bernie6214 Loc: Denver, CO

My problem is the trout swallow the hook so deeply that my only choice is to cut the line. How do I stop this? How do I hook them in the lip? I have tried all sizes of hooks: super small, medium, large, circular hooks to no avail. A lot of the trout die plus I have to constantly attach new gear to my line. Most of the fish are 10 to 15 inches long and are caught in lakes.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Set the hook sooner.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Going with flyguy on this one. I suggest keeping that line tight with a steady reel in and when you feel that chomp, set the hook don't wait for them to run.

Fishrcool Loc: Grand Island Nebraska

You might also try Barbless hooks too!

bernie6214 Loc: Denver, CO

Been using them for years. Trout swallow them too. Fish here nibble the worm a lot. Setting hook early as suggested does not work. Until they pull under the bobber, they are just nibbling around the hook. Even when the bobber goes under and you set the hook, they often are not really hooked and I get nothing.

Captain Lahti Loc: Kennewick, WA

We aren’t being much help but here’s my ideas. First off, sharpen your hooks so they drag on your thumb nail with little pressure. This helps with quicker hookups, fewer misses. I do it with all my flys regardless of size and regardless of presentation. When your using bait under a bobber, use the most sensitive bobber you can with the least weight you can so you detect any bite and so the fish can take it easily down. Use hooks with the barb crushed down to make removal easy if it’s possible. Find a hook remover tool that worked, that allows you to push the hook backwards out of the tissue then out of the mouth. Theses steps may help. But trout also like to hit moving targets and with more authority. So try slightly different technique where you aren’t just throwing your bait out and letting it set. The guys I fish next to throw a lot of small spoons and spinners with and without a bit of bait to sweeten the pot. They also do the same with Power Bait style bait. All the above and some movement may get you more trout and fewer swallowers.

When you fish on the bottom use slip sinkers so the fish can pull the line through the sinker and out away from the weight and you can feel the bite. Learn how to place a stopper knot on your line below the weight. Tight lines!

Mark V Loc: Colorado,now RV full time we winter in MesaAZ

Instead of using an online weight, try a small Jughead 1/32oz or even smaller. Tie it on the end of your leader with a Palomar loop,or an equivalent. You want the jighead to be able to move on the loop. This will allow the bait to move more naturally in the water below your bobber. The movement will stimulate a more aggressive attack from the fish, resulting in lip hooked fish. This is a technique we use in fly-fishing especially with nymphs and emerger flies.

bernie6214 Loc: Denver, CO

Good idea. I’ll try it.