Better Hook Sets?

[ThatZX14Fella]

I went out fishing yesterday and I had a popper tied up already so I decided to try it. I casted it a few times and one time I had a loop in my line so I tried to get it out. While I was working on getting the loop out I heard something and seen my popper was gone then my line started getting tight and I clicked the handle and tried to set the hook. I fought him for a minute, saw him (and I believe this bass could've went four pounds which would've been my best), then I got him about two feet from the bank and he got off. I didn't jerk hard to set the hook because I've hear with treble hooks if you try to set it to hard it won't stay in as good. I normally just crank my drag so I'm not sure if that contributed to the fish getting off or not. I'm just curious if I didn't set the hook hard enough or if it was just unlucky or if it was cause I don't use drag.

[paleus]

I always yank it pretty good to set the hook, no matter what I have tied on. Make sure you don't let the line go slack at all until your thumb is in his mouth.

[ThatZX14Fella]

I normally yank it harder than I did, but it got me by surprise. I never let slack in the line, but I just think maybe there was just one barb through a thin piece of skin. He was a big enough bass that he got my adrenaline going and I've never gotten adrenaline from fishing. Lol

[Raul]

Don´t know where you heard you shouldn´t set the hook pal, but that´s completely wrong, in surface lures not only you hooks have to be razor sharp but you do have to set the hook firmly, it´s the nature of the bait, the way the fish hit them ( and not always they smash them ) seldomly ensures the bait is hooked properly.

[ThatZX14Fella]

There's a lot of videos on YouTube that say if you jerk to hard with treble hooks it normally just pops them out. I'm wishing I wouldn't have listened to them now. Lol

[Catch and Grease]

There's a lot of videos on YouTube that say if you jerk to hard with treble hooks it normally just pops them out. I'm wishing I wouldn't have listened to them now. Lol

This is mainly with crankbaits, if you hero hook set with a squarebill after a fish strikes while burning it your gonna rip his lips off literally lol

[ThatZX14Fella]

This is mainly with crankbaits, if you hero hook set with a squarebill after a fish strikes while burning it your gonna rip his lips off literally lol

 

That wouldn't be to good. Lol after that one got off I started throwing a worm and got a small bass. I accidently hooked him through the eye socket. I hate doing that, but there isn't much you can do about it.

[FishChaser1]

Just give it a strong pull. It would be really hard to rip it out of its mouth unless you had the intent to do so

[ThatZX14Fella]

Just give it a strong pull. It would be really hard to rip it out of its mouth unless you had the intent to do so

 

That's what I was thinking, but when I watched the videos I thought maybe they knew something I didn't. I know not to listen to that theory again.

[CDMeyer]

When I set the hook with crank baits I make it more of a sweep, but do not let that fool you I still yank it pretty hard.

Same with most trebles a sweeping motion, just make sure all of your slack is up

[VAHunter]

I have to agree, to a point, with what you saw on the video you mentioned.  While I don't set the hook with a popper the way I do with a worm or jig, I make certain most of the slack is out of the line and reel and pull back or sideways very hard.  It's not unlike a worm hookset, but the pole takes some of the shock out of it.  Also, keep in mind that "stuff" happens, like the fish surprising you.  Treble-hooked lures are the easiest lure for a bass to throw.  You got the bite and had some fight before he threw the hook, that's moving in the right direction.

[ThatZX14Fella]

Thanks for the tips guys, maybe I'll get the next one.

[paleus]

The reason for the different hookset with crankbaits is because the lure has so much resistance moving through the water. You already have the rod and line loaded with the tension of the crankbait moving through the water, so there is no slack in the rod or line to take up to get a good hookset. You just need to sweep the rod to give it that little extra for the hooks to penetrate. With pretty much every other bait, the line and rod are not under tension, so there is a lot of slack and stretch to overcome to get that energy into the hook point to penetrate the fish.

[Catch and Grease]

The reason for the different hookset with crankbaits is because the lure has so much resistance moving through the water. You already have the rod and line loaded with the tension of the crankbait moving through the water, so there is no slack in the rod or line to take up to get a good hookset. You just need to sweep the rod to give it that little extra for the hooks to penetrate. With pretty much every other bait, the line and rod are not under tension, so there is a lot of slack and stretch to overcome to get that energy into the hook point to penetrate the fish.

Yes, if you set the hook to hard on a crankbait it may not make you lose the fish immediately but it will make it a lot easier for the fish to throw the hooks.

This is because you make the hooks rip alittle to big of a hole and the hook can just slide right out

[Master Bait'r]

I always yank it pretty good to set the hook, no matter what I have tied on. Make sure you don't let the line go slack at all until your thumb is in his mouth.

 

 

This.  Also never EVER point your rod tip at the fish.  If you do, it's as good as gone.  Keep the weight loaded in the rod blank and it will never get off.  

[Fish Murderer 71]

I've had to learn to NOT set the hook with any of the multi treble hook baits.  rule #1 to top waters and cranks is do everything possible to keep the fish from jumping out of the water.  consistency in line tension is key for landing the fish.  If I have a fish hit the bait I just keep cranking and most of the time the tip of the rod is in the water. Keeping the hooks as sharp as possible is also important.  I've brought many a bass in foul hooked because I sharpen the hooks after a fishing trip or I've caught several in one trip.

[richg99]

Lots if good info above.

As far as hooking a fish in the eye..often the hook is protruding out of the eye socket...and not out of the eye ball itself. A careful twist can slip that hook out without further damage to the bass.

[ThatZX14Fella]

For the eye hook set I may just start flattening the barb for less trauma to the fish. I'd rather lose a cheap hook rather than possibly kill a fish.