Missed bites / big pull downs

[DurhamAngler]

Hi everyone i had a good but frustrating night last night fishing a heavy ground rock mark.Ended up getting 3 small codlings out and losing a better fish on a snag practically at my feet :-(
It was a busy night with plenty of bites ,most of them being big pull downs which didnt come back and this has got me thinking, as i`ve read similar reports lately,as to why this happens.

I think its most likely my rigs arent quite right allowing the fish to feel resistance before they actually swallow the bait so they spit it out and dont come back - but what are your thoughts guys ?

 

[ozzy37]

had the same problem at a rough ground mark few days ago as well. few different opinions but my opinion is that when it is flat calm the bites are more tentative because they have time to mess about and pick at it. whereas in rough sea they either gulp it down straight away or risk not finding it again. i've only had the problem of missed bites when it's flat and when most of the fish that are about are small

 

[*monkey*hanger*]

ill second that the dreaded one big hit wonders only seem to happen when its calm as ozzy has said they usually swallow the bait instantly in the rough had the same problem my self friday so swithced to smaller hooks same again its just somethink we have to live with if it wasnt as hard as it is then it would be called catching and not fishing ;-)

 

[Johnc1109]

So it's not only me I had same problem last night had some cracking noks but was one bite then nowt

 

[seanyrooroo]

I had 3 huge bites followed by loads of slack line last night in the open. All of of them resulted in missed fish. I personally think that there wasn't enough barb showing as I was using huge crab and black baits. Lesson learned though, bigger hooks needed!!

 

[Codcodcod!]

Or smaller baits..

 

[finseeker]

....

 

[magpies]

I had that on Roker pier a couple of times. Nothing then 1 aggressive "pull down" then doesn't come back. Happened on and off all night. Different rigs and baits made no difference. Still don't understand what was happening.

 

[Rocker]

Lobsters.

 

[CHUKKA]

Using pulley rigs by any chance? These result in lots of dropped bites.

If your using normal rigs then a long long hooklength of 4-5ft can sometimes give the fish time to swallow the bait. Happened to me one night on cambois, pal was getting double shots on super long traces, fish lying on when I was getting loads of bites and just the odd fish. Lesson learnt!!

Opposite sometimes though when short traces can nail fish especially whitings.

 

[ozzy37]

Using pulley rigs by any chance? These result in lots of dropped bites.

If your using normal rigs then a long long hooklength of 4-5ft can sometimes give the fish time to swallow the bait. Happened to me one night on cambois, pal was getting double shots on super long traces, fish lying on when I was getting loads of bites and just the odd fish. Lesson learnt!!

Opposite sometimes though when short traces can nail fish especially whitings.

good tip mate will have to try that. never liked pulleys for hooking fish either, too many missed bites in all conditions

 

[magpies]

Lobsters.

I thought the same, just didn't look right at the time.

 

[DurhamAngler]

Some food for thought there guys .

My rigs were 5/0 pennel clip downs,longish snoods at around 3 1/2 ft long.

I agree that fish have more time to inspect baits in calm conditions but these pull downs were definately not tentative and i`m not convinced it was lobsters either as my Kompressor ss was pulled right over a couple of times . I was using big cocktail baits of black lug sausage/mussel or razor clam (bad idea perhaps using pennels in heavy ground but i`m not one for small baits ).
Having the hook point masked is something i`ll need to experiment with as i know i struggle clipping up and often need to push the bait up the hook to get it in the clip !

 

[onefortheroad]

ive always had my doubts about pulley rigs and the fact the fish has a lot of line to pick up 1st when it swims off with the bait in its mouth , whereas a snood length fixed would be taught in an instant. I know some on here say pulley rigs work , so on that issue id have to say its dependant on just how hungry a fish is , if its swallowed a bait its hooked simple as that , no matter what rig is used , they can play with food and suck it and spit it out, , I own a fish tank and watch the fish feeding , this is when you get missed bites . so to conclude id always opt for a fixed snood length wether fished at the lead on clean ground or a foot or so up from the lead in the rough ground .

as rocker has said big crabs / lobsters give really good pull downs also .

 

[Rocker]

Don't get me wrong it could have been fish, but if a fish pulls your tip right over or breaks your lead out that should be enough to set the hook.
Lobsters will pick your bait up and swim off almost ripping your rod out the rest!
There's loads around newbiggin atm.

 

[Deans]

i wreckon when fishing is like that pennel is the one if you can get away with it. normal rig (not pulley) two hooks which are good size compared to the bait up.

also i find when the rotten bottom link is too weak that can result in missed fish. need a bit resistance for the hook to jab the fishes mouth- ideal from a grip lead.

like the lads say when its flat this happens more. and dont take the bait positive.
lobsters are terible when the seas flat down the chems- there bites are the same as a good cod sometimes!

i use cart a lot with tights- loads of missed bites on single hooks.
have learned only to use a pennel now with the cart in tights and wrap mussel or crab around it- less missed bites for me now.. the tights just seem to get ripped to shreads from the fish, a bit mussel over the top seems to sort it out with a big top pennel hook.

if a single hook is the only way in really dense kelp i use a weaker rottom bottom which is not ideal for hook up.
also i now wrap copper cable around the hook with a small bit sticking out. a bit like the piggy back hooks from veals, this is a good way to get more hook ups i wreckon on a single hook as it allows you to present the bait lower down without covering the hook. does work like.


all about the right balance between hook up and avoiding the snags innit.

only my opinion- just 2 times a week kelp fishing for years all year and ya learn a thing or two

 

[Deans]

not fish the comp alan?

 

[Rocker]

No Dean, diddnt fancy it.
I use wired hooks when I'm using crab clipped down, stops it blowing up the snood off the hook.
I'm waiting for the sea to come away midweek,
Any fish coming out ya back garden?

 

[DurhamAngler]

Good point Rocker that if a fish pulls your tip right over that should`ve been enough to set the hook- thats what i couldnt work out was why there was no fish on after such strong pulls ........... Does anyone ever hook lobsters or crabs after a big pull down ?

 

[Rocker]

I caught two lobsters in one cast at the beacons couple weeks ago, after getting missed bites.
they seem more active when the seas flat.
Up your hook size to make sure the points exposed, and wire hooks to ensure bait can't slip down masking the point, also buy a good hook sharpener and use it regularly. I use 6/0 big mouth extras.