before I made the cast, so I got to see it turn and follow the lure into the shallows before hitting it. Great fight, everything seemed like it should, only when I got it in close I discovered it was hooked under the chin--from the bottom, with the hook point poking up on the inside just in front of the tongue. Can't picture how it managed to do that, even though I was watching when it happened. I know that legally it's 100% clear that's not a legit catch (this particular hen had all her fins, so there was never any question of keeping it anyway). I have no problem w/ letting it go, but it's obvious to me (if not the law) that the situation was very different than other times when i've inadvertently foul-hooked one in the back or tail, etc. So, my question is: In your opinion, do you still say to yourself, "I caught that one" just for your own personal scorekeeping purposes?