I run my hooks maybe an inch, inch and a half from the hook. Haven't hooked one on the outside of the mouth yet. I also don't let them swallow it.. If the float quivers or dips, I'll set the hook. If I miss them, I miss them.
Some pretty simple signs to look for. Laid down dorsal fins, body structure doesn't look right... I've caught both in the 'Geen, and it's a night and day difference. Not to mention the fight, lol.
Agreed, but selective harvest is key here. It's not hard to distinguish the wild fish from the stockers. Let the wild hens go and keep the stockers for table fare.
Why are you leaving hooks in 90% of your released fish? I think steelhead are the one fish where I never hook them deep in the mouth, regardless of what I'm fishing with (singles, normal bags, big bombers, jigs, whatever).
I don't know why people relate beads to flossing, because the hook is maybe an inch away from the bead? People have been flossing/lining fish way before beads every became popular here.
It's the same as 'lining' maybe that's a old school term you're familiar with? Basically you run a super long lead and wait for the fish to swim into your line.. It pulls the bead (or whatever) through it's mouth and WHAMO! FISH ON BABY FISH ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I see more fish lined by the guys with flyrods compared to anything else to be honest.
There's a big difference between killing a big fat wild hen and a mutant stocked whatever. This is the reason the whole 'selective harvest' topic was brought up.