The Unspoken Truth - The Snag Factor Jiggin

[MI_STEELHEAD]

Alright......here is the truth...I have snagged a lot of walleyes the past few weeks jigging in the river. I am using the same setup as everyone else....a jig and a worm. At first, I thought it was just me.....was I just tooo darn slow?? I have fished with 10 or so guys over the last few trips and I now feel comfortable saying it is not just me. It happens a lot.

As true sportsman....I am sure we all let the foul caught fish go. That not a point I'd like to address here. My question is.....truthfully.....what's the percentage of snagged vs fair caught over the past few weeks jiggin for eyes?

Truthfully.....I'd say that 40% of the fish I have caught were prob snagged and I have caught a lot of fish lately. Limits every trip. They were not snagged on purpose mind you....they are just stacked in there. I think they either mouth it and I set late or they are just checking the bait out and I send it home. It is not like I know......I feel a bump bump and set the hook.

Is anyone else willing to admit to a simular findings and a high percent too? Maybe it is just me and I need to figure out what I am doing wrong????

[William H Bonney]

,,,,Is anyone else willing to admit to a simular findings and a high percent too?


Yes.

[Carpmaster]

I see it all the time down there.....:sad: :eek:

[spikecamp]

We have caught over 30 eyes this spring not a one snagged! I uasually use a stinger hook and havn't yet snagged afish. I'm sure I can speak for most everyone probably have fouled hooked a fish in ones lifetime. I caught mine in the mouth. Carp you hook-up, thats just plain madness of a fight. Those fish have just coming off from spawning, walleyes are just mad hungry! With so many of bait fish in the water. Feed,feed,feed, FISH-ON!

You're right about how many fish we have to catch. There are some. You got to love this great state of michigan! so get out-side it's truly a great place to be, and I'll try to leave you all some fish to catch peace-out!
Tonight , I'll be St. Clair river fishing bound see ya out there!:coolgleam

[MUSHY1]

I would say that 50% or more are snagged by 80% of the people. To Prevent this from happening more than none, here are a few tips: Use shorter shanked hooks on your jigs, slow down your jigging motion (this prevent the "Lineing of fish" that leads to snagging) and in your up motion, Keep the jig off the bottom for a 3 to 5 sec. count. Alot of times they will hit it up 6" to 10" off the bottom, in leau of fast up motion that typically snags them.

Hey guys, remember that if a DNR officer see's you snag one you can get a ticket, because it is ILLEGAL.....Use your own judgement......

Mushy

[perchguy]

Can you actually be ticketed for just snagging a fish? It would seem strange to get a ticket for something that you really have no control over. I can see being ticketed if you snag a fish and don't let it go but just snagging a fish should not be a violation.

I was steelhead fishing in the AuSable last month and I hooked something that was obvioulsy not a fish but was very heavy. When I was finally able to get it in, I found a snagging rig all balledup with sticks and fishing line with everything covered with zebra mussels. I didn't know waht it was so I showed it some of the regulars and they said that snagging goes on all of the time and hardly anyone gets caught.

[Luckystrike]

Perch Guy-

If you're vertical jigging in the river and snag a fish inadvertently you won't be fined as long as you let the fish go immediately. If you put the fish in the livewell just to make sure he's swimming alright I would think you leave the door open for a ticket.

When you're stream fishing it's quit a bit easier to snag on purpose so I can see some justification of a ticket there. But in a boat in 20'+ of water you've got to be a lot better than me to snag them on purpose.

[GMONEY]

i snagged a wally last week in the belly, when i removed the hook it took some gut out with it. i took it home and ate it, should i have let it go for the seagulls? i know the laws just an ethical call i guess.

[Slimshady]

Last weekend was really bad. We caught 21 fish, about 15 of them were hooked in the chin or underneath. I have fished the river for years, and it happens all the time, especially when they are in a negative mood. I caught 7 or 8 fish and never had a hit. Some of them happened when I was barely moving the jig. I was using stingers, with Fireline and a very sensitive rod.

[MUSHY1]

Sometimes its better just to do the right thing, besides Seagulls DO NOT deserve Walleye, Nice job Slim!!!!!

Mushy

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Only a couple were snagged this year in my boat. Most were on the stinger and a few sucked it all in.

[BAMBAM]

I think that we foul hooked one all spring in the DR...and that one was caught in the lower jaw with a stinger. We use stingers and caught most on the stinger. It is possible that the walleyes are bumping or hitting the jig and getting snagged? WE did not snag any in the belly or tail, etc. Our set up was a 1/2 oz jig with plastic and a stinger....:fish2:

[William H Bonney]

We have caught over 30 eyes this spring not a one snagged! I uasually use a stinger hook and havn't yet snagged afish. I'm sure I can speak for most everyone probably have fouled hooked a fish in ones lifetime. I caught mine in the mouth. Carp you hook-up, thats just plain madness of a fight. Those fish have just coming off from spawning, walleyes are just mad hungry! With so many of bait fish in the water. Feed,feed,feed, FISH-ON!

