thursday eve on croix

Went down to the croix last night around 6 pm to see if the fish were biting. Arrived at the bluffs launch to find many others fishing too, around 18 rigs were parked there. Went out fishing in 17-20 feet of water using crawlers. First fish was 14 inch smallie with some line hanging out of his mouth. After clipping the line shorter I released the little guy. Cont’d fishing catching half a dozen short eyes and one small sauger. Missed a few bites too. It seemed the hits were more agressive closer to dark. With the full moon being monday night fishing might be good at night and maybe around noon too.

I was out last night. Caught 1 15″ eye, 1 giant sheep, 1 carp, 1 redhorse and 2 puny smallies.

I know you had the smallies interest at heart, but new research shows that they survive far better if you leave the line dangling, rather than cutting it shorter. The line pressure helps keep the hook down, so that the fish can swallow. When you cut the line too, short, the hook tends to pop up and wedge, preventing the fish from getting their prey down. I understand that it’s best to leave six or seven inches dangling out of the fish’s mouth. Gordo

Now that is interesting Gordon! Is there any place we could read on that? It makes sense to me.

I must admit…I too would have cut the line shorter. I caught a smallie a few years ago with line haning out of his rear end. i thought it might be an anntena for tracking …or from an alien abduction. Gave it a gentle toug and let her go back with it still in.

I just pull the gills out to get my hook…..just kidding. Both my fish last night were lip hooked.

Gordon, that is interesting. I am also wondering where you heard or read that because it does make sense. I don’t recall where I heard to cut it shorter, so most likely I am wrong again. Would be great to know for sure which way is the best. It probably works because I did catch the fish with the hook already in his throat from someone else.

I also, read this new research somewhere I believe it was from In-Fisherman. Leaving a long tag line allows the hook to be swallowed and passed with out turning in the gullet and catching on anything or blocking the digestive system
Most of the time however this isn’t neccesary as you can save deeply embedded hooks with out harming the fish so long as you can see the hook shank.
Here’s how:
1: cut the line as close to the hook as possible.
2: go through the gills with a pliers and turn the hook backwards so the hook shank is pointing down the fishes throat and the hook bend is facing out of the fishes mouth.
3: go back through the mouth of the fish w/ a pliers and pull out on the bend of the hook and it will pop right out w/o harming the fish.

Sounds difficult, but it realy isn’t once you do it a few times. Works spectacular on larger fish like walleyes and smallies where access is easy. Never tried it on those sheepies though

Also, even if you can’t see the hook shank you can usually expose it by pulling lightly on the line, if that doesn’t work cut it long.

Lindy
In-Depthangling Field Staff
Lindy’s St. Croix Guide Service
http://www.fishthestcroix.com
715-220-2777

Wouldn’t you use sheepies to practice on?