How Can I Get Better At Hook Setting?

[FishChaser1]

I just lost a great lunker because i didnt set the hook well enough. This happens a lot with me. I think I'm hesitant to set because im not sure whether i should wait or set right away. But even when i think i set it nicely the fish jumps a few times and manages to get away 

[Mccallister25]

There are different sets for different baits, etc. What are you having the most difficult with?

[gripnrip]

What setup are you talking about.  It depends on many things.  Rod? Reel? Line? Lure?  Give us those things and we will all be able to help you out better.

[Catt]

Start night fishing

[FishChaser1]

7 ft mh fast action graphite rod and an abu garcia silvermax, i was using a spinnerbait today but it happens with texas rigs too 

[David D.]

A spinnerbait doesn't require quite as hard of a hook set as a T-rig. When fishing a spinnerbait your line will most always be tight when you get a strike so a fairly moderate hookset is all that is needed. Anything harder can cause a larger hole in the lip than you want and the fish will be able to throw it easier.

For T-Rigs, you need to reel up the slack in the line and drive the hook through both the plastic lure as well as the bass's lip. Give it a strong hookset.

As far as keeping them on the line - just keep it tight as best as you can. The easiest time for the line to go slack and have a fish throw the hook is when it jumps.

[Mccallister25]

With texas rigs, and jigs you want a swift, firm vertical hookset to 12:00. Iv heard a few others say they get a better hookup ratio with a diagonal 2:00 set, and thats fine but from my experience the vertical hookset gives me great hookups. For spinnerbaits, wait until you can feel the fish take your bait, and sweep the rod tip to your left or right. Keep pressure on the fish, and just reel up. A sweeping hookset also goes for crankbaits, and in my opinion most other treble hook lures.

[BadBassWV]

Use Braid.

[WRB]

Sharp hooks, check the hook point.

Keep the bass under control, the rod loaded up until the fish is in the net or boat.

Try snap setting into controlled slack line with t-rigs, hard sweep set with spinnerbaits.

Good luck.

Tom

[JayKumar]

Sharp hooks for sure. Other than that, use the stiffest rod you can stomach personally, at least a medium heavy. Braid or fluoro to decrease line stretch. I personally set the hook as hard as I can most of the time, but I'm not a tournament angler...and also don't have those guys' reflexes....

[RoLo]

Make the switch from bubblegum to braid  

[Tim Kelly]

Don't let them jump! If you feel them coming up in the water bury your rod tip under the water and keep reeling. Definitely helps keep them down and often stops them jumping all together.

[Brian Needham]

How can I make it to Carnegie Hall?

[Mr. BattleArmor]

As was said before, spinnerbaits don't require as hard as a hooks et as t rigs. For texas rigs i actually suggest hook setting hard but not keep it straight up. Lots of school of thought on this, but for me I set the hook up, and then go to more to the side. if I stay up,  then if the fish comes towards me, or jumps, then I have no leverage to keep pressure on the fish, besides trying to anticipate it with my reel. When I set the hook and go a little bit to the side, maybe like at 3 o clock, I have the extra ability to pivot my torso, and play the fish to keep pressure on. It's hard to explain through text, but in practice it works for me. Again, lots of people have lots of different opinions, but thats just mine. 

 

If you can see the fish take your bait, try just letting him move with it, and then set it. For t rigs I know a lot of beginners tend to prematurely set the hook because the feel the bite, but I usually suggest just wait a split second, let them get the bait in their mouth, and then set it. You could be just pulling the bait out of it's mouth. 

[RoLo]

How can I make it to Carnegie Hall?

 

Brian, there's no fish at Carnegie Hall.

Oh wait a minute.....Yes there are 

[K_Mac]

Sharp hooks, check the hook point.

Keep the bass under control, the rod loaded up until the fish is in the net or boat.

Try snap setting into controlled slack line with t-rigs, hard sweep set with spinnerbaits.

Good luck.

Tom

 

Good advice.

 

How can I make it to Carnegie Hall?

 

It is a three step process: 1. Have a lot of talent   2. Practice religiously   3. Be very lucky   Good luck.

[merc1997]

7 ft mh fast action graphite rod and an abu garcia silvermax, i was using a spinnerbait today but it happens with texas rigs too 

wrb gave you some very good advice.  however, sometimes a fish coming off because of a poor hook up has more to do with bad hooking mechanics of what you are using.  example, almost every spinner bait on the market uses the same type of minnow looking head.  this head has a very slim profile, and is always going to turn your hook over flat when the head comes out through the lips on the hook set.  this means that most of the bass you do manage to hook on that spinner bait are hooked in the side of the mouth or edge of the lip.  this will result in several lost fish after hook up.

 

bo

[kellenMO]

It's all about the bite. If the fish slams it, set the hook right away. If he just barely picked it up and it feels like there's dead weight at the end, but realize it's a fish, then give it a second before setting the hook. 

Remember: Even the pros lose fish