Fishing with rocks

[devinrhall006]

I know a spot where it is almost entirely smallmouth around all these rocks they hide in.  My problem is once they grab my bait they instantly go under a rock with it and half the time i will lose my bait.  is this just my reaction time?  also around the shallow water i fish in its hard to tell between a bite because rubbing against the bottom rocks can feel like a bite sometimes too.  i'm sure this is just an amateur statement but i guess i just need i build up my instincts and stop them from going under the rocks with my bait which is almost instantaneous, they're insanely fast. 

[Steveo-1969]

Hmmm, I fish in a very rocky river also and it's very rare for me to have a fish get hung up in the rocks. Are you sure it's not just your bait getting hung up?

[devinrhall006]

7 hours ago, Steveo-1969 said:

Hmmm, I fish in a very rocky river also and it's very rare for me to have a fish get hung up in the rocks. Are you sure it's not just your bait getting hung up?

i do get hung up on the rocks a lot but there's also many times that i know it's a bite and it's under a rock.  it happened today too.  i felt it wiggling around with my bait but it was near or under a rock where i couldn't reel it in.  many times i am just hung up on rocks but i do know i've gotten actual bites and the fish would be right near a rock.  where i prefer to fish all the bass are around the big rocks and they hide up under them, that's where i've gotten most of my bass.  more often than not i am hung up but there's been quite a few times i know it was a bite.  last night i hooked one in middle of two boulders and it swam in  zig zag up under one of them but luckily the hook wasn't set good enough so i got my lure back.

[BigTerp]

I fish the same rocky river as Steveo and have to agree, I honestly cannot think of one time I've had a smallmouth hang me up on a rock. I do get my lures hung up on rocks a lot (bottom contact soft plastics) but have never gotten hung up on the rocks with a fish on. Are you sure your not mistaking bumping the rocks with your lure for a bite? I'm guilty of this from time to time and a hook seat in this situation typically leads to a hung up lure.

[TOXIC]

When I regularly wade fished a rocky river for smallies, I found that not casting upstream saved a lot of baits and hangups.  to the side and retrieve up stream to the spots in eddys where they liked to hang.  

[devinrhall006]

where i fish on the river there's so many huge rocks sticking out of the water and that's typically where i cast there is no current in those parts because i cast between rocks usually and it's still water in between them.  i am getting hung up on a lot of rocks though.  yesterday though when i got what i swear had to be a bite i started reeling in and the line zig zagged violently  a few times through the water then got hung up, i don't see why the line would move around like that without a fish on it and then get hung up.  i know most the time i'm getting hung up  a rock, but in that instance i'm almost 100 percent sure i had a fish. 

Edited June 30, 2017 by devinrhall006
misspell

[Doelman]

It's pretty common to get hung up on timber with a fish on, but rocks?  If it's exposed rock, I could see it happening, but you would see it stuck on the rock.  It's possible a fish might get you stuck on some submerged rocks on occasion, but if it's happening often it isn't fish, you're just getting stuck.  You're fishing in a river/stream?  Current can really really mess with you, when you get snagged in current your line is going to feel somewhat tight, the current is literally pulling on the bow of the line in the water because both ends (rod and lure) aren't moving, so all the force is pulling on the line, it really can feel like a fish.  The line is going to "move" as you reel it in until that bow is out and your fishing line is making a straight line to the bait.

 

If you still think it's bass dragging you into the rocks, get a stiffer rod, turn the drag up, make sure you pull it full force out when you set the hook, and don't give it an inch of slack.  That's how we grouper fish, big grouper dive back into the reef as soon as their hooked and it's the only way to keep them out.

[TnRiver46]

I would guess you are getting bites from small rock bass. They hide under the boulders and come out to chomp through a whole bag of soft plastics. They chew on them like crazy and rarely get hooked unless you downsize the lure 

[roadwarrior]

Smallmouth don't flee under rocks they seek deeper, open water.  I don't have an answer for what is happening,

but it's not that.

 

 

[BuzzHudson19c]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I would guess you are getting bites from small rock bass. They hide under the boulders and come out to chomp through a whole bag of soft plastics.

 

 We used to dropshot 3in grubs into absurd holes between rocks and pull out rock bass. Those things get in the craziest places.

 

My take on this, because it has happened to me, is you feel a hit and go to set the hook but the fish didn't get all of the bait. So the bait flies out of the fish's mouth and gets hung up on something. When you get it free do you still have a hook and the plastic bait is missing? Tail biters.

 

If you're texas rigging make sure to tuck the tip of the hook. Then when you feel a hit, wait for a two count and set the hook. Let them get the whole thing.

 

[Turkey sandwich]

There's already good advice on here.  But to give you a really good answer - what kinds of baits are you fishing and how are you rigging them?  How deep are you fishing? How are you presenting the lure? How much weight?

