Winni bows are finiky

[SALMONEMIA]

Had the most flags I've had on a 2 trap lake today but couldn't hook up on a bow. Got a laker right away. That was it. Fished a perfect spot with sandy bottom small point. And multiple active bubblers running. Flag closer to the mini point kept popping hit and run like 4 times 2 times it took alot of line. Had another egg hole nearby and eggs went missing twice. So I set a trap and within seconds it popped but he spiy the hook . I sat over hole and watched him come in and actively take eggs. I tried a hook but he was so smart he swatted his tail and decided what one to not eat. It was very frustrating but interesting. There very smart in there. I had all smelt hooked close to head but couldn't hook up. Guess it's just one of those things. Never know what will happen. Got my wondering what I did wrong. Probably nothing but it feels like it.

[perch_slayer]

I know the feeling. Bows can be a pain to put a hook in

[BrookieSlayer99]

Had the most flags I've had on a 2 trap lake today but couldn't hook up on a bow. Got a laker right away. That was it. Fished a perfect spot with sandy bottom small point. And multiple active bubblers running. Flag closer to the mini point kept popping hit and run like 4 times 2 times it took alot of line. Had another egg hole nearby and eggs went missing twice. So I set a trap and within seconds it popped but he spiy the hook . I sat over hole and watched him come in and actively take eggs. I tried a hook but he was so smart he swatted his tail and decided what one to not eat. It was very frustrating but interesting. There very smart in there. I had all smelt hooked close to head but couldn't hook up. Guess it's just one of those things. Never know what will happen. Got my wondering what I did wrong. Probably nothing but it feels like it.

Get a jawjacker and that will not ever happen again  Last year on newfound I had about 15 flags in a couple of hours and they dropped it after about 10 inches of line each time they took it. Sometimes no matter what you do you just can't hook them.

[SALMONEMIA]

Yeah I don't want to sound stubbor but the jaw jacket is such a relatively new technology I'm just wondering what I've done wrong maybe it's just one of those things we don't win them all. It's a challenge

[MikeSJ]

Jaw Jackers for sure and the hook will be in the lip

[MikeSJ]

Yeah I don't want to sound stubbor but the jaw jacket is such a relatively new technology I'm just wondering what I've done wrong maybe it's just one of those things we don't win them all. It's a challenge

Not sure how long they've been around, but I've used them for 3 years now.  Like them so much I bought 2 more for this year

[Mr.Harry]

I had three consecutive run and spits last time I went out. But nailed it (presumably same fish but who knows) on a smelt 4th flag. I'm not used to that many drops. Certainly not consecutively. All the gear was right and tight. Dunno. That's when I switched to smelt. I guess jaw jackets would be the answer by others endorsements. But I'm not used to drops being so frequent.

[Rackbuck]

Quite a few times at winni I've had to switch to a size 14 hook and 2 pound test flourocarbon leader with an egg to get the picky ones.

[NH Trout Fisherman]

Granted they are just fish...

But keep in mind they are instinctual. Particularly the older/larger ones that have adapted to the lake and natural forage there instead of the hatchery.

Jaw Jackers will help with the finicky ones but won't always catch them. There's a learning curve with them for sure.

Anyone ever have a day where the rod pops alot but your line comes up empty with no fish and no bait?

On a few of the bigger lakes I fish I've watched trout come in after rebaiting a popped JJ set up and agrressively swim past the bait/hit it with their body/tail which will pop the rod again and rip the hook out of the bait... Then the trout comes back around and grabs the stunned smelt/bait. I've also seen this happen with salmon eggs in shallow water.

I'm not saying the trout are smart enough to know the difference and understand what is actually happening above the ice...But instinctually they use this tactic to stun bait fish and knock them off balance so to speak and then come back around quickly to grab them. They will also do the same when wary of something unnatural?

I know this because I've witnessed it several times and also had a few times where the Jaw Jacker has foul hooked a fish in the side. Had a couple times this year when my son was reeling in a fish.

Alot of times the answer is pretty simple when You think of what's natural/instinct to the fish/game. Feeding, Spawning/Breeding and Ultimately Survival. They also learn from experience. Similar to why alot of times it's harder to see Big/Mature Bucks during day light and especially during hunting season when they show up on camera the rest of the year like clockwork.

[zwiggles]

Was the line with the salmon eggs set vertically over the top of the bait, or did you move the spilt shot to the side so the line was not directly over the bait? Reason I ask is I had a rainbow in winni this weekend doing the same thing as you described. It would come in and fan its tail, and then spin around real quick to grab the eggs. He left the ones on the hook the fist pass, but when I moved the split shot to the side he came back through and grabbed the eggs in the hook. It was the first time I had seen them "tailing" the baits, and thought it was funny you observed the same thing.

As far as downsizing to 2lb test I would be terrified trying to get a bow through the hole with that small of line. They love to try and back out if the hole once you get their head into it. I feel like you would go up in lb test the minute after you lost a nice one in the hole.

[Rackbuck]

I only switch to the light leader when I observe a very picky one that won't bite. I would rather chance losing him than not hooking him at all. Normally I run 8 lb floro. I also have found that one egg on a small hook works better on picky fish. I think it reacts more natural to them . I also don't use any split shot on my egg traps and leave a little extra leader out so the have a little slack to get it in them before they trip the trap.

[PDubs/NH]

 

The nice rainbow I got first time "egging" a week and a half ago was not nearly as easy as I thought she would be when I saw her hammering those (non-hook) eggs floating down with abandon. Took a few times and adjustments with a hooked presentation to stick her...

[SALMONEMIA]

Thanks for all the feedback I don't feel so bad now. I was using Frabill classic wood tip ups with 6 lb seagur. Initially I didn't have a trap in the hole was just egging it and it got cleaned out a few times. I was getting flags on smelt so I wasn't ready to set an egg trap. Finally I did set an egg trap and it popped very quickly. I was sure I would hook up but didn't it dropped the bait quickly . My line was straight down with no weight at all. Next I put a hook on a 4lb test Jig rod and SAT over hole. I dropped eggs down and watched them very quickly after he came in fast and gobbled them up so I figured once I drop some down and one on a hook I'll get him. But it just came in and fanned them and ate all the eggs minus the one on the hook. Guess it's not as easy as it sounds. It was fun chasing flag's but really wanted to score a bow. Maybe next time.