10-10-2014, 08:37 PM
Your question has perplexed me for a long time as well. Same pattern, sharp hooks, and one week you are sticking them but the next lots of misses. One theory I have wondered about is on the days they are getting off, are they not feeding as aggressively to satisfy their hunger, rather are striking because it is there and thus the 'hook up' is in the softer outer edges of the mouth, where as when they are hungry they are engulfing it? I'm not really convinced by this theory but it is all I got for now.
However, on the ones that are on for a while and then get off, it also could be a hook in the soft parts, but I often think that when using large (long) hooks, the long shank of the hook acts as a lever arm. So when tension is applied to the line it pivots the hook out sometimes. I believe that is one theory supporting those who use 'tube flies'. For those who don't know, tube flies are flies tied onto a hollow tube (stem of a plastic Q-tip), and then the tube is threaded onto your leader and then a shorter shanked hook is tied onto the end of the leader. The tube then slides down over the end of the hook. I personally have never tried them so i can't attest to that solving the problem. Just thoughts.
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However, on the ones that are on for a while and then get off, it also could be a hook in the soft parts, but I often think that when using large (long) hooks, the long shank of the hook acts as a lever arm. So when tension is applied to the line it pivots the hook out sometimes. I believe that is one theory supporting those who use 'tube flies'. For those who don't know, tube flies are flies tied onto a hollow tube (stem of a plastic Q-tip), and then the tube is threaded onto your leader and then a shorter shanked hook is tied onto the end of the leader. The tube then slides down over the end of the hook. I personally have never tried them so i can't attest to that solving the problem. Just thoughts.
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