Help Me With Better Hooking Technique

[mram10us]

I have been watching all the videos I can find about how to hook better.  I enjoy deep jig fishing or carolina rig in 40 ft.  It seems when I watch these guys, they get a tap, reel down with a little slack for a couple seconds, then set the hook at 2 or 10 oclock over their head.

 

As for me, I feel a tap, and go to jerking.  Is there a specific feeling I should get?

When I feel the tap, should I reel down while keeping a little slack in the line, then set the hook a couple seconds after the initial tap assuming they are taking it in their mouths?

 

Thanks guys.

[Shewillbemine]

With the technique you're describing, are you hooking 'em?

[RoLo]

Normally I'd ask whether you're using mono or braid, 

but a C-rig in deep water can be challenging even with braid. 

 

1) Crank out all slack line until there's a straight line

       between your tiptop guide and hook (i.e. remove the dihedral).

2) Cross the fish's eyes.

 

Roger

[Fish'N Impossible]

with the C-rig you should reel out the slack and then sweep the hook-set to the side otherwise you will pop the hook out of the mouth because of the larege wieght in front of the leader. With the jig I usually keep a little slack and watch the line versus holding taught and feeling for a tap, but that is a preference. I lower the rod tip, reel down then set hook to the 10 oclock and maintain the tention. That has worked for me but everyone has a style that works for them, you just have to find the one that works for you. Good luck and Tight Lines.

[Sam]

Sometimes the jig head will move in the bass' mouth and pull itself out when you set the hook.

 

Part of the game.

 

Do as suggested above and note if your hook up ratio improves.

[mram10us]

I'm hooking probably 1/3 with jigs.  As for C rigs, probably less.  Thanks for the above advice guys.  I will try it out Friday.  Keep the advice coming.

[Mainebass1984]

feel the tap

reel in the slack line while dipping the rod tip

cross his eyes ! set the hook firmly

[lmbfisherman]

with the C-rig you should reel out the slack and then sweep the hook-set to the side otherwise you will pop the hook out of the mouth because of the larege wieght in front of the leader. With the jig I usually keep a little slack and watch the line versus holding taught and feeling for a tap, but that is a preference. I lower the rod tip, reel down then set hook to the 10 oclock and maintain the tention. That has worked for me but everyone has a style that works for them, you just have to find the one that works for you. Good luck and Tight Lines.

Best answer. 

[NathanW]

Find and watch video's of Greg Hackney fishing a worm or Jig. The guy is pretty talented. Great technique and fundamentals. His focus is top tier for fishing slow moving baits. What you will notice is that his patients and consistency while "setting up" the hookset is what's most impressive.

 

For C-Rig, its been covered pretty well already but, It also needs to be noted that the guys who fish a lot C-rig (I am not one of them) typically like longer rods to pick up all that line, like 7-6+. They also tend take a few steps backwards while they are setting the hook to pick up even more line.

[Fishes in trees]

As far as I'm concerned, the key to the Carolina rig hook set is to go sideways.  Get the slack out and then strong SIDEWAYS hook set.  Going straight up over your shoulder will cause you to miss most of your strikes.

[tbone1993]

What gear ratio do you use? A few seconds of 5:4 is different than a few seconds of 7:1 or 8:1 depending on IPT. You should feel the weight of the fish and slam it home. 

[geo g]

I agree with allot of the comments above.  Make sure there is no slack between the fish and the rod tip before the set.  Floro line or braid will provide better feel and little line stretch leading too rock solid hook sets. 

[mram10us]

Great input guys.  Keep it coming.  I will check out those above mentioned vids.  As for C-rig, I will set to the side with a sweep.  Jigs are still a little cloudy. 

[Teal]

Guys did a good job of talking about hookset mechanics. But want to touch on something that helped me out tremendously on the gear selection side of things.

I too do a lot of deep work, working jigs and c rigs along ledges and channels, especially this time of year.

I feel like a rod of 7.5' helps a lot in those situations picking line up and gaining momentum for a good hook up.

Make sure your hooks and line match up. Lighter wire hooks need a lighter line. Super line hooks or Big O jigs need a heavy low stretch line like 20+ flouro or 40+ braid.

A heavy low stretch line with bend a light hook. A light line will not allow a heavy hook to penetrate.

Make sure your drag is set correctly.

Make sure to match up the rod with the task, there's nothing wrong with using a heavier rod when you are fishing a 40+ fow.

