[basskicker]

Thanks for all the advice about downsizing and the ned rig (I remember reading about that in Bassmaster). Will try it if I find myself having issues like this again.

The fish were grabbing onto the worm and running with it. They were small 9-11" smallies. When I felt them tap it, I would set the hook and the fish would hold onto the worm. I felt the weight and the fight of the fish and when I got it to the yack and went to pull it out of the water, the smallie would come off. The first time, I just assumed it spit the hook, however this happened 3 times where the fish came undone when I was taking it out of the water (which has never happened to me). There were a few instances where the fish fought for a while and came off before I got eyes on it.

I use small size 1/0 circle hooks to avoid gut hooking the fish. I haven't had any issues with hooksets in the river before. I assume they weren't committing due to the change in the weather, even both fish that went after the torpedo were foul hooked. A strange day on the water for me.