Hook setting questions.......

[cra97]

I am getting "decent" at getting the fish "interested" in my baits, but I am having a HUGE problem with my hook sets. I had a few fish I FELT (obv, I know because I felt them playing with the bait and even take it a couple times) but I cannot figure out which way to "set the hook" is the actual RIGHT way to do it. I have tried the horizonal approach, and the hasn't worked well, and I have tried the 6 to 12 set and that is not working much better. Anyone have any input on: How long to wait BEFORE setting it (what am I waiting to feel specifically to key the hit)? Which direction of pull is the BEST for setting the hook? If the fish hooks themselves can/should you still set it to INSURE a good hook (I ask this because I had NUMEROUS fish do this and I did not yank, and I lost EVERY ONE of these at the side of the boat, which cost me an EASY 10+lbs over two days)?. Any suggestions/help would be appreciated as this simple part of the game is driving me NUTZZZZZZ. Thanks for your time and input.


Rob

[00SKEETER]

I guess the first question I have to ask is what type of bait are you having the problem with (jig, soft plastics)? If it's a jig what type are you using (flipping, finesse)??

[Bassky]

If I feel something different, light tap or a tap tap tap, I set the hook immediately. I like to watch my line also. Sometimes they **** in the bait so fast if you are not watching your line you will never know they hit it! I always try to keep my line tight, not much slack so I can feel everything. Hope this helps.
Bassky

[Dakota Kid]

Depends on the bait and the rod. A single hook (jig, spinnerbait, etc) should be used with at least a med heavy rod. Treble hooks should be used with a lighter rod or at least one with a soft tip. On a single hook most of the time, I wait till I feel the fish's weight, then I I Try to kill the fish with the hook set even double the hook sets. You cannot set the hook too hard. With trebles, including topwater, I just use the fish's weight to set the hook. If I smash the hookset, I normaly pull it out of their mouths. Especially with topwaters with trebles. On a sweeping hookset, I try to sweep the opposite way they are traveling. Fish moving left, sweep to the right. It pulls the bait into the corner of their mouth instead of out in front of their mouth. On plastic finesse, I use a med rod with a fast tip. The hook sets better for me.

That's what I do. It seems to work for me. Even the pros miss hook sets.

[roadrunner]

If you get into a feeling match with a fish you are going to lose. If you feel the fish he has already felt you and will probably drop the bait. Try to feel the lightest tick or thump watch your line and concentrate on your bait at all times you will become attuned to what weight your bait is if it gets heavy it is a fish a leaf or a piece of brush or it might just become light where you can not feel the weight. you might see the line jump or you might see it swim to the side. All of these could indicate a fish if you think something has changed set the hook it is free. some of the time you will be rewarded some of the time you will be hung up and some of the time nothing. Only time will let you know what to do and when but if you are in doubt set the hook.

As for the type o hook set it depends on the type of bait you are fishing Carolina rig I sweep to the side because of the positon of the rod sam as a spinner bait texas rig shakey head jig etc. I set the hook with an upward motion because I usually move the bait with the rod tip up.

[Col Forbin]

I set the hook anytime I feel something different (hooksets are free). The only time I will hesitate is when fishing a large worm to let them get it, and topwater. As said above on single hook, t-rig and especially jig I set the heck out of the hook. I use a long 180 degree sweep on a carolina rig. On finesse stuff I use a slow upward pull and keep the pressure. ANd on crankbaits I use a slower sweep than the c-rig. The key is knowing what your bait is doing or what it is supposed to be doing and feel like and recognizing any difference in that.

[mhall]

I set the hook anytime I feel something different (hooksets are free). The only time I will hesitate is when fishing a large worm to let them get it, and topwater. As said above on single hook, t-rig and especially jig I set the heck out of the hook. I use a long 180 degree sweep on a carolina rig. On finesse stuff I use a slow upward pull and keep the pressure. ANd on crankbaits I use a slower sweep than the c-rig. The key is knowing what your bait is doing or what it is supposed to be doing and feel like and recognizing any difference in that.

Exactly what I do to a tee.

[Cobra190]

I set the hook anytime I feel something different (hooksets are free). The only time I will hesitate is when fishing a large worm to let them get it, and topwater. As said above on single hook, t-rig and especially jig I set the heck out of the hook. I use a long 180 degree sweep on a carolina rig. On finesse stuff I use a slow upward pull and keep the pressure. ANd on crankbaits I use a slower sweep than the c-rig. The key is knowing what your bait is doing or what it is supposed to be doing and feel like and recognizing any difference in that.

I too totally agree. When I first started fishing years ago, before there was so much fishing pressure, you could wait to feel the fish before setting the hook. But all this has changed and you really have to focus now. There are so many things to watch and feel for, that you almost have to set the hook on the slightest change. Consider it a bonus and gimme if you ever have a fish pick up a bait and swim with it anymore. And in alot of cases a good upward snap of the rod will work as long as you keep your hooks sharp. Good Luck!!

[Todd2]

One thing I've been playing with is Braided line. I started Carolina Rigging quite a bit late this summer and was missing alot of them until I went to braid as my main line with a 10 lb mono leader. You feel everything with the stuff, being that braid has no stretch which also allows a quicker hookset. I'm also trying it out with t-rigs and jigs using a double nail knot to connect a mono leader. Seems to help, but braid does have some issues. Good Post...

[Fishin is life]

im not sure there is a "correct" method to setting the hook...you have to do what is comfortable and works for you...everything everybody has posted is correct...truth be known you just have to get on the water and keep tinkering with it till you find somethin that works for you....youll see some guys set the hook so hard itll throw their partner outta the boat and some guys just give a soft pull...both work for them...confidence is the best thing...you have to get to where you dont think about it....its instinct...and everybody loses fish...its a part of the game...seems like some days you can't get a fish to let go of it and other days you cant seem to get a hook through their mouth....happens to everybody....good luck with gettin em in the boat

[elnutsmalljaws]

Like everything else, I don't think there is only one "correct" method to set the hook. It does depend on baits and method of fishing but pretty much I have only 2 hooksets. Carolina Rig then my hookset is a sweep sideways and everything else is pretty much as high and hard and as far back over my head as possible. Again different situations calls for different lengths of how long to let the fish "take" the bait but 99% of the time, first peck or line movement or anything else that makes me think for a split second that a fish is "Breathing" on it and the hooksetting will begin immediately.

I was watching Hook n Look tv show this past spring and there was a show where Kim Stricker was in the boat fishing for bedding Smallies with a tube while his buddy was under water with the camera. Water was crystal clear and this one particular fish the camera man is giving Kim play by play of what he is seeing from under water. From how far to cast, to when he had the tube in the bed to when a fish was around it looking at it. 7 times the camera man said "he got it", 7 times Kim swung and missed the fish. He finally did catch it on the 8th attempt, but 7 times the fish had inhaled the bait and blew it out of the bed before Kim could get a hook in him and that is with someone giving him underwater play by play. Here we are trying to do the same thing basically blind to exactly where the bait is or where the fish is under water. Hook Sets are free, and I would much rather swing and miss a fish than to not have swung at all.

[18'stratos]

I agree with everything so far. The only thing that I will add is not wait. Anything different and a hookset should be in order. When I first started fishing placstics someone told me to count to 5 before setting the hook, so they would have it good in their mouth. Fish can inhale large baits easily so don't wait. As far as the hookset goes, I have yanked good sized fish clean out of the water and over the boat. No mercy! Hookset the same direction of the retreive.