The little things count.

[whitwolf]

So I took my grandson fishing this past weekend while on vacation. It was a kick in the butt watching him catch bream and warmouth one after the other. The enthusiasm created by a five year old Is noteworthy In that the smallest of fish and simple fishing made his and my day. Eventually his step-dad came over and took my place to give me a little fishing time. I was throwing a weightless Zoom magnum finesse worm and doing OK. I had landed a couple but did want to put on a bigger bait just to see If I could coax a bite from something bigger.

 

I had only one rod and took off the big worm and threw on a R.I. Skinny Dipper In Bull Frog. I didn't bother to change the hook from an RB 3/0 and made an errant cast that I began to quickly reel the bait In to cast again. I had a swirl on the bait working It as a topwater. I cast In the same spot and ran It slower across the top. There was a huge explosion , I waited 'til I felt the fish and set the hook. It Immediately started pulling drag. I fought It for probably 45 seconds and had It coming my way and It made another run. I finally got it coming my way again when It suddenly came unbuttoned. I never saw the fish but by the fight I am guessing 4-6 lbs. I reeled up and saw the bait bunched up with little space between the gap an bait.

 

The moral of this story Is take the time to do things right. Had I taken the time to switch to an EWG 5/0 hook I more than likely would not have lost that fish. Folks, the attention to detail can most assuredly count!

 

On a side note, we had little time and were fishing from shore. At the end of the day I saw a seed tick firmly attached to my shoulder and later that afternoon after further examination my wife pulled two more from my body. Be careful when your fishing from shore.

[Airman4754]

Once you have a fish hooked the size of the hook means very little, especially with something like a bass with their paper thin mouths. Fly fisherman catch 40lb salmon on size 6 hooks. 

 

The rod and the angler land fish.

[Raul]

7 minutes ago, Mosster47 said:

 

 

The rod and the angler land fish.

 

 / thread 

1 hour ago, whitwolf said:

So I took my grandson fishing this past weekend while on vacation. It was a kick in the butt watching him catch bream and warmouth one after the other. The enthusiasm created by a five year old Is noteworthy In that the smallest of fish and simple fishing made his and my day. Eventually his step-dad came over and took my place to give me a little fishing time. I was throwing a weightless Zoom magnum finesse worm and doing OK. I had landed a couple but did want to put on a bigger bait just to see If I could coax a bite from something bigger.

 

I had only one rod and took off the big worm and threw on a R.I. Skinny Dipper In Bull Frog. I didn't bother to change the hook from an RB 3/0 and made an errant cast that I began to quickly reel the bait In to cast again. I had a swirl on the bait working It as a topwater. I cast In the same spot and ran It slower across the top. There was a huge explosion , I waited 'til I felt the fish and set the hook. It Immediately started pulling drag. I fought It for probably 45 seconds and had It coming my way and It made another run. I finally got it coming my way again when It suddenly came unbuttoned. I never saw the fish but by the fight I am guessing 4-6 lbs. I reeled up and saw the bait bunched up with little space between the gap an bait.

 

The moral of this story Is take the time to do things right. Had I taken the time to switch to an EWG 5/0 hook I more than likely would not have lost that fish. Folks, the attention to detail can most assuredly count!

 

On a side note, we had little time and were fishing from shore. At the end of the day I saw a seed tick firmly attached to my shoulder and later that afternoon after further examination my wife pulled two more from my body. Be careful when your fishing from shore.

 

It wasn't your hook size.

 

 

13.5 lb 4" senko with a 3/0 Owner J hook.

[snake95]

@whitwolf great note, I felt your disappointment when that fish came off.

 

Last fall I was tossing trick worms to a shallow area where bass had been splashing and feeding on baitfish.  It was an unplanned stop, and I was using an ultralight spinner that I happened to have in my trunk.  I was in a hurry to cast, and didn't take the few seconds to tighten the drag properly.  A good bass by my standards - maybe 3.5-4 lb slammed my worm and raced off towards a rockpile.  I reeled frantically but couldn't catch up to her.  As I fumbled for the drag, she buried herself in the rocks and broke me off in an instant.  I think I went home feeling the same way you did.

 

[scaleface]

2 hours ago, whitwolf said:

  I reeled up and saw the bait bunched up with little space between the gap an bait.

 

The moral of this story Is take the time to do things right. Had I taken the time to switch to an EWG 5/0 hook I more than likely would not have lost that fish. Folks, the attention to detail can most assuredly count!

 

 

 

Seems like the wrong hook to me . 

[smalljaw67]

When using a swimbait like that the hook does make a difference. I agree, I don't thing the size mattered, I think the EWG would allow the barb to penetrate and then you land the fish. At least you got a good one and it hit on top, we win some and lose some, that is why it is called "fishing" and not "catching".

[Bassin' Brad]

I'm a believer in using the right size hook. It can be done with to small of a  hook but then you have a good one come off and that's enough for me.