smallie951

Looking for your feedback on this proposed spinning combo - used primarily for bass, walleye, stripers, etc -most gamefish, not too much panfishing. ROD - St. Croix PS66MF2 . (Premier 6' 6" Medium fast 2 piece) REEL - Pflueger President 6735X After all, I need something from Santa for fishing!

I hit the river today and caught 4 smallies in about an hour using a carolina rigged baby brush hog.... 100% strike to land ratio, so maybe your encouragement helped!

RW - Thanks - That one was right at 6 lb. It was loooooong.... around 23 inches, but up in Canada they aren't nearly as thick as the footballs in Erie. I got that 40% number from a B.A.S.S. website where they were tracking the top pro's % for the year. I was surprised at how low it was, but they are probably counting the number of times the pro sets the hook, whether or not it was a real bite or a snag, who knows.

I mentioned in the post above I fished texposed.... I attached a different pic at the bottom. Sorry to confuse.... In general, after doing some more reading on various websites this is the general consensus... 1. With Texas rigging, set the hook quickly using a sharp "snap set". 2. With Carolina rigging, wait for a pull, then use a longer "sweep set"

I use Gamakatsu EWG hooks - I've used 2/0 through 4/0. I fish almost everything "Texposed" and I make sure the bait isn't too tight, per GYCB instructions. I am currently using a 4/0 hook on a baby brush hog, but I think the fish I am missing are less than 1 lb runts, so maybe going down in hooksize would help. I will work on the "snap" hook set as RW described. I tend to use a long "sweep set" with a lot of reel movement. Perhaps that is the problem. Don't get me wrong, I catch my fair share, I'm always looking to get better ! P.s. - Davis, I must admit, considering the BASS pro's land to strike % in some tournaments is around 40%, it's pretty impressive that you've "never missed a hook-up" !! Also - this is copied directly out of the bass resource article on plastic worms.... :-? When a strike occurs (you'll feel a tap on your line or detect movement in the line), immediately lower the rod tip and bring the rod back overhead sharply. This slack-line hookset will drive the hook point into the bass' tough jaw. Never allow a bass to swim with the worm. On the strike, set the hook as quickly as possible. Always set the hook with a strong upward jerk. However, you don't need to tear the boat seat out of the boat on the hookset. If you're rigged right, the bass will practically hook itself. So it sounds like there as many techniques as there are fisherman! Keep the opinions coming....

Hello All, I fish A LOT of soft plastics for smallies.... Baby Brush Hogs, Fat Ika, Senco's, Sluggos, worms, Lizards, you name it. I'm always frustrated when I don't get a good hook set and I reel in a worm crumpled up on the end of the hook. I want to improve my hit to land ratio. So - I want to hear your thoughts.... when and how do you set the hook with soft plastics.... when you first sense the hit (line moves) ? After the fish is running with it? When you feel them pull ? No slack line ? Slack Line? Sweeping set, hard set, quick jerk..... give me the details. Thanks!

Or am I the only one?

Hey all - first time post - long time smallie fan. My question is on Hook size and type for smallies - using plastics. What is the best hook size for smallies when fishing a 5" Zoom Baby Brush hog? How about a 6" Senko? 4" Senko ? Or a good old fashioned 6" power worm ? On type, do you prefer the Ultra wide gap, wide gap, offset shank, etc. I'm always looking to get better hookset / strike %.