Suggestions please as to why I keep dropping fish

[Hillster]

Hi team I have an issue when using my stick baits. I keep dropping fish mid fight. Using other styles of hards I have rarely dropped a fish.

Any suggestions as to what might be the problem.

Cheers Hillster

[Squidgee_Man]

What jigheads are you using? Make sure they are Chemically sharpened, that will improve the hookup. Dont forget fish may just be biting the tail and not actually hooking themselves. Make sure the jigheads are the right size for the stickbait length also. When jerking the baits make sure you allow a good pause on the drop so the fish can really grab it. Keep tension on when playing the fish. Apart from that, you sound like you get fish and know what your doing just be patient. Stickbaits can be hard at times for a good hookup.

[Kyle101]

I think he was talking about hard bodied lures such as tiemco stick minnow etc not so much soft plastics, good advice none the less.

The only thing I could possibly suggest would be to try out some w hooks, i have tried these and found that I miss a few fish on the initial hook up but they stay in the fishes mouth much better and I don't drop fish anymore...

All I can say is try a couple of different methods and u will eventually find something that suits u and ur style..

Cheers Kyle

[Hazell]

Do you have the same trebles on them as you do on other lures. If they are not as sharp or different size/shape, that could have a part to play?

Also, if you are bouncing stickbaits along the bottom, they might not get good purchase on the hooks when they attack from above. Usually on hards, fish smash them from the side so they get pinned nicely.

[crusty]

Originally Posted by Hazell

Do you have the same trebles on them as you do on other lures. If they are not as sharp or different size/shape, that could have a part to play?

Also, if you are bouncing stickbaits along the bottom, they might not get good purchase on the hooks when they attack from above. Usually on hards, fish smash them from the side so they get pinned nicely.

Most of my stick baits have finer wire hooks than my other hardbodies and I suspect if using a faster/stiffer rod and heavier drag setting, the fine wire may cut its way out if the fish are just lip hooked.

I haven't played with them much (only 3 times really and then only as an after thought. Tend to grab the same lure that worked last time first) but in the little fishing I've done with them I have landed a nice ludrick, a couple of smaller bream, a 34cm bream and pulled the hooks on something bigger than the 34 on the same day

[phil jagger]

If your fishing your sticks properly, with a sweet jerking action, I would say you are getting reaction type takes where the fish are actually just swiping at the lure because it is pissing them off.

This happens a bit when the fish aren't really eating strong so they go up and swipe or head butt the lure cause they don't like it. This often ends up with shallow mouth hook-ups or outside of the mouth hook ups.

Maybe anyways.

Phil

[The G factor]

in addition to what phil said ( because i reckon that could be your answer) are you setting your hooks or just letting the rod load up when you feel a hit?

Try get a bit more agressive with your retrieve and see if it results in some more solid hook ups. If they are not responding well to an agressive retrieve, then slow it down but try set the hooks a bit harder. It is hard to comment on either way without being there and seeing whats going on.

[stella fella]

Try single hooks. Your hook up ratio might drop a bit, but they're less likely to throw come out when fighting fish.

[chrislocke]

decoy trebels

[Brad Y]

I only like fishing stickbaits on flats, as fish tend to follow for a while and strike a few times then take the tail treble.

If your trying to fish vertical structure then I reckon sticks arent the tool to do it- well for WA blackies anyway. They are larger than vibes/blades and compared to lure size there isnt much trailing hook point exposed for fish that come out and hit it then go back into cover. If the fish are in the mood for repeatedly attacking then you might have more luck. Vibes are smaller and usually have alot more in the way of hook point exposed, and plastics are softer so they can allow hook points to penetrate out further.

Of course if your in the area like timber clad banks and jerking it out like any regular jerkbait then all I can say is make sure the hook points are sharp and dont crush the barbs if you want fish in the boat. The softer rods and flouro line may help.

Another thing I just thought of is what are the fish eating as stable food? The reason I ask is flats fish are usually softer mouthed than others that chew mussels on pylons and rocks. If you go to walpole and fish heavy drag and braids and you fight the fish hard on the flats then you will rip more lures out than you will like. On the other hand in snaggy areas where fish are chewing hard food, I find you can crank the drag and give em curry.

[Hillster]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Plenty I had not thought about there.

Yes I mean hard sticks, the Strikepro in particular, though I have dropped many on the Storm flutter stick.

I am using them on the flats 1-2.0m deep and don't pause it too much as I feel it excites the fish more to keep it moving. Quick flicks varing lengths, side to side and mixing it up, only pausing to let it drop lower towards the bottom, strikes are often seen as a boils on the surface. I don't really set the hooks as I was worried about pulling them, but I am dropping fish anyhow so will try setting them hard as suggested.

Feels as if they are head shaking them free. Which I have not experienced before. Maybe it is a glancing/foul hook-up due to the aggressive retrieve ?

Hooks used are Owners No. 14, ST-36BC X.

I read an article on trout and author was using opposing hooks. May be merit in the single hook suggestion. 1 fish in the bag is better than 10 dropped..
No more daytime high tides this week so plenty of time mull over your suggests.

[phil jagger]

Try pausing for longer as most strikes will come on the pause fishing this style.

You may be pulling the lure out from the fishes mouth as you continue your retrieve.

yeah to stuff!

[Breamobsession]

^^ What he said. I actually fish vertical structure a lot with these and love them to bits. Have not experienced these issues although i would also say try pausing for longer and striking harder.

[razza]

what action is your rod?slow tapers and fluro straight through work best on stickbaits,even squash the barbs on your trebles if you still have probs hooking up.

[fisho fanatic3]

Interested to see where this thread goes. This always happens to me except for flathead. I will be taking these tips on board for the next time I go fishing..