 

Also, knowing how to drift and swing your bait through current is a really important thing to learn for fishing rivers.  It can be the difference between catching 30+ fish and hanging on every submerged boulder, tree, tire, or fence post in the river.  

 

I've had smallmouth run me around or through boulders, but that's rare.  Any time I'm hooking them in or around nasty stuff, I'm making sure to pull them clear of the snags IMMEDIATELY.  Abrasion resistant line helps, but in all likelihood the problem here is in your presentation.

[patred]

Should also point out that a "good" lightweight rod can help tell the difference between a hit and bumping on the bottom.  When I started river fishing for smallmouth a few years ago, I of course didn't want to spend $$$ on a rod but convinced my wife to get me a St. Croix Avid X for Christmas.  Medium-light, and I use it mainly for bottom-bouncing worms and tubes.  Usually I can tell the difference between a bite or hitting a rock.  I've also felt like there is "something" on the end of the line (not a fish) and it's a blade of grass on the jig.

When my local Bass Pro was having a trade-in sale earlier this year, I splurged and bought a St Croix Avid rod.  

 

Pat

[Turkey sandwich]

6 minutes ago, patred said:

Should also point out that a "good" lightweight rod can help tell the difference between a hit and bumping on the bottom.  When I started river fishing for smallmouth a few years ago, I of course didn't want to spend $$$ on a rod but convinced my wife to get me a St. Croix Avid X for Christmas.  Medium-light, and I use it mainly for bottom-bouncing worms and tubes.  Usually I can tell the difference between a bite or hitting a rock.  I've also felt like there is "something" on the end of the line (not a fish) and it's a blade of grass on the jig.

When my local Bass Pro was having a trade-in sale earlier this year, I splurged and bought a St Croix Avid rod.  

 

Pat

 

Great rods! To improve your hook up on tubes and jigs, I'd suggest throwing them on a Med power fast or X-fast rod.  With the current, especially on a big river like the Susquehanna, it makes driving the hook a lot easier since most tube hooks aren't exactly light wire.  My hook up percentage throwing those baits goes up likely 25-30% when I switch from a ML to a M.  My ML still gets lots of work on that river throwing Ned rigs (new addiction), drop shots, and small poppers.  

[devinrhall006]

2 hours ago, BuzzHudson19c said:

 

 We used to dropshot 3in grubs into absurd holes between rocks and pull out rock bass. Those things get in the craziest places.

 

My take on this, because it has happened to me, is you feel a hit and go to set the hook but the fish didn't get all of the bait. So the bait flies out of the fish's mouth and gets hung up on something. When you get it free do you still have a hook and the plastic bait is missing? Tail biters.

 

If you're texas rigging make sure to tuck the tip of the hook. Then when you feel a hit, wait for a two count and set the hook. Let them get the whole thing.

 

when i pulled it loose the other day half the bait was gone and i still had the hook

[devinrhall006]

3 hours ago, devinrhall006 said:

when i pulled it loose the other day half the bait was gone and i still had the hook

@BuzzHudson19c 

I do know i get hung up a lot but there's some some select times i know a fish did it...im talking about boulder sized rock making caves under water for these fish and under those boulders are more small rocks...i get hung up most often but i know i've gotten some fish and got hung up at the same time because of the fish. rocks don't swim and zig zag like it did the other day and then hung me up...but yes i do know i get hung up and it's quite a regular occurrence.

[Further North]

Keep your line tight...and watch it.  If it moves in any direction that doesn't make sense for a falling rig...set the hook.

 

Hooksets are free.  Never forget that...

[devinrhall006]

2 hours ago, Further North said:

Keep your line tight...and watch it.  If it moves in any direction that doesn't make sense for a falling rig...set the hook.

 

Hooksets are free.  Never forget that...

thank you.  and it made no sense to me when i believe what was a fish grabbed my bait and went a few different directions before getting me caught up, rocks don't zig zag.  i believe my reaction time and instinct has some work to be done.  i just started fishing again after about 8 years of a friend of mine dying who i always fished with and i hadn't fished since, not because he died. i just lost interest and didn't have anyone to go with.  nowadays i just fish alone and enjoy the peace...until a bass shows you that peace isn't real by grabbing your bait like a whale and making you fight for it =)

[Bluebasser86]

I would guess it's either rock bass or green sunfish if you have fish biting and pulling you under rocks. Green sunfish do that to me all the time, their bites can feel pretty aggressive too.

 

Does the place you're fishing have a good amount of current? If it does, it can put a bow in your line and when your bait hangs on something, as it's tightening, the current can cause your line to whip around in the water kind of like you've hooked a fish. 