You're right about how many fish we have to catch. There are some. You got to love this great state of michigan! so get out-side it's truly a great place to be, and I'll try to leave you all some fish to catch peace-out!
Tonight , I'll be St. Clair river fishing bound see ya out there!:coolgleam
Thats amazing that you haven't snagged one.My buddies and I hooked alot of fish over the last few weeks and I can honestly say,,, that there were only a "handful" that were hooked "close" to the mouth, the rest were in the belly, gills, back, tail. :rolleyes:

[jighead36]

Thats amazing that you haven't snagged one.My buddies and I hooked alot of fish over the last few weeks and I can honestly say,,, that there were only a "handful" that were hooked "close" to the mouth, the rest were in the belly, gills, back, tail. :rolleyes:

:yeahthat:

[ahartz]

no comment.....................andy

[fire-tiger]

Depending on the feeding mode they are in it seems to me. One outing we caught alot that just seemed to be slashing at the jig and would hook around the outside of the mouth. Most outings however all the nearly all the fish took the stinger IN the mouth.

Can honestly say that not one walleye this year has been body snagged on any outing. I do use the 6" tightline jigging technique, maybe that is the reason for no body snags.

[bolodunn]

10% i've boated "many" eyes this season already & not too many snagged. they deffinately go back!! i fish with my son alot & would not allow a snagged fish to be kept!

we use stingers, & most of our fish came on them. i have found that if you let the stinger run free(not stuck in the tail of the worm) short strikers will suck that stinger in thier mouth & bam.
as said, slower jigging & a pause will cut back on the snagged fish. we all know they are stacked up in the river & seems to me, snap jigging is boarderline snagging.
i've seen that quick snap upwards snag alot of fish. alot of times the tick,tick on your line is a bitter. & the sudden weight on the way up is snagged fish.
just my .02

[marshman]

ill be honest and say that i have caught fish both in and out of the mouth. i would tally my catch at about 60% in the mouth and the other 40% from the back of the gills to the tip of the nose. i have only had one that was hooked in the tail and it was lost at the side of the boat. i havent been producing the numbers that some of the guys have been but ive still been taking home something to eat. i only notice the snagging thing in the detroit river. I havent noticed it yet in the SCR? Wonder if its only a matter of time...

Marshman

[spikecamp]

I have fouled hook a walleye and a carp before. Remember most of my fishing is from shore, that I refer to land-trollling. I have never used a stinger-hook casting from shore. Now, maybe, out in the boat fishing,you're foul hooking 'em? With drift fishing I can see it happening using a stinger hook more. Fishing yesterday I hooked a smallmouth in the mouth. which was released, a few casts later hooked a carp in the top fin. Right away, I could tell that the hook wasn't in the fishes mouth, and the carp was a around 3 lbs. I have fouled hooked wallys and some other fish before letting them goe!
which it is a highly possiblity to foul hook some fish.FISH-ON
We been catching fish 21" to 27" fish. That crawler like gulp worm really works. St. Clair were railing "em. Hot pink heads and pearly white, motor oil, and chartruse we got a 3-man limit last night. Going again tonight! FISH-ON!!!

[ggoblue]

ive seen lots of walleye snagged just behind the head and right in the center of the breastplate...these fish are mantling the bait to keep it from other fish imo...so this is not a random catch but a fish brought in by his greed for your presentation...foul hooked anywhere else and let it go but i eat these fish that were mantling [like a bird of prey does].

[limige]

interesting...
i just started jigging, went for the first time about a month ago, caught one walleye one bass, the bass was a nice upper jaw hook but the eye was snagged from underneath the jaw...

went for the second time with a guy from work, 7 out of 9 were snagged on the lower jaw again....i found this very odd, i have to think they are targeting my bait because they are all in the head area, if it was a straightup snag some should've been in the belly or tail area....
maybe ggoblue is onto the reason why...

of course all snagged fish were released, but that just doesn't seem quite right to me..

[Robert Hoover]

i have yet to snag one this year seams to me if you are snaggin them it would aldso mean you are proballly picking up some bottom stuff to more than most maybe youre not completly vert and or slidin instead of jigin

[branchmasterz]

I would not think the stinger hook in the chin is snagging. Since it appears that often it is the stinger hook catching the chin, I would think that the walleye is grabbing the jig end of the worm and when you feel the bite and set the hook, the jig hook is not catching hold but as the worm is sliding through the fishes mouth, the stinger is set in the chin. I have caught sever limits in the past two weeks and found that only one fish was snagged behind the mouth (line was dragging the bottom when I was fiddling with the tackle box). There were a couple of chin hooks though.

