Hook Set While In A Canoe

[BakerJosh]

Hey Guys, 

Recently I have been taking my canoe out and fishing local ponds. I have been getting plenty of bites, but I am struggling to get solid consistent hook sets. I believe it is because of the movement of the canoe, often being towards the bait! The canoe I am in has no motor, it is just me and a paddle.

Any ideas to help with the hook set, or is this just something I have to deal with?

[einscodek]

I do more of a vertical hookset when in the canoe so that the force pushes more vertically into the water but

yes I also lose alot more fish when fishing in canoe than when bank fishing.. its par for the course cause even when you anchor, the boat or worse a light inflatable..is still able to slip enough that you lose something in any hookset esp when its on a big tough bonehead bass

On the positive side, you get to hook into more bass and reach more areas in the summer when in a canoe so I dont mind so much

[OntarioFishingGuy]

I tend to set the hook vertically also. You will still lose some but a lot more will stay on.

[A-Jay]

I also fish from a canoe.  Although it sounds like my Old Town is carrying a bit more weight than the canoe you mentioned, I still had to adapt to the boat's movement towards the fish on the hook set.

 

Depending on how (Technique) your fishing, switching to braid type line helped, also a longer rod can assist by allowing you to move more line on the hook set.

 

Setting the boat up and fishing "from the side" rather than straight off the bow will also reduce the boat desire / ability to track directly toward your fish.

 

You could deploy a small anchor while fishing in a good spot to help hold your position as well.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[Christian M]

An anchor trolley and canoe stabilizers are a couple of options that can put you in a position to deliver a more solid hookset. Using a longer rod is a great option along with using a heavier action rod. I recently started kayak fishing and I ran into this same issue, it's a lot different than standing on the deck of my boat.

[flyfisher]

Braid helps for sure.  As far as pulling towards the fish, that is not going to impact your hook set at all.  Sharp hooks are more important.  Also i would bet that once you are more comfortable in the canoe you will get more fish to the boat as well. 

[ClackerBuzz]

lotta good advice. i'd guess ur not reeling up enough slack before setting the hook.  reel an extra 5-10 handle revolutions before setting the hook.  alot of times fish will hold onto a lure longer than you think.  heck they'll chew, swallow and/or play tug-o-war with a senko.  instead of giving a bad knee jerk reaction hook set error on the other end of the spectrum and take ur time reeling up more line and getting ur rod into proper position (parallel to water and pointed directly at fish).  losing 1 in 10 fish b/c he spit the lure to fast is better than losing 9 of 10 fish to bad hook sets.

[lmbfisherman]

I agree with the vertical, however try across the body vertical, meaning diagonal over your shoulder.  You get more line that way therefore a little harder hookset.

[OroBass]

I agree with the sharp hooks comment. I fish from a float tube and have no problems

[WRB]

Stand up, put one foot on the gunnel and cross their eyes.....better wear a life jacket!

Seriously hook setting in a canoe isn't any different then hook setting in a bass boat, forget what you have read about cross their eye hard hook sets, it isn't necessarily with today's sharp hooks.

Instead of whipping the rod up over your head when you feel a strike simply crank the reel quickly until the rod loads up while you lower the rod and point it at the fish, then do a firm rod sweep to one side.

If you are fishing soft plastic worm rigged weedless, the quickly lower the rod tip when you feel a strike,take up most of the slack line and snap set into slightly slack line.

Tom

[Oregon Native]

My hats off to you all who fish in canoe's.  Have tried a few times out west ... even floated some small rivers.  Could not stop the lower back from shaking and feeling unstable.  Now that I live out east the thought of a snake or one of the many bee's that tend to find me I will not try them again.  Thoughts of swimming just don't sound good.

Good luck to you all

[bclark7b]

I don't know if this is possible for you to do but I stand in my canoe. I have been doing it for a few years and have never fallen. it makes everything easier in my opinion.

[einscodek]

My hats off to you all who fish in canoe's.  Have tried a few times out west ... even floated some small rivers.  Could not stop the lower back from shaking and feeling unstable.  Now that I live out east the thought of a snake or one of the many bee's that tend to find me I will not try them again.  Thoughts of swimming just don't sound good.

Good luck to you all

Worse than swimming is when the canoe flips and you lose everything in it..

happened once when a friend of mine who was a canoe first-timer was in with me and he decided to stand up all of as sudden and adjust his crotch

well he lost his balance and we started the rocking spiral towards a classic canoe flip..

[Marty]

I bought a canoe seven years ago and have not experienced hookset problems or lost fish any more or less than when fishing from a bass boat. Like the original poster, it's just a paddle and me.