Hook Setting Help

[Mike2841]

Today I went out fishing and I didn't land a single fish. I had 5-6 on the line but every time they got off. I was fishing weightless senkos and flukes on a 6'8" st croix avid M XF. Normally when I fish senkos it doesn't take much to set the hook but today left me wondering what I'm doing wrong.

[WRB]

How are you rigging the Senko?

Tom

[Mike2841]

Texas rig on 4/0 gamatatsu ewg hook

[WRB]

Next time this occurs try changing to a wacky rigged Senko.

Tom

[merc1997]

my next question would be, when you got your rig back in, was the hook out of the senko?  and, where you using a slip sinker??  believe it or not, bass will hit your slip sinker, and that will be the only thing in their mouth.  i have actually landed a few over the years, and that was all that was in their mouth, and they had clamped down on it so tight that even on the hook set, it did not pop the sinker out of their mouth.  next thing that comes to mind is that ewg hooks are very bad of dislodging theirself when bass swim away from you.  the pull line on a ewg hook is right under the barb.  when a bass swims away from you the hook will pop out of the bass quite quickly many times.  that is why i never use a hook with a khale type bend.

 

bo

[Mike2841]

I was not using a sinker. Several times the hook was pulled through the senko/fluke. Maybe the hook became dislodged, I didn't know that about the ewg because one second I would be fighting the fish and then the next I have a senko flying right at me.

[WRB]

The bass were not trying to eat the Senko quickly, you set the hook while it was still in the basses crunchers or mouth. If you pause and let the bass turn with the Senko, your odds are better in getting a hook set. The problem is timing, wait too long and you may gut hook, too fast and you don't get a hook set. The wacky rig creates an exposed hook. The wacky Saddle is ideal as the hook is positioned for better hook setting and you can use a circle hook that eliminates gut hooking.

Like Bo, I am not a fan of off set EWG hook because the wide hook bend rotates flat when bass bite down hard. Owners 5132 twist lock hook may also help if you prefer a more traditional hook placement, by adding a belly slice to reduce the amount of plastic the hook must penetrate.

Tom

[Sam]

Try a regular worm hook for the Senko.

 

Go with a smaller 1/0 or 2/0.

 

As Tom mentioned, throw a wacky rigged Senko and let the fish take the bait and swim off with it before setting the hook.

 

You will soon get the hang of it and start landing every strike you get.

 

Post pics of the hogs.

[Mike2841]

Thanks for the tips guys. I think I was setting the hook to early. Went back to the same spot this morning and already got 2 fish. Not so sure about hogs, the bass I caught was about 8 inches

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Thanks for the tips guys. I think I was setting the hook to early. Went back to the same spot this morning and already got 2 fish. Not so sure about hogs, the bass I caught was about 8 inches

I would switch to 3/0 worm hooks. EWG hooks miss a lot of fish

[BenB54]

I would switch to 3/0 worm hooks. EWG hooks miss a lot of fish

 

Debatable

[Jolly Green]

All hooks stick more fish when they're sharp. $.02

[WRB]

Thanks for the tips guys. I think I was setting the hook to early. Went back to the same spot this morning and already got 2 fish. Not so sure about hogs, the bass I caught was about 8 inches

Dinks explains a lot!

[tbone1993]

Im surprised no one mentioned this yet but bluegill sometimes attack the tail end of senkos. The bite is completely different than that of a bass and is pretty annoying. GIve yourself time to set the hook. Once you feel the bite reel down until you feel pressure and set the hook. If you have to pick up a bunch of slack in your line you will never have a solid hookset. 

[Loop_Dad]

Debatable

 

+1

 

Dinks explains a lot!

 

+1

 

If there are lots of small fish and you want to catch them, one option is to go smaller with 4" senko, if you were not already using them,  with 1/0 or 2/0 offset worm hook.

 

I usually would not let the fish swim off with. I think you increase the chance of gut hooking too much. Especially with 4". I get hit, I reel it down and I set the hook. Not too fast, but not too slow either. I figure if I don't stick it, it was not meant to be caught. (or used wrong hook etc off course...)