I hate to put it in this thread…..but.

Years ago when this fishery was taking place I hooked up my under water video camera to the down rigger to see what was going on. The fish swim up, sometimes 5 or more at a time, and each one will take it’s turn and swim up behind the hook. About 50% of them will take the hook in their mouth for a split second and then back away. As far as taking the hook in their mouth, It didn’t really make a difference if it was a short leader or a long one, it was about the same. The difference was that since you are trolling very slow and the dodger isn’t moving much, the hook on the long leader doesn’t move as much as it does with a short leader. When the fish takes the hook in it’s mouth on a long leader it can easily spit it out, on a short leader when the hook moves it pokes the fish in the mouth and it shakes its head and sets the hook.

For those that think there is some sort of flossing going in this fishery, I’ll be more than happy to take you out and let you watch for yourself. The hooks will be bent so no fish will be harmed during the demonstration…….unless the season is open, then they’ll be eaten.