Foul Hooking

[@edwardcowan7012]

I’ve tournament bass fished for close to 50 years. Fly fishermen, trout fishermen particularly have always been known for their conservation and are the source of the catch and release mindset among bass fishermen. I started fly fishing about two years ago and was surprised that double fly rigs were popular. Most bass tournaments banned double bait rigs years ago. I don’t use double fly rigs and as a novice it has the advantage of not losing as many flies, lol.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Double lure rigs can be very effective in the saltwater with spinning or baitcaster tackle. We often use 2 jigs, sometimes with different weights for the heads, or one on a jig and one tail on a plain hook. Another good trick is to use a popper lure on the surface with a jig hanging 18" from the back hook. The popper calls them close and they usually hit the jig. It's good for trout and redfish.

[@tbsomerville5798]

Come to the Erie tribs anytime from October to April and you’ll see so called fly fishermen snagging or flossing on a daily basis. Some of those Lake-Bows( no they aren’t real steelhead) look like Christmas trees with all the ornaments hanging on them.

[@rustyknott-W.D]

For me, the foul hook happens mostly with the dry dropper. Worst case scenario: Fish takes one of the flies and in the ensuing melee, gets wrapped up and both hooks get embedded, one in the mouth and the other elsewhere. Most often, though, it happens when I miss the take on the dry (mea culpa) and the dropper gets foul hooked. I seldom foul hook a fish when using a single fly.

[@realityobservationalist7290]

I agree 100%, especially the second scenario you mentioned. It's just the most likely condition for this to happen. The whole rig is still aligned with the fish after you miss the set or the fish misses the dry. That dropper is right below the fish. It just makes more sense statistically.

[@jl4091]

I only use 3 treble hooks when fly fishing.Yes,I get huge fish and lots of them.Mike Long taught me everything I know.

[@AboutTrout]

Mike Long is my idol. I could feel the aura of this post from 3 videos away. #multiplelakerecords

[@riograndecttu]

I’m surprised fly guys know who Mike long is! Just goes to show what a massive POS that dude was lol

[@AboutTrout]

@@riograndecttu the socal bass expose was modern day Shakespeare.

[@ColoradoFishDr]

Make sure your flies are bright white so you can slide them under the fish, Mike Long style, before setting the hook.

[@RoryLynott]

I remember that clown. I lived in SoCal during his fake records. #1 bullchit guy.

[@charlieboutin3341]

Accidentally hooked a huge carp around 15lbs in the tail with 4wt once. The stream was only 3’ deep in that 100 yard area so I could walk around and follow it..for a Long damn time. I knew my knots were good, and anything else would be easy..dang near boring after that. 😂 Thanks Ben.

[@SteveDave5763]

Throwing shade at the “fishing bro” nice.

[@Flyordie11300]

Ben must have been at Deckers or the San Juan this week.

[@MichaelKuczynski-u7o]

Especially when there on the redds

[@JP-dz7zu]

Pro tip. To turn a 12” fish into a 24” fish just hook it in the tail

[@currentfisher]

We’ve been waiting ages for this video!

[@djuengst2000]

I have had a fish tail swack a dry fly but most of the time I miss the hook set and the bottom fly foul hooks em😊

[@hnaymd]

ABSO FREAKING LOUTLY IT COUNTS!!!!

[@Grimey_Fishing]

I like this conversation and I like the way you qualify whether or not a snagged fish counts, Ben. I live in Ontario. Any fish that we cannot legally possess must be released immediately even if it won't survive. This includes out of season, out of slot, during a special catch and release season (changes to allow pictures and measurements are happening here), and foul hooked fish - even if it is accidental. That means I couldn't legally take home a foul hooked fish for dinner, so by that metric, it doesn't count for me.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

I'd love to get into fly fishin. I tried with really cheap gear as a kid and gave up. I live by the Chesapeake Bay and I fish for redfish, speckled trout and flounder mostly. I think flounder on a fly sounds like a real challenge and the records would be easy to beat if I can figure out how to do it. And redfish are a perfect flyrod fish around the marshes. Can you recommend a flyrod that I can buy for $150-200 or so that wouldn't totally suck? If I can get started for a couple hundred dollars I will definitely do it. But I'm a pest control technician, not in a position to buy expensive gear. I use $100 all graphite Ugly Stik spinning rods all the time and catch a lot of fish, I'm sure there are decent but affordable flyrods but I don't know where to start.

[@timthompsondp]

I play by what I call survivor rules, if it could be my meal I caught it. The irony is I also don't keep fish to eat so it wouldn't matter anyways. The only exception for this IMO would be if it were a record setting fish, which I don't catch so I also don't have to worry about.

