Hook Set With Plastics???

[flippin Dan]

Years ago I would let a fish run first but getting back into fishing the last couple years I have started setting the hook on first contact with the fish when possible. My partner lets his fish run first and gut hooks about 20%, I have had 2 GOOD fish pull off I think from not being hooked as deep as I would like them to be. Anyway do you let the fish run with it or try to drive the hook in as quick as possible???

[flippin Dan]

We are fishing mostly grass beds if that matters and using mostly paca craws on 4/0 gammys.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

After i feel the initial bite i will add pressure by lifting the rod slightly . if i feel resistance then i set the hook. this method gives me confidence that the fish has the bait and i should be able to get a good hook set. If i ever see the line move away i set the hook immediately. If i never feel the initial bite and feel pressure or resistance when working the bait, i set the hook.

[aclark609]

It just depends really. If the fish hits the bait hard, I swing for the fences almost immediately. Most of the time with soft plastics I'll lift the rod to feel the weight then reel down quickly and drive it home.

It's probably not that you aren't getting the hook as deep as you would like. It's probably one of two things: you're not driving the hook hard enough or you're not keeping enough pressure on the fish during the fight.

[Bassn Blvd]

After i feel the initial bite i will add pressure by lifting the rod slightly . if i feel resistance then i set the hook. this method gives me confidence that the fish has the bait and i should be able to get a good hook set. If i ever see the line move away i set the hook immediately. If i never feel the initial bite and feel pressure or resistance when working the bait, i set the hook.

X2

[Big-O]

Rod action and length, type of line and line strength, distance between you and the fish when you're bit, your body angle, any obstructions around that might impede a full tilt hook set, are all things to consider.

Use a Quality Sharp Hook and a standard "off set wide gap" is better than an EWG in most situations... IMO.

Feel the hit: Reel down quickly taking up line slack to a light feel of the fish and SET THE HOOK FULL TILT!!! Should you sometime set the hook again... YES, if there was a big bow in the line line on your hook set or if the line is mono/fluoro and the hit is on the end of a long cast, stroke'em again 3/4 to halfway to the boat. But make sure not to set again if and when the fish is near or on top because their mouth is normally Open.

www.ragetail.com

[Nitrofreak]

I like fishing cowgirl's saying, if you don't have a bass at the end of your line you had better have it's lips lol !!

The first strike is when I set the hook unless the fish are really timid, sometimes they will bite at the bait to run it off, I usually dip it in a little jj's if that happens to make them hold on long enough for a strong hook set.

[IneedAnewScreenName-972354]

I don't feel you need to let the fish run with your bait. You feel the bite and a pressure on the line then the Bass has it in its mouth. I believe someone on here said "they don't have hands and fingers".

[Michael DiNardo]

I don't feel you need to let the fish run with your bait. You feel the bite and a pressure on the line then the Bass has it in its mouth. I believe someone on here said "they don't have hands and fingers".

X2

Mike

[JaxBasser]

I use to let the fish run but all that seemed to accomplish was more gut hooked fish. I reel down and set the hook as soon as I feel the bite.

[hookset on 3]

Rod action and length, type of line and line strength, distance between you and the fish when you're bit, your body angle, any obstructions around that might impede a full tilt hook set, are all things to consider.

Use a Quality Sharp Hook and a standard "off set wide gap" is better than an EWG in most situations... IMO.

Feel the hit: Reel down quickly taking up line slack to a light feel of the fish and SET THE HOOK FULL TILT!!! Should you sometime set the hook again... YES, if there was a big bow in the line line on your hook set or if the line is mono/fluoro and the hit is on the end of a long cast, stroke'em again 3/4 to halfway to the boat. But make sure not to set again if and when the fish is near or on top because their mouth is normally Open.

www.ragetail.com

hookset on 3

What Big O says takes a quick 3 count. Works for me.

[BrianSnat]

As soon as I feel the weight I set. If I wait too long I gut hook a lot and since I'm releasing I don't want to do that.

[LgMouthGambler]

I feel the bite, as I reel the extra slack, I say "here we go", which is just enough time to have it just right.

[grimlin]

I have found since I keep my line semi tight now,I don't reel in and set the hook anymore. Soon as I feel that bite or heaviness I set it right there and then. I rarely miss a fish on the hookset now.

Dropping the rod and reeling in slack before setting the hook has gotten me nothing but frustrated I miss the fish. They can spit the lure out pretty dang fast. What I do now pretty much clears any errors on my part.

[Deadeye-1]

It's hard to say "do this" and have it work perfectly everytime, at least it is for me. How I set the hook depends on what the bass have been telling me. Sometimes with a quick hard smack I'll set it right then. Others I might let it run. Totally depends. One day after a hard cold front moved through I had to let them nibble on the worm for what seemed like forever until them moved off in order to get a solid hookset. Even then it was just in the edge of the lip.

I guess my answer is feel out the bass for what they are doing that day, but usually after I feel the bite I lower the rod, take up slack, feel the weight, then set the hook.

[flippin Dan]

I feel the bite, as I reel the extra slack, I say "here we go", which is just enough time to have it just right.

I usually say " There she is" as I set the hook so my buddy knows I am out fishing him again. lol