Lost Fish; Equipment Or Technique To Blame?

[tlkilian]

Not sure if this is really the correct forum to be posting in (still new here) but it may be related to rod and line.

 

Well long story short I hooked up to 3 bass in the span of an hour and landed 1. Little bit of a bummer.    My question is would it be a case of "the wrong stuff for the job" or a technique oriented issue? So I know I'm gonna get a lotta skepticism at the least for telling what my rod is but it's a St. Croix Light power fast action using some 10lb PowerPro. It's just fun to use lighter stuff. I'm not using a super aggressive hookset  cause they're thumping it pretty hard after I tease them for a while with a small Texas rig (6" curly tail worm, 3/16 oz weight) and I'm using braid. Is this a mistake or is my set-up just too light? Or is it something else? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[K_Mac]

The info you don't give is very important: What hook are you using? What size hook? How are you hooking the plastic? 

 

A light power rod will require a lighter gauge hook properly sized for the bait, and not much plastic to interfere with the set (think skin hook). Light power is fun, but challenging...good luck.

[MO_LMB]

 

 

Well long story short I hooked up to 3 bass in the span of an hour and landed 1. Little bit of a bummer.

When are you losing the fish? Close to the shore/boat or soon after they bite. My guess is that you aren't getting a strong enough hookset and they are getting off easily because the hook hasn't really penetrated.

[tlkilian]

The info you don't give is very important: What hook are you using? What size hook? How are you hooking the plastic? 

 

A light power rod will require a lighter gauge hook properly sized for the bait, and not much plastic to interfere with the set (think skin hook). Light power is if fun, but challenging...good luck.

 

I'm using a 1/0 Lazer Sharp worm hook. The plastic is skin hooked but usually pops out and lays very flush to the worm.

[tlkilian]

When are you losing the fish? Close to the shore/boat or soon after they bite. My guess is that you aren't getting a strong enough hookset and they are getting off easily because the hook hasn't really penetrated.

 

The first was closer in but he also hit it relatively close to where I was on shore; probably followed it for a while. I felt what was his full weight, let him have a little panic attack, and then gave a good jerk, then pausing to slightly tighten my drag and after this pause...gone. Second one was farther off and gave a shake so he mightn't have had the hook stuck too deep in him. 

[MO_LMB]

You don't need to pause with plastics, if you feel their weight set the hook.

 

Also, if you had to tighten your drag after the hookset this probably meant that you didn't stick him well enough and he wasnt even hooked.

 

Me personally, if i were using an light setup and that small of a hook for a t-rig, I would just use a lead jighead and an exposed hook so that I would have a better chance of hooking the fish.

[David P]

1/0 hook on a 6" worm seems rather small. 

 

Try a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook rigged the same way you had it done. Set the hook harder... You're using a very light rod, no harm in setting the hook good. 

 

Or try a different bait.. Maybe drop shot with that rod, that way you have an exposed hook...

[JD96]

Switch to a 7'6" flipping stick with 65lb braid and a 3/8 oz jig and if you lose a fish on that you aren't setting the hook.

[EvanT123]

Switch to a 7'6" flipping stick with 65lb braid and a 3/8 oz jig and if you lose a fish on that you aren't setting the hook.

That's funny my man.

To the OP is this your first time out with this setup? Or is it a reoccurring problem?

If it's a reoccurring problem it might have something to do with your technique. Your first time it might just be getting used to the gear.

If nether could just be one of those days. :-/

[ClackerBuzz]

sounds like u just skinned hooked the roof of their mouths ie no hook penetration.

i love braid and helps overcome many things but you had a triple whammy so even braid couldn't help:  

1 not enough drag

2 soft hook set

3 light rod with not enough back bone to compensate for light hook set.

 

fix one or more of these issues and you will be good to go.  

**you can keep using ur rod just make sure to swinging/sweeping the hook set very far back until you have a full parabolic bend in the rod.

[SirSnookalot]

Technique and as David P says maybe 3/0 hook, other than that you are good to go.  I didn't notice if you are using spinning or b/c, assuming it's spinning with a light rod and 10#PP............perfect set up IMO.  I don't use 65# braid for tarpon, why I would for bass fishing is something I can't understand, especially on a light set up.

[wngan9447]

Also, if you had to tighten your drag after the hookset this probably meant that you didn't stick him well enough and he wasnt even hooked

Bingo!

[smalljaw67]

The issue at hand would be hook size, the lazer sharp worm hooks are actually pretty good so it isn't a sharp hook problem. More than likely the fish are only getting "skin hooked" as they are either shaking it out or a pause on applying pressure allows the fish to  get off. Hook size and tighten the drag, and it isn't just 1 of those things it is both, you need to tighten the drag to make sure the hook penetrates before the line slips, and the hook size needs to go up to a 3/0, the only way you go smaller is if you nose hook the worm and fish it as a drop shot or weightless. The reason for that is you won't even get a hook in them with a nose hook presentation unless they eat the worm head first and if they do the little octopus or drop shot hooks really stick them, so you aren't going to lose any fish that really grabs the bait unlike what is happening now. Remember, that set up you have now only needs to go to a 3/0 hook with some more drag pressure and you should be good.

[tlkilian]

Thanks guys!

[OkobojiEagle]

I would just use a lead jighead and an exposed hook so that I would have a better chance of hooking the fish.

 

 

sound advice

 

oe

[mjseverson24]

there is a reason you do not see the professionals out there flippin t-rigs into brush, and weeds with light powered rods and 10 lb braid. these are not the right tools for the job. your technique may not be perfect, but with the proper equipment it does not need to be. if you want a good fight and catch more fish get a 7' medium power baitcasting setup with 30 lb braid or 12-15 lb floro. this set up will give you power when you need it but still feel like it is a fight when you hook a fish. 

 

Mitch

[SirSnookalot]

there is a reason you do not see the professionals out there flippin t-rigs into brush, and weeds with light powered rods and 10 lb braid. these are not the right tools for the job. your technique may not be perfect, but with the proper equipment it does not need to be. if you want a good fight and catch more fish get a 7' medium power baitcasting setup with 30 lb braid or 12-15 lb floro. this set up will give you power when you need it but still feel like it is a fight when you hook a fish. 

 

Mitch

I don't quite agree.  When I watch the professionals on tv I see them literally dragging a bass in at warp speed, with no fight at all from the bass.  IMO that technique serves this purpose, to get the fish in fast and get on to the next cast, heavier lines and rods look as though the fish has little or no chance.  That's fine if the object is to be at your workplace earning a living and competing against other fisherman.  As a recreational fisherman my competion is the fish, I'm more than willing to give a fish a chance, to me it's a lot more sporting.  There are times when I do need to use a bit heavier gear, med spin 8/17 rod and 2000 reel with 15# braid, I never fish heavier than that for bass.

I'm not against what other people use, they fish the way they see fit for themselves.  Being primarily an open water fisherman I want to fight the fish, not heavy vegetation.  I get no thrill dragging a 5# fish in with 10# of seaweed on it, I prefer that15#  to be a fish pulling out lots drag, pretty common scenario around here.

Doesn't mean I don't enjoy bass fishing, I like it a lot.  That's my relaxing time to fish, bass are one of my easier challanges...........it's fun.