[@realityobservationalist7290]

The harder it is to catch the fish, the less that justification "feels" right, but I hear ya. I'd be pretty bummed if I somehow landed a steelhead on a butthook while swinging. Though, the chances of that happening are almost zero.

[@timthompsondp]

@@realityobservationalist7290 Thats exactly how I feel, if im just out for the day with a friend and snag a 14 inch brown... whatever I caught the fish. But when you snag something that you really wish you caught clean is a total bummer. Kinda like his muskie he mentioned. Had it happen recently with a 21" brookie. Got a picture and everything but still need to go back and get one proper because it just didnt feel right.

[@realityobservationalist7290]

@@timthompsondp , yup! Dang, a 21" Brook trout on a snag would sting for sure. Out here in Oregon, they rarely get to large sizes, the remnants of stocking programs from the early to mid 1900's.

[@shanepierce401]

I’ve had a lot of eats on the trail streamer. Lot of snags too lol

[@gurumagoo]

I honestly can't remember the last time I foul hooked a fish. Every once in a while, one swallows my fly, but foul hooking is something that almost never happens, and I'm a streamer guy who usually fishes two flies.

[@ColoradoFishDr]

The biggest striped bass I ever hooked on the California Delta turned out to be a 20-lb carp that I somehow hooked in the caudal peduncle. I spent the better part of 15 minutes getting the fish to where I could catch my first glimpse of it and another 15 minutes bringing it to hand.

[@Sides1160]

The only thing worse than foul hooking a fish, is taking hero pictures with that fish.

[@deschutesdegenerates5260]

I love throwing a tandem streamer on the lake, definitely had a few get foul hooked but it’s not as common as you’d think. Was fishing for brookies with 2 tiny streamers yesterday and foul hooked 1 out of around 20. Wouldn’t do it on the river unless it was little to no current fishing from a boat

[@JoshBean137]

There are some fish you can only catch by snagging. I snag Pogge used to use as striper baits when I’m not fly fishing.

[@richpaul6806]

A lot of places wont let you keep a snagged fish. There is no way to prove it was accidental and it prevents people doing it intentionally.

[@jasonnye1436]

This on point!

[@robertmcmanus5875]

No, you cannot legally harvest a trout hooked anywhere behind the gill plate home in almost any state/provence/country, unless it is being treated as invasive by the local wildlife administrators. From CO fishing brochure: "Snagging is permitted for taking kokanee salmon only, on specific waters listed in this brochure. Other species snagged must be returned to the water immediately"

[@rushthezeppelin]

I'm pretty sure that refers to purposeful snagging but I'm open to being corrected.

[@robertmcmanus5875]

@@rushthezeppelin If a game warden saw you creel a butt hooked fish, you’re in trouble. Good luck trying to explain that it was on accident, that doesn’t matter. I don’t think there is a single state we’re a foul hooked fish, whether snagged or by accident, is considered caught. States have different definitions for what constitutes foul hooked or snagging. Some have vague “around the mouth” definitions, others reference “in front of the gill plate”. Colorado’s is actually kind of stupid because the way it reads makes it seem like you could be ripping hooks trying to snag fish, but if it somehow hooks around the mouth it’s a fair caught fish strictly because of location of hooking. No State will consider a foul hooked fish in records either(unless there is a snagging record for Kokanee or paddlefish or whatever)

[@richardruesenberg2540]

I had a Stage 4 thing going for a trout that I knew was teasing me, every time I threw a small BWO at him, he went silent. So I changed to a #16 Elk Hair Caddis, drifted it over the undercut bank he called home and Wham! Pissed him off enough, I guess. Once in the net I noticed that I had foul hooked him in the side, so I removed the hook and proceded with my video, proudly declaring him my personal best on that stream! There, I feel better about that confession.

[@Trails_trout]

Snagged fish count I think as long as its on the pectoral fin and above

[@tomatostakefabrik9429]

Salmon River NY, thousands of fish are " caught right in the mouth" during salmon season you will tail fish a lot.

[@paulstanley31]

Here in British Columbia it is illegal to use more than one fly, and illegal to retain any foul hooked fish. This will kill you, illegal to consume alcohol on water craft, unless you have cooking facilities, and a bathroom.

[@michaelmccaugherty2835]

Multi-hook steamers remind me of Rapala lures, northern pike and hooked fingers.

[@danjohnson1809]

Was this video done only to shame me?! Snag master. Apparently I enjoy bird watching and watching my buddy swim in waders

[@wildjohnack]

I also believe “rock sets” account for a fair number of (my) fanny-hooked fish. Lead nymph or shot snags on a rock, SET!, completely disinterested fish that was minding its own bidness is now jabbed in the rectum. Rectum?! Damn near killed’m!