[islandbass]

I fish rocks almost every time I target smallies or river fishing to salmon.  One of the ways that helps me distinguish between the rocks and a bite is this.  If I am moving weight (eg, drop shotting) dragging it to another spot, I I know that I am putting input into the system (lure, line and rod/me) so those vibrations that feel like a bite are due to me -- so it is not a bite.  If you feel the sensation of a bite, you'll feel it with zero input from you so you have good reason to believe it's a bite when you're not moving the lure.

 

Naturally, there is going to be some gray when you're dragging or moving the lure (depending on the technique like jigging or popping it such that your lure is moving or descending) and you feel the sensation of a  bite --  just pause for a micro-second and be ready to set that hook.  When your input has been removed from the "system" and you still feel that nibble or bite, set that hook! The way I wrote this it seems slow but it isn't. It all happens in a split second. 

 

Perhaps the more "challenging" bite to detect is when they take your lure and they start swimming toward you.The tell tale sign of this is your line going seemingly "dead" or slack right after you feel something. Reel in that line and set the hook as fast as you can, lol.

 

To your problem, I experienced on occasion getting a fish on and when I am unable to bring them in, it could be the line has gotten caught on something.  Most of the time their attempt to lose the hook frees the line, but not all the time, especially if they decide to stay put instead of fight.

[devinrhall006]

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I would guess it's either rock bass or green sunfish if you have fish biting and pulling you under rocks. Green sunfish do that to me all the time, their bites can feel pretty aggressive too.

 

Does the place you're fishing have a good amount of current? If it does, it can put a bow in your line and when your bait hangs on something, as it's tightening, the current can cause your line to whip around in the water kind of like you've hooked a fish. 

the part of the river i fish has almost no current because of the dam and i fish between huge rocks so the water is virtually still.  basically without a boat the entire new river is full of rocks if you're bank fishing.

1 hour ago, islandbass said:

I fish rocks almost every time I target smallies or river fishing to salmon.  One of the ways that helps me distinguish between the rocks and a bite is this.  If I am moving weight (eg, drop shotting) dragging it to another spot, I I know that I am putting input into the system (lure, line and rod/me) so those vibrations that feel like a bite are due to me -- so it is not a bite.  If you feel the sensation of a bite, you'll feel it with zero input from you so you have good reason to believe it's a bite when you're not moving the lure.

 

Naturally, there is going to be some gray when you're dragging or moving the lure (depending on the technique like jigging or popping it such that your lure is moving or descending) and you feel the sensation of a  bite --  just pause for a micro-second and be ready to set that hook.  When your input has been removed from the "system" and you still feel that nibble or bite, set that hook! The way I wrote this it seems slow but it isn't. It all happens in a split second. 

 

Perhaps the more "challenging" bite to detect is when they take your lure and they start swimming toward you.The tell tale sign of this is your line going seemingly "dead" or slack right after you feel something. Reel in that line and set the hook as fast as you can, lol.

 

To your problem, I experienced on occasion getting a fish on and when I am unable to bring them in, it could be the line has gotten caught on something.  Most of the time their attempt to lose the hook frees the line, but not all the time, especially if they decide to stay put instead of fight.

i do believe my reaction time needs improving.  there's many times when i feel a nibble and i don't think the fish has it but it could've and spit it out.  usually if i get a small nibble i wait for a bigger one but with the small nibbles the fish could've had my bait and just spit it out, i'm sure i've missed many fish by not setting the hook on a nibble.  not every time but i'm sure i've missed quite a few.

[islandbass]

Indeed just keep at it. Experience is a great teacher. 

[Gundog]

My suggestion is to try a dropshot rig. If the weight gets hung up it pops off and you don't lose the hook or fish. This will give you an idea if the problem is your lack of experience in rock fishing or if those are really sneaky bass.  Either way, don't beat yourself up over it. Experience has been the best teacher for all of us on this forum. 

[devinrhall006]

3 hours ago, Gundog said:

My suggestion is to try a dropshot rig. If the weight gets hung up it pops off and you don't lose the hook or fish. This will give you an idea if the problem is your lack of experience in rock fishing or if those are really sneaky bass.  Either way, don't beat yourself up over it. Experience has been the best teacher for all of us on this forum. 

i believe it's very much my lack of experience with rock fishing.  i lost a lot of tackle today fishing there again.

[devinrhall006]

i think i've figured out one of my main problems, unless i'm wrong.  the entire bottom is rocks...from big to smaller.  i've been casting it, letting it drop, and reeling in with some pops.  heres what i think i should be doing to avoid getting hung up.  i think i should be casting, letting it drop to the bottom, and pop it first to avoid the obstacles before reeling at all and then let it drop again.  correct me if i'm wrong but i think that will work better than what i've been doing.

[BuzzHudson19c]

From the sound of it I would suggest some heavy line too. I like braid (40+) or a braid to flouro leader. If they have that bait, you want a line strong enough that you can drag them to the top fast without getting hung up.