Why am I foul hooking fish?

[Fishoil]

While trolling suspended fish this weekend I caught many fish that had the back hook of my crankbait stuck in the top of their head, or on the outside of their gillplate. Some had the front hook in their mouth, but most just had the back hook stuck on the outside somewhere. I'm guessing that they were coming up to hit the baits, but why were so many of them hooked in the head or gillplate?

[Chairman]

The "foul hooking" is caused by the fish hitting the front of the bait and then as he turns he gets the other hooks in his gill or head. You are not snagging them. It is a common thing when trolling with long baits and I am betting your using Reefrunner Tackle. Their hooks are needle sharp and catch on to everything.

Chairman NPAA #6

[Fishoil]

Do you think that these fish are coming from beneath, or off to the side to hit the bait like this? I do a lot of trolling and have never seen this many fish come in hooked this way - over 50%. The previous day we caught a lot of fish also, but they all had the hook in the mouth. You're right about the sharp hooks, I replace all hooks on cranks with triple-grips as soon as I buy them. (Except, of course, Reefrunner baits).

[ETT]

Fish don't have hands (ain't I brilliant) LOL. So if they want to touch or feel any thing they use their mouth or the side of their head. If they are aggressive they will hit their prey with their head to stun or disorient it. Turn and capture the impaired prey. I'd guess one of those 2 senerios to be the case. You'll see more outside the mouth hook ups with Reef Runner because of their hunting action, and their "sharp enough to stick em" hooks. Good luck.

[bigfish1965]

Walleye will always strike a bait from underneath or head on. I have witnessed them bump lures or baits if they are not aggressive or not sure of the offering. If your hooks are sharp, you will hook up on them on the nose when they come for a sniff or on the side of the head as they try to get a sense from their lateral line.( They use lateral lines for motion sensing via vibrations) I have also seen schools of brown trout use a 'heard and whack' attack. They corral baitfish and go in like gangbusters stunning a few for easy feeding. That being said, any fish caught in Ontario waters where the hook is not in the mouth must be returned to the water as 'foul-hooked'.

[WAeyes]

Interesting question, I have this happen alot as well. I just figured they got hooked outside there mouth from the head shaking during the fight. Is there any proof that walleye will bump or nose a bait before they strike it? It sure would explain how sometimes you don't feel anything when you set the hook after a hit. I always found it incredible that even with lightning reflexes and 3 large triple grip treble hooks, that sometimes you just aren't hooking them like you should, maybe thats why.

[WAeyes]

Anybody else out there with some more input? Hmmm...

[dstank13]

i fish a lake in western minn. that is pretty clear. you can see the fish hit your bait sometime. you also get alot of fish that follow your bait back to the boat and it looks as though the fish are kissing your bait or nudge it. that is probably why you are foul hooking your fish. you should also try fireline when you are casting cranks you would not belive how many fish just tick your bait. that most mono will not pickup.

[Chad]

Were you using ReefRunners?

That wicked tail kick gets em everytime. Think about the ones that would get away with a lure that doesnt wobble as much. Or if you had dull hooks. Just goes to show the importance of sharp hooks.

I had the same thing happen fishing suspended fish on Devils Lake.

[Fishoil]

I was using DJ's with Triple-Grip hooks. I never would have hooked most of those fish with "normal" hooks.