Setting Hook

[calvincorey]

I was punching mats yesterday, and on the fish that just swam away with the bait, I'd miss them about every time. I was setting the hook like any other punching fish. Wondering if I should have not ripped as hard, just reel to stick it in it's mouth or what. Would appreciate any help.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

I normally just lift the rod, and the fish almost always hooks itself.

[gulfcaptain]

What hook are you using?

[kikstand454]

Yup.

With a heavy action rod and braid, I feel a television hook set isn't needed. I was doing that at first. ....but I realized I lost alot of bites and my hookup percentage was garbage. So I started being a bit more gentle.

I Snell hook a trokar tk130 or vmc flipping hook and the fish mostly hook themselves. ...I'm still trying to break the habit.

It helped me when I visualized that I was essentially using a cane pole. In essence at the point of contact, that's what you're doing. You don't swing for the fences with a cane pole, you lift it up forcefully.

Try it. Its working better for me....

[earthworm77]

when you think you should set the hook, pause an extra second or two. That should fix things. I had to re learn when punching mats because I spend so much time wacky rigging with a spinning rod.

[jhoffman]

It depends on what your trying to cram through the mouth. I "tv hookset" anything with a single hook. I tend to set the hook up and to the side of the body doing the crankn. If your trying to put an owner 5/0 through that top of the head you better smash him.

[jhoffman]

Its also quite possible you waited too long. Recently if I dont crack them as soon as I feel anything they are gone, sometimes I am just not fast enough.

[Catt]

Don't weight on nothing & set hook like you're trying to break some thing.

In heavy cover you wanna turn that head on the hookset!

[bassguytom]

Yep cross their eyes with that pool cue son! That's what was told to me.

[Slade House]

when in doubt carry a hook file or sharpener on board.  with trokar you should be fine without, but doesn't hurt to have one

[Sam]

You need power to set the hook. Power from the rod and line.

 

You can "overcast" the maximum hook setting power of your rod and line if you cast too far or if you are in lots of vegetation.

 

When fishing single barb hooks you really need to