[RoLo]

with the C-rig you should reel out the slack and then sweep the hook-set to the side otherwise you will pop the hook out of the mouth because of the larege wieght in front of the leader. With the jig I usually keep a little slack and watch the line versus holding taught and feeling for a tap, but that is a preference. I lower the rod tip, reel down then set hook to the 10 oclock and maintain the tention. That has worked for me but everyone has a style that works for them, you just have to find the one that works for you. Good luck and Tight Lines.

 

Excellent coverage.

Given a choice though (esp. in 40' of water), I prefer an upward stroke to a sideward sweep.

I may well be wrong, but I feel that I can generate greater power with an upward stroke to high noon,

and since I hold my rod-tip very close to the water, I'm not risking contact with the gunwale or console.

Just my 2 cents

 

Roger

[paul25]

As far as I'm concerned, the key to the Carolina rig hook set is to go sideways.  Get the slack out and then strong SIDEWAYS hook set.  Going straight up over your shoulder will cause you to miss most of your strikes.

i do this with the football jig too, the tap you feel in my opinon is the fish sucking the jig in it's mouth, when i feel this i reel set the fish and load hard sideways with the rod

[WRB]

Your goal when setting the hook is applying enough force to drive the hook point through the basses mouth.

The further your lure/hook is away from the boat more force is required to over come line drag in the water, bend of the rod and line stretch. You can't move enough line to apply force to the hook using the rod, until the line is tight or all the slack is taken up first...if you have more than 50' of line in the water at an angle away from you.

The technique I have used successfully for over 40 years with all types of rods and line is the reel and sweep set. When you detect a strike; point the rod tip at the fish, reel all the slack line as fast as possible until it's tight and keep reeling while you sweep the rod back firmly. The reel drag needs to be set properly or you may break your line due to the forces applied to the hook.

With jigs try to keep the rod tip down while you retrieve and apply action to the jig as you have little time to get a hook set, speed is important.

With a T-rig you have a little more time if the weight is rigged sliding. With a C-rig there is a lot of slack line between the weight and the hook, you don't feel most strikes until the bass moves enough line for you to detect a strike, speed isn't as important, taking up all the slack line is the priority before rod sweeping while continuing to reel.

How you prefer to rod sweep is your choice. I prefer sweeping the rod to one side with a body twist while keeping the rod handle tucked under my elbow to apply more leverage.

This technique works with all rod lengths and most lure presentations, except vertical hook sets.

Good luck.

Tom

[mram10us]

That is great Tom! That is what I was looking for! More advice is definitely welcome though.

[Teal]

As usual, Tom is a pretty hard act to follow.

Good stuff Tom

[Catt]

The ultimate link to a higher ratio of bites to hookups is Speed

You're only effective to the degree at which you detect the bite & set the hook

Set hook overhead or sideways, it doesn't if you're late!

When you miss fish do you blame your tackle?

Rod - Reel - Line - Hook - You

Where the weakest link?

Is it you!

My hookup ratio is i the upper 90s but after 45 yrs fishing deep water & I'm the first to say...operator error!

[RoLo]

When you miss fish do you blame your tackle?

Rod - Reel - Line - Hook - You

Where the weakest link?

Is it you!

My hookup ratio is i the upper 90s but after 45 yrs fishing deep water & I'm the first to say...operator error!

 

Amen to that!

We need to be our own worst critic, because elite tackle and blame-laying is no substitute for execution

 

Roger

[WRB]

Amen to that!

We need to be our own worst critic, because elite tackle and blame-laying is no substitute for execution

 

Roger

How about helping the OP in determining when the hook is in the basses closed mouth, strike detection goes a long way to improving technique. If you can't detect the strike it doesn't matter what tackle you have or what technique you use or what excuse you use.

Tom

[Catt]

How about helping the OP in determining when the hook is in the basses closed mouth, strike detection goes a long way to improving technique. If you can't detect the strike it doesn't matter what tackle you have or what technique you use or what excuse you use.

Tom

If ya feel the bite it's in their mouth!

When in doubt, drop the rod, reel the slack, set the hook!

[Basseditor]

Good technique info here. Let me add one thing that has been touched on — hooks. With smaller plastics I like thin wire hooks. But premium hooks really help. One of my sons had been losing lots of fish after the hook set, but he switched to Trokar and he rarely loses one now.

The fish pretty much sets himself. I'm not sponsored or have any stake in the product. I know they can be expensive. But we watch for sales and stock up. It takes very little effort to set the hook. Just start reeling and gently sweep the rod. It has made a big difference.

[mram10us]

Thanks for understanding Tom.  Speed isn't a a problem reflexively.  It is that I am not sure if that little hit is actually in its mouth or just a hit and leave.  As for hooks, do they REALLY matter that much from the chinese made ebay specials to trokar??