[@scottasin]

I foul more on dry dropper than anything. Two scenarios: first one is that I'm off on the hookset, either late or early. Second is setting on refusals where they rushed the fly but turned back at the last second, but it moved the water and fly and looked like a take. Either way, my dropper nymph ends up in the fish when I was setting on a dry take. Sometimes it even flosses em and it winds up in their mouth, but I still know what happened.

[@mickeymassey7011]

I snag on average one steelhead a year and i DO NOT count it as a caught fish. Unless of course I've caught nothing else that day and don't want to tell my buddies i got skunked

[@gregwhit4032]

If you’re a kid, or new to the sport. All foul hooked fish, and LDR’s count. I know people who don’t count LDR’s. But, I catch and release. if I was fishing for the frying pan I pop them in the bank so I don’t lose them. If you’re having a competition with someone for most fish, or targeting the fish you just can’t catch. Then they don’t count unless they are hooked in the mouth and in the net.

[@giantboard63]

I feel that if you snag a fish after catching a few then it doesn’t count but if it was the only fish of the day I’ll make that accusation 😂

[@genegarrett4172]

What O’dells were you sipping today?

[@Texasflycaster]

Take a sip! You'll feel better!

[@r.w.flyvideos187]

Guide Tip. When clients give fish the ol' anal bead. You tell them "Ehhhh you probably had it on the top fly, but then it shook loose and got snaged on the bottom." That's legit what I thought happened most often because you see it happen at times. But this breakdown is next level. The late hook sets really makes allot of sense. Killer breakdown on important stuff HFF!

[@rushthezeppelin]

I know I've had that happen. You feel headshakes and sometimes even see that you are clearly leading the fish by the month then you get it in and it's butthooked. I think the odds are pretty high the shake happens right when you net them too because I often get those clear signs right up to the net.

[@kylewatson5951]

"Tails" lololol

[@seanur2414]

It is unsatisfying to land a foul hooked fish. I fish for satisfaction, so either it’s hooked in the mouth or it doesn’t count. Moreover, it doesn’t count unless I hold or net the fish and remove the hook myself.

[@mattmcdowell8830]

In Utah it is illegal to keep any fish that is fowl hooked. a)(ii) and Section R657-13-21, a fish hooked anywhere other than the mouth must be immediately released.

[@skiddyfishing]

I have never heard of this but most fly anglers are going to release it anyway.

[@danielburgess7785]

"Better chance of survival" and we're done here.

[@Adam8Fish]

For those of us that follow the rules, We aren't even allowed to run more than one fly in most places in BC. some places we can't even use indicators or any weight within the setup (this includes any and all flies with a tungsten bead head) Pretty hard to snag fish when you're legally limited to a dry fly. Also, trebles are for chumps.

[@steveb.2326]

"Pretty hard to snag fish when you're legally limited to a dry fly." .... Yet, I've done it.

[@Adam8Fish]

@@steveb.2326 I didn't say it was impossible, But it's a lot easier to foul when you're running a dropper rig with 3 flies or stripping streamers through a tiny creek like a psycho.

[@Blues2cool]

When nymph fishing and you see the indicator hasitate. Remember, the fish doesn't have the fly in its hands set the hook. It's free to set the hook and can help elevate foul hooking the fish. Watch the indicator or the end of the leader pay attention.

[@notred0774]

Sorry. I dont fish bobbers

[@rodc4334]

"I never know about you guys!" 🤣Excellent! I do not know, but I would guess streamers 6 ft apart is a trolling thing? No casting, just motor along letting out however much line you want out. I always figured foul hooking a nymph was a fish who came up to eat the fly, rejected it without eating, then as they turned away snagged themselves (for me it is along the tail somewhere, like they slapped it in the turn). I have no idea really, as I can't see what happened. Thankfully not a common occurrence for me.

[@44070Swinger]

Let's not forget those flossing crowd....

[@titandino]

Flossing is the same thing as snagging.

[@scottasin]

​@@titandino tell that to michigan "fisherman"

[@rushthezeppelin]

I'll usually half count it given what you talked about with snags usually being flys that you were too slow at setting. At least for the purposes of competing with your fishing buddy I think this is fair. Same thing with short distance releases, that's half a fish.

[@jasonbeary5771]

You should have a Lake Erie steelhead fisherman on this episode. SOOOO much fould hooking.

[@JoelSzymczyk]

got it right in the South Mouth

[@markbenn1907]

This is a great video… but your instagram comment game is impeccable.

[@fishingblackwatersound]

I agree Ben if I can take it home and eat it it’s a caught fish I don’t care how it was hooked lol

[@treswright142]

Let’s just take a minute to remember that no matter how much we talk about ethics and the health of fish, we still stab them in the face for fun…. Also, troglodyte was a great vocab drop.

[@brendannolan2508]

For me, foul-hooked fish don't count.

