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[Stu]

This is the first season that I'm fishing for salmon, and the first couple of days I was able to net almost all the hockups I had. but the last few days I just can't seem to land any fish. I tried playing them longer, made sure to always have some tension but nothing works. 

Is it me or just bad luck?

Any suggestion what I could be doing better would be appreciated.

Thank You.

[Geff_t]

Make sure your hook is sharp. If it is not use a hook file or just change the hook to a new one.

[Stu]

Make sure your hook is sharp. If it is not use a hook file or just change the hook to a new one.

I tried sharpening it an also tried a brand new hock.
I mostly lose them after I'm playing them a wile.

[barnun]

have a sharp hook, dont force the fish, keep your rod up, keep the drag set properly, after that....it could just be soft mouths and bad luck

[Lawsch]

Could be that you are setting the hook too soon and are only hooking a thin amount of skin, give the fish a second to commit to the bite and turn as it takes the hook so the hook is well into the lip.  Also keep lots of tension on the fish just to the point of pushing the gear to the limit, this prevents the fish from shaking its head and throwing the hook out if there is slack in the line, don't horse the fish in though just keep the line tight the whole fight.

[Verdi]

Are we talking about pinks?

fishing with a spinner or blade i find that if i am reeling in up river in front of the fish(from a boat or shore) , and they bite from behind i set the hook mostly in the tip of the mouth or nose, not in the corner of the mouth. Pink will roll and twist rather than turn and run. I found that casting across the current and reeling in results in a lot more solid hook set in the corner of the mouth and less empty hooks.  I found this out after i lost about 10 in a row.  I also change the hooks (Mustad ultra point closed siwash) and add a split ring to drop the hook back.

If the hook you are using are small you could go up a size or two. i use 1 or 1/0..on a size 4 blade.

also try to not let the fish thrash on the surface keep its head in the water until you are ready to net it.

I still lose lots of fish somedays.. but that is the game we play.

[Stu]

I am using #1 hocks, I will try to put a different hock to see if that makes the difference.
I always read that the pinks have soft mouth, and I'm afraid to rip the hock out.
I will try to keep more tension, and all the other good advice.
Thank you guys.

[doja]

Try using a hook instead of a "hock" ,    almost there eh?

[Stu]

Try using a hook instead of a "hock"      almost there eh?

LOL
I will not go to the Spelling Bee contest that's for sure. 

Thank you for the free education.

[hue-nut]

just how it goes imo, I had two days in a row where I lost 4 jack and 2 coho, buddy of mine went 6 for 6, a few days later the tables were turned and he lost 5 fish whereas I landed 11 in a row. Some days you just have the solid hook sets and other days they spit it. As long as you are getting a good initial hook set and using sticky sharp hooks, you just got to learn and improve where you can but some days you cannot help it.

[koko]

You can't win them all, I am pretty satisfy, if I can land 75% of the fish that hooked. Two years ago I lost 9 coho in a row, I did manage to bonk two before the end of the day.

[adriaticum]

Just bad luck

[clarki]

Could be that you are setting the hook too soon and are only hooking a thin amount of skin, give the fish a second to commit to the bite and turn as it takes the hook so the hook is well into the lip. 

When it comes to fishing wth gear, I disagree. Give the fish an opportunity to shake his head to dislodge the spoon/spinner or hook and you're done. When you feel a solid hit, hammer the hook home.

[fishseeker]

All I can say it's definitely not only you.  I lose at least half my hookups and I can say the same for most people around me (..I watch other fishers very closely to see what I can learn).

I have been out practically every third evening this season and tried different approaches to see what works.  I find that I seem to do better if I haul back on my rod two or three times after a hookset - just to drive it through.  Also find that I lose many of mine as I get them close to shore because they make sudden rush runs when they realize they are in trouble.    As I get them close I keep my drag light and allow my rod tip to follow when the fish makes a sudden rush.

Still...there's no way to guarantee a good hookset Just hope for the best.

[adriaticum]

Chances are that most of the fish you lost are foul hooked. Provided that everything else is optimal.
Usually if the fish bites, it comes to hand.
I find this to be the case for me so I don't sweat the lost fish anymore.