Elk River Fishing Report 7/12/14

[TroutRinger]

I threw a mustard colored Strike-King Bitsy Tube the whole day and was getting bites in every hole. Caught a lot of small smallmouth and decent sized rock bass. Nothing of significant size while on the river. I had a very unusual amount of fish come off the hook. I have never really had a problem with that before this weekend.

Now for the interesting part. I was fishing in a whole about 20 feet from our campsite on Friday night and hooked a monster smallmouth on my 3rd cast...under 20" but not by a lot. About two minutes into the fight it jumped and threw the hook. CRAP! So I slowly moved on with my life and decided I would revisit the whole the next day. Sure enough on my 2nd cast Saturday night in the exact same spot, I got a light bite. Didn't think it was that big at first and the he took off. This time I had him on the line for at least 3 or 4 minutes and the dang thing went right back to the same spot where he jumped the night before. He jumped again and threw the hook. Swear to god it was like watching instant replay. Couldn't believe it.

I did get some relief though. Two casts later, I landed the very nice fish in the pic below.

On a side note, any ideas on why I was losing so many fish? Except for that big one, it was usually 20-30 seconds into the fight even for small ones. I was using the same tackle I always use for smallie fishing. When fishing the bottom in current, sometimes the fish is just...kind of on the hook when you go to work it a bit so maybe I wasn't getting good hook sets?

[Big Brown Trout]

strange man, a couple of weeks ago I fished/floated elk and I hook (briefly) then lost around 20 fish. all I kept thinking all day was what they hell!? I had never hooked and lost that many fish before ever.

[marcusearlt]

Good job on the smallmouth dude. The Elk definitley has some fish in it. As far as losing fish, I have fought smallmouth all the way to the boat only to lose'em at the last second many times on the Elk and other places. I starting noticing that a lot of times they weren't really hooked, just holding on real tight with their jaws clamped down to the bait right behind the hook. Seems to happen with a tube a lot. On all my lizards I started using a stinger hook. What size tube hook were you using?

[Terrierman]

When you're fishing a tube, it's a crayfish to the smallmouth. They will take it and it will be in their crushers which is very hard to get a hook in. Set the hook twice at least and your lost fish numbers will go down.

[TroutRinger]

I was using a 1/8th maribou jig for the hook

[Terrierman]

I was using a 1/8th maribou jig for the hook

I thought you said you were using a tube. Still, stronger and multi hook set is worth a try.

[Amery]

I think he is saying he inserted a maribou jig in the tube. Still doesn't answer your question of the tubes size. Smallmouth can throw the hook. That's why they jump. The guy I fished with Saturday night lost 8-10 in a row. I think it's more luck than technique.

[TroutRinger]

Amery is correct. The tubes are 2 3/4" with a 1/8 maribou jig inserted up the middle.

[Guest]

I like to reel down on the fish until it's bending the rod, then I just lean into the hook set or sweep set the hook. Try to crank down on them really hard before setting the hook. Usually, they will hook themselves under the pressure.

Also, try a weightless trick worm or senko. There's no lead for them to chomp down on, it's all hook.

[Flakjkt]

Always sharpen your hooks when tying on and several times after. It should dig into your finger nail with just the weight of the hook. Plus sometimes you lose fish. I have caught monster smallmouth on elk. Bitsy bug is my go too bait on that water on a small Bait caster and at least 12 lb line. The big ones live in the logs and you got to power them out.