[@peterp1523]

If you have a hook in the water trying to catch a fish and pull it out and there s a fish how does that not count

[@brianrobinson1975]

colorado guide rig #1 3 nymphs many weights

[@timothycarr9657]

I love you so much!

[@timothycarr9657]

Ok, that sounds weird, but it's true. Thanks for this post.

[@lornearland3018]

Careful with keeping a foul hooked fish! Check your regs first. At least in Washington State, any fish hooked rear of the gills must be released, and I believe many states are the same. Ofc this doesn't stop the folks doing it intentionally, but just sayin....

[@BigRyTheFlyGuy]

I'd take a clean caught 6 incher over a snagged whopper of a fish anyday. It feels so cheap when it happens (and it does and will happen). All of mine go back anyway, but snagging leaves me feeling cold and empty inside. The opposite of a great catch, basically. If I don't 100% know and have proof (hook in lip) the fish ATE my fly, then I haven't done a good enough job fooling the fish, and that's on me. I'm feeding fish, not dressing them up in jewelry...

[@b-rice4711]

Is it snagging when I’m up the creek flossing boots to post on Reddit

[@jayr7471]

Salmon totally stun their prey first by charging then turning with their back or butthole first. Ask any A hole with a stringer full of salmon in MI in the fall.

[@andrewsavage389]

Tails lol

[@puristonthefly3308]

Roll and flick the booger? I just eat it.

[@SUflyfshn-YT]

Alvin Kamara!!!!! Who Dat!!

[@ryanbeebout7676]

My opinion 100% a foul hooked fish counts if landed. Would like to see what your take on trout fishing with beads is, seems to be a debate up here in wyoming about it.

[@armysapper12b]

Foul and/or butt hooking, and this whole time I thought it was a result of a great night with cheap Tequila in Mexico.

[@NicholasTroutFishing]

I like Kelly Galloup’s motto, the trout make a decision. They can eat it or wear it

[@philipvankampen3394]

Ha ha ha, ... one of his better lines if you ask me

[@FishDR]

Foul hooking is accidental Lols in paddlefish

[@SigmaWolfOutdoors]

a foul hooked fish shall count as - one fish..it's in the rules.

[@BarbSonfly]

I’m personally just really into butt stuff. It’s my favorite!

[@dangerranger6766]

Snagging a fish is like doing steroids in sports, it counts but there's going to be an * by your fish count

[@buttdreads]

I’ll I seen was butt hookin and clicked in it

[@RoryLynott]

Streamers 6' apart. I tried it......and I sucked😅

[@maxbigelow8805]

Be more like Joe🤣

[@jorgesven5197]

A fish out of the water is a valid fish...unless you are in a tournament with a specific set of rules. Otherwise, who cares!

[@robertmansfield196]

Michigan all foul hooked fish go back.

[@scottasin]

but flossing is legal

[@tinoyb9294]

I see lots of foul hooks in your videos. Maybe it's a boat fishing thing.

[@thuleanperspectivefr]

i snagged a mullet once, will allah forgive me?

[@bobbolton135]

I have this ongoing jesting with my fishing buddy. “Are you going to count that?” No they don’t count. BTW I never keep trout. Ever. Your videos are always enjoyable. Thanks Ben.

[@FlyGuy1810-j3t]

Ok who in their right mind fishes a tandem streamer rig for trout? I feel like it would ruin the juicy action. Also, sounds terrible to cast

[@ithacaster]

I fished a tandem streamer rig from a drift boat on a tailwater a couple of weeks ago. It had a micro game changer with a leach pattern behind about 18". I caught several on the game changer and one on the trailer. I also hooked and lost two fish that looked to easily be 18+ inches. No snagged fish and it was easier to cast than a heavier, bigger single streamer I fished a few days ago.

[@FlyGuy1810-j3t]

I can def see two small streamers being easier to cast than one large one, especially on larger rods. I stand corrected

[@christianlingurar7085]

will there ever be a cool fishing video again on this channel?

[@patrickmo7137]

The Fish can eat it or wear it

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

This statement is low-brow logic that encourages unethical angling and only gets repeated because Kelly Galloup says it. Try getting off his nutsack and thinking for yourself.

[@patrickmo7137]

@@HugeFlyFisherman no its a fact of the matter i never try to do it but it does happen

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

And you’re promoting it by repeating it.

[@mikemetl6703]

Fly fishermen are the biggest snaggers in the king salmon and winter steelhead world... more so salmon but seen it with steelhead quite a bit to.. Situk in alaska is a great example... fly fishermen come from all over the world to floss steelhead off reds in a foot of water.. while the real anglers are fishing the lower river. crazy i never see fly anglers in the lower river.. weird

[@r.w.flyvideos187]

We fly fisherman have a herd mentality for sure. Fly anglers don't fish your lower river because other fly anglers are not fishing the lower river. Lol