[bolodunn]

just got back. 26 fish, 4 went back cause they were snagged in the belly.
these fish were hungry. all the keepers were caught on the jig itself, & the hook was set deeply in the roof of its mouth.
fish on!!!

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Got a couple yesterday that had the stinger in the mouth and the jig on the outside of the mouth. Now if that stiger comes out while bringing it up, you only have a jig that looks like the fish was snagged.

[CASTMASTER 5000]

Every fisherman I know has snagged many fish so far this year. Anyboby that says they throw back a snagged 18 inch walleye is full of it.

[William H Bonney]

Every fisherman I know has snagged many fish so far this year. Anyboby that says they throw back a snagged 18 inch walleye is full of it.
:lol: Look carefully at the first three words in the title of this thread. :lol:

[Ed Michrina]

I only release snagged Musky. The rest of the Musky I keep for the garden.:eek:

I think everyone should be real honest and give the exact amount of Walleye snagged that made it into your freezer- Remember we are being honest so don't forget your address and a slight reference where your freezer is located. You will not have to include How many fish were or were not snagged. It won't matter . More than 6 in the freezer Is illegal anyhow? NOW Who's the poachers here.

This post is silly:confused:

[tgafish]

Every fisherman I know has snagged many fish so far this year. Anyboby that says they throw back a snagged 18 inch walleye is full of it.

Nice post jerk off!!!
I know several of the individuals that have posted already on this thread and to call them liers is way outta line from someone who does not.:nono: :irked:

[Can't Touch This]

First jigging expereince for me today(at least, serious jigging) We did snag a few, and, when they are snagged, they FIGHT, i thought i had a good 8-10 lber on when i snagged a 15 incher!!!!! I think they do strike in first, but, because you are moving so fast(to stay verticle, i would say you have to move at least 2-3mph with the current/wind) when they spit in out, you set the hook right in their belly.

[ERnurse]

ED MICHRINA-- your reply is the best one, I second that except the muskie part, too smelly and slimy to put in the boat to get home to the garden:evil:

let me see....my address.... hmmm... Jackson Co. jail cell #123


Tell me... Snagged or not, all the limits every other day that people tell about, some people got to be getting awfully fat with walleye dinners. :dizzy:


This post was interesting, but is quickly degrading.

PS: not a slam on anyone, just being a smart*****

[Sea Duck]

If your snagging many walleye while jigging, then you are probably snapping the jig on the lift, rather than gently lifting it...in other words, each time you lift the jig off bottom you are basically giving it a short hookset. I gently lift the jig off bottom, raise it 4 to 6 inches and lower it back down. I'll feel the jig bump off fish occasionally, but haven't snagged one in the belly, back, or tail in years. I will occasionally hook one under the chin - maybe one in 20.

[bolodunn]

Every fisherman I know has snagged many fish so far this year. Anyboby that says they throw back a snagged 18 inch walleye is full of it.
i have put back 25" eyes!! & the same for my boy!! thats just how we role!!
after everyone backed you up on the "over limit" photo, now you call us liars!!??:yikes: :rant:

[ahartz]

we caught 13 fish yesterday....all snagged....tail...side....etc...snagged...every single one of them:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Sea Duck]

Andy: Are you using a quick snapping motion when you lift the jig...if so, try slowing it down to where you are gently lifting it every time. - Mike.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Andy: Are you using a quick snapping motion when you lift the jig...if so, try slowing it down to where you are gently lifting it every time. - Mike.

I think he's just pulling your leg.

[Slimshady]

I have snagged them when slowly lifting, when snapping, when barely moving it at all. Must have very sharp hooks or something. Caught about 10 today, all but 3 were snagged. This has been by far the worst year for snagging. I went almost 2 full trips without a single hit. Finally got 3 hits in the last hour today from 11:30 - 12:30. Believe me, I know the difference. 99% of the time, I can tell you as soon as I set the hook if it will be in the mouth, on the main hook or on the stinger just by how it hits (or does not hit, which has been the case this year).

[ahartz]

thanks Mike...hey seaduck...we all use a slow lift and drop...the 13 fish caught was truthful...the snagged part was not. just trying to liven things up a bit....andy

[El Diablo]

Obviously if your hooking the fish anywhere in the mouth it means the fish is looking at it. He's interested in your presentation. Your not wontonly dredging the depths with a weighted trebble hook. A belly hook or tail hook is a different story. I'm guessing here, but I think the law was made to cut down on intentionally going out to snag with weighted trebble hooks. Snagging is legal in Chicago (where I grew up). In the fall whole families come out to snag in the lagoons for spawned out salmon. Not a whole lot of fun if you ask me. It's a good law I think. When I go out to snag I'm using a big 'ol weighted trebble and not a pretty jig with a live minnow.