I have been fishing a Nightrider spoon in 4.0 for the last couple days and although I can catching a few fish on it, the majority of the fish are hitting the spoon and after 2 seconds gone, without even popping it off the DR.
I know the fish like it but is there anything i can do to increase my hook ups?

Whatcha' got for a hook on that thing?? I changed all my coyotes over to 6/0 circle hooks, works great! Harder for them to throw the hook, should they get on. Just a thought....

D3:

From your avitar..you have done pretty good in the past!

What size hook is on that spoon?

Also, I always take my siwash hooks (Gami) and bend the point slightly out, and in. Herzog recommended it, I tried it and found that fewer fish were lost as a result. Makes sense.

When I feel a bite I wait for the fish to turn away from me and give a pretty solid hook-set. Having a rod with sufficient backbone, and a super-sharp hook helps. If your not honing that hook every time you get a hook-up, or it bumbs the bottom or? then it isn't as sharp as it can be.

Random thoughts from a rookie...

Mike

git er done

I have done this on Coho Killers and it increased hookups and kept them from being so damn bent-up when Mr. King decides to have a chomp fest.

First off, start with a good hook. IMO Owner hooks or Gami., add stainless rings and swivel to the back of the rig. This will keep the hook spinning free as well as move it back a little bit for those fat kings that like to bite short.

Somebody on here had some pics a year or two ago, maybe Downriggin?

I agree. Slap a gami or owner on it.

I agree with C & B.

I rig my Coyotes and Coho Killers with a #8 barrel swivel attached to the split-ring, then the siwash connected to the other end. This allows the fish to twist and roll (You know... the silver death roll) and the spoon won't leverage the hook free. I also employ the Herzog bend on the hooks.

It's the same technique I use on my steelhead plugs when fishing for nates.

Mike- I got that one on a fly.


What is happening is that I am running my spoons off the DR and I will see one or two good hits on the rod, it will pop off and there will be no fish.
I'll try the swivle and get some new hooks. Hopefully it will hook them better.

We were having that same problem up in Neah bay with the riggers. You would get a hit, sometimes it would pop, and sometimes it wouldn't. We would pull the rod out and reel down on them as fast as we could but still only managed about a 50% hookup ratio.

I think that alot of the fish hit it and kept going staight towards the boat. After you reeled down on them they were closer than the amount of line we let out .

Fast little bastiches. Good luck.

it was happening on flies, cutplugs, and hootchies too.

If you like to change your hooks all the time, slap a gammi or owner on them. If you like a hook that won't rust, lasts forever and doesn't mind being sharpened, put a stainless Mustad on it. Sure, not the sharpests things out of the box but thats why they make files.

DOGOFF!

Benny- Not at all. I have been fishing a stacked set up with the lines at 95 and 75. The bottom one is a hootchie and the top a spoon.
Never have the same problem with the hootchie.
I think I will try to shorten my line length from the clip to the flasher. it is about 15 feet right now with the bottom one being only about 5 or 10.

Hmmm....

Seems like the only way to figure it out is some more on the water testing.

I don't have a problem with that.

Dave, you think it could be connected to hootchies being fished with flashers and the flasher offering more water resistance... and setting the hook better.

I bet you are fishing your spoons solo!

How fast are you trolling? Might consider a slight increas in speed.

How far is your drop back (distance from the release)? If you are running a flasher/spoon combo set your drop back no further than 15 feet- 10 to 12 is perfect. Solo... I would run no more than 20 feet.

Since we are on releases, what type are you using? Sometimes a change in release type will make a big difference. I change to the pad types this time of year- fish seem not to turn on a lure, rather chop and follow. With a pad/grip release, you might have a change to set the hook when the fish comes off the release.

What type of rod are you using? This can be a critical piece of the puzzle... Power in the butt section will add more hook ups. Also, are your rods set at a 45 degree angle aft?

Hooks? You'll get a hundred different answers, but the Herzog bend is important. My personal preference are Mustad. They have a slightly shorter gap yet longer bite. The points are long, strong and sharpen like nothing else! Additionally, run a 4/0 hook off a 4.0 spoon.

Here's a picture of what folks are talking about:


A barrel swivel helps to decrease the leverage fish will place on a spoon. Also you'll find deeper (in the mouth) hook sets on fish.

Hooks super sticky sharp?

Long story short... there are a myriad of things that can be causing these types of take downs. What I think you are experiencing is nothing more than the fish not turning on the lure- common for returning fish. They tend to munch down and follow the same path.

OK. Thanks for all the input.
I am running both behind flashers. The rod with the spoon is softer than the one with the hootchie but not a lot. I am going to add a swivle and see if that can help me out.
I did lose a fish last night because he got the hook bent into the spoon and was able to change the angle. the swivle should stop that.
I know that a lot of the fish I have been catching are not turning on the lure and causing the hook set but they sure get hooked better with the hootchie.
I am going to do a search for exactly what the herzog bend is. hopefully that will help out too.

the release is a scotty. its a clip with pads. Not sure of the exact model. What do you run?
I am trolling at about 1.7 to 2.2. 45 degree angle or a little less on the cable with a 12 lb ball.