missing allot of fish

[mickley28]

Last 3 trips out I've had allot of bites and action but only caught a couple fish. The rod tips will bounce around a little but they dont go down like Id like them to. We'll wait and wait while the fish are messing with our bait then the bite will stop we real in our bait and the bait is crushed where a catfish has obviously had ahold of it. We've had this happen multiple times the past couple nights and I'm wondering if maybe the fish are spawning all ready and there just hitting our bait to kill it not eat it? Any pointers as to what I can do to get these fish hooked. I'm using 8o charlie brown hooks. I try to leave the rod in the holder and let them take it but it seams like once they kill my bait they're not interrested in it anymore. Should I try to set into them when they are messing with the bait, open the bail and try to feed them line (they don't pull hard enough to take anyline anyway really)? It seams to early for the spawn but the weather has been really hot and water temps are above 70. Any ideas???

[mickley28]

also... the fish we caught last night was obviously full of eggs which leads me to believe that maybe these are spawning fish and not interested in eating just killing our bait.

[Smoothkip]

We fished the Muskingum and the Ohio last night. The fish on the Ohio were slamming the baits while the Muskingum river fish were mouthing the baits as you said. Water temp was 68 degrees. I don't think there spawning yet but am unsure why they are doing this.

[ducky]

I believe most mouthed baits are from aggressive male channels. Over the years ive got more mouthed baits during the channel spawn than anytime of the year. Not much you can do. We was using very large rockbass last nite, caught a 31 lb flathead and 3 male channels. We also had many crushed baits through out the nite.

[mickley28]

I thought it could be channels but I've never caught a channel cat where we are fishing. That's not saying that there are not any in there but I don't think there are many because we've tried fishing for them with cut bait and liver and never catch any. Just flat heads.

[ducky]

A spot with only flathead! Sounds like a dream! I would love to have spot like that. I could save way more time and money on bait. I guess its possible its flathead but this time of year they should be eating everything they swim by and not just killin it. Sounds like channel cats too me, but never no.

[hunted]

It does sound like channels. Maybe downsize your bait and see if you can get a hold of one just to see what may be hitting them.
I caught about a pound maybe pound and a half largemouth on a small goldfish about five inches long a couple of weeks ago.

If your using clickers maybe turn them off and tighten the cast control knob a little and see if they may take off with it that way. But the flatheads shouldnt be too finicky right now.

[fishstick11]

I think it may be big male channels... They did that for us 2 years ago at pleasant hill really bad... It was many gills and green sunfish they were doing it to

[banksidebandit]

We get into a lot of gar in the Scioto where I fish that will sometimes just jerk the bait around a little and sometimes they'll grab it and scream your clicker. Then you miss the fish and reel in a tore up piece of bait. Could be channels too like ppl mentioned. Big live baits will make little jerks in the line too.

[mickley28]

I know its not our bait because we watch the bait tugs all night. And I know its not gar or turtles because the bait will be smashed but not cut in anyway. I throw a variety of bait and size from little 4" suckers to 1lb bass and everything in between (gills, shinners, chubs, sun fish...). I'm going to try some night crawlers next trip and see if I can catch any channels. The 7.5lb flat we caught the other night was full of eggs so they defiantly have started to spawn there.

[ducky]

I may be wrong but im pretty sure a 7.5 lb flathead is not mature enough to spawn and carry eggs, the fish just may have had a full belly!

[mickley28]

Had eggs coming out of her.

[catmaster12]

Just got back from fishing the Musky in Dresden. My dad caught a 5 lb. Channel cat on a big chub not to far off the bank. It drilled that chub. We had a case like that on a bigger gill about a week ago. We have a lot of those kind of bites where they will hit hard but give up. But you will know when a big shovelhead is hitting. Channels are hard and fast, so I would say it is big Channels.

[ducky]

Jun 5, 2013 14:16:30 GMT -5 mickley28 said:

Had eggs coming out of her.

Guess I was wrong, thought it took awhile to mature and be able to spawn.

[catmaster12]

I read somewhere that Shovelheads only take 2 or 3 years to spawn, and they grow fairly quick.