Was He Hooked Or Only Biting Tail?

[hoosierbass07]

 A few days ago I was fishing on a small lake/pond and only had one good bite.  I was using a Texas Rigged plastic worm, Yum, five inches long.  I didn't know I had a fish on the line until I reeled it in closer and could tell the line was moving sidways when I was not moving.  When I noticed that I started reeling in and a few seconds later the bass (I assume it was a bass) let go.  

 

 What I'm wondering is - was this fish hooked and shook the hook or did it only grab the back of the worm (tail) and held on for a while but let go?  Do bass even do that - grab the tail of a worm and hold on tight and let go when it realizes it can't win the fight?  

 

 I did not set the hook.  That's something I probably need to work but I don't yank on the rod upwards much.  

 

 Thanks

[martintheduck]

I had something similar happening to me ALL DAY on Wednesday! Found a nice spot on the bank of my river about 15ft deep heavy on trees and started casting a senko. Had one bite and set the hook and ripped the worm in half (apparently he only had the back end of the worm). Another bite and this time he just bite the worm in half - I felt a hit and kind of reeled in a little but felt no pressure on the line, so I just reeled in and saw my worm in half. At this point I got aggravated, so I pulled out a jig with a craw trailer and started flipping into some on the trees. Got one nice thump, set the hook but ripped it out his mouth. Another bite, let it sit a second before setting the hook, but he was just holding the back end! By now it was getting dark so I packed it in and left.

 

This happens, for me, from time to time. The fish are just biting weird. Sometimes they'll bite short. Had plenty crush a worm and rip it in half. Been using worms with blue or chartreuse color tips and they'll just hold the colored tip. It does happen. There have been plenty of times - especially when the bass are feeling lazy - I've started reeling in only to realize there is a fish on the line and just forgotten to set the hook and they spit the bait out.

 

Moral of the story: Yes, bass will bite in all kinds of ways depending on their "mood". They will spit baits. Gotta set the hook. Eventually you'll learn the different feelings of your bait - the difference between it hitting a stump -vs- a bite -vs- being stuck in grass etc...

[Jrob78]

If you didn't set the hook I'm sure you didn't hook it.  Fish will hold on to soft plastics a lot longer than they will jigs or other hard baits.  It was probably trying to swallow your bait with it's mouth clamped down.  It finally realized something wasn't right and let go.  It takes a good deal of pressure to get a positive hook set with a big worm hook, stretchy line and a flexible rod.  You have to set the hook to drive it home.

[michang5]

A few thoughts/suggestions:

1) You should set the hook when you feel the tap, or shortly after it. Sure, you can bring in the occasional fish without setting the hook, but your chances will increase dramatically if you do.

I bend down at the waist (like I'm looking at my toes) while quickly reeling up the slack. Then I stand up straight very quickly with the rod tip pointing straight up. It may not be the best technique, but it works for me. Watch some videos or fishing shows for other hooksets.

2) As mentioned, you may want to wait a second or two before setting the hook if the fish are short striking. It might help, but there will be times they just don't take the whole lure.

I tend to have the other problem: fish completely swallow my lures and I'm not setting the hook fast enough, resulting in gut hooks. This has happened when I've switched to a new lure or new rig and haven't gotten the hang of it yet.

3) Try a scent/attractant. While they supposedly don't attract fish, they supposedly get fish to hold on to plastics longer.

Good luck!

[WRB]

A few days ago I was fishing on a small lake/pond and only had one good bite.  I was using a Texas Rigged plastic worm, Yum, five inches long.  I didn't know I had a fish on the line until I reeled it in closer and could tell the line was moving sidways when I was not moving.  When I noticed that I started reeling in and a few seconds later the bass (I assume it was a bass) let go.  

 

 What I'm wondering is - was this fish hooked and shook the hook or did it only grab the back of the worm (tail) and held on for a while but let go?  Do bass even do that - grab the tail of a worm and hold on tight and let go when it realizes it can't win the fight?  

 

 I did not set the hook.  That's something I probably need to work but I don't yank on the rod upwards much.  

 

 Thanks

Bass don't have hands, set the hook!

Tom

[martintheduck]

3) Try a scent/attractant. While they supposedly don't attract fish, they supposedly get fish to hold on to plastics longer.

 

 

x2. I was using white senkos in some muddy water and getting small taps. Dipped about 1/2in in chartreuse garlic scent and got some short strikes. Tried dipping the head of worm in chartreuse garlic and started getting better bites. I'll swear by these attractants now days. I ALWAYS spray my swimbaits with shad scent if I have some!

[JTMONEY606]

i have had about 3 curly tails ripped off my worm this year from a bite. i think its where they grab it and i jerk and its older plastics so they may be more softer is my thought.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Happens all the time they just take and sit there for a few seconds or longer happened to me today..

[Catt]

What is happening is the bass are inhaling your worm & you aint feeling soon enough!

[JayKumar]

^ +1.  Set the hook as quikly and as hard as you can the instant you feel like it may be a fish. Sometimes you won't have a thing, other times you'll catch 'em.

[tomustang]

You didn't mention how big it felt but bluegill do that a lot with thin soft plastics, they also love ripping rage tail claws when setting the hook

[hoosierbass07]

  How big it felt?  I felt like a bass.  

[wademaster1]

It likely wasn't hooked at all if you just started reeling with no hookset.....bass will grab part of a worm from time to time but you normally don't have that problem often if you were only using a 5".....when you see that line moving to the side, reel down and swing for the fences....

[LMB ANGLER]

if the line was moving side to side its obvious that the bass had your lure on its mouth, you just needed to set the hook