If they were trying to chase a fish away from their spawning ground, why would they bite the treble hook? And if they actually are attacking lures to defend a redd... is that fair catch? Honest question. I'm not sure if it is or not.
Good question, I think provoking a fish into attacking a bait would be fair but I'm new here. For what it's worth it's a pretty regular occurence where I fish.
I, too, find it a little suspicious that a territorial strike would have the Quillback's miniscule mouth hit the exact spot where the massive treble would have hooked it fairly. Regarding territorial strikes in general - heck yes it's a catch, as long as it's hooked fairly. You provoked the fish to strike at your offering - doesn't matter whether they were trying to eat or not.
Totally fair to question it and I'll remove the post and catch one on a hair jig if need be. I will reiterate that on the stretches of the Wisconsin river I fish it's not uncommon to have a quillback chasing your bait off its turf every other cast at times. If it weren't for the fact that I hooked multiple large quillback in the face and nowhere else I wouldn't believe that they were attacking the bait either.
Comments
Dan Henderson
Tue, 04/13/2021 - 20:59
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That's awesome
Nice catch.
Tyler W
Sun, 04/18/2021 - 20:19
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Fair caught?
If they were trying to chase a fish away from their spawning ground, why would they bite the treble hook? And if they actually are attacking lures to defend a redd... is that fair catch? Honest question. I'm not sure if it is or not.
NPike_Guy
Sun, 05/09/2021 - 16:00
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Good question, I think
Good question, I think provoking a fish into attacking a bait would be fair but I'm new here. For what it's worth it's a pretty regular occurence where I fish.
Graceclaw
Wed, 05/12/2021 - 08:34
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Hmmmm
I, too, find it a little suspicious that a territorial strike would have the Quillback's miniscule mouth hit the exact spot where the massive treble would have hooked it fairly. Regarding territorial strikes in general - heck yes it's a catch, as long as it's hooked fairly. You provoked the fish to strike at your offering - doesn't matter whether they were trying to eat or not.
NPike_Guy
Wed, 05/12/2021 - 17:23
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Totally fair to question it
Totally fair to question it and I'll remove the post and catch one on a hair jig if need be. I will reiterate that on the stretches of the Wisconsin river I fish it's not uncommon to have a quillback chasing your bait off its turf every other cast at times. If it weren't for the fact that I hooked multiple large quillback in the face and nowhere else I wouldn't believe that they were attacking the bait either.