I just got back from swinging spooning for steelhead. I hooked 4 fish but landed none of them! Although fish have come off the hook before, I have never had it happen this often. I'm looking for a little insight.

My Setup: Rvrfshr or BC Steel spoon with 1/0 hooks connected with an improved clinch knot using 8lb fluorocarbon leader to 40lb Power Pro (I also use 15-lb Maxim sometimes). Drag set pretty firm on Curado on a medium action 8'6" rod.

Fish 1: Broke at the hook knot. Leader was making bad knots.
Fish 2: Broke in the middle of the leader. Ditched 8lb junk and switched to 15lb fluorocarbon. No strikes. Then 10lb mono.
Fish 3 and 4: Bite, head shake, hook set, shake....fish lost with rig intact. Both times.

0-4. That is pathetic. The leader was a problem on two fish but I'm questioning my hookset now. I usually set moderately to see if it is a fish or rock, followed by a sweep of the rod up and toward the bank to target the corner of the mouth. Sometimes I revert back to a straight up hookset. Especially after trout fishing (which was the case here).

Any thoughts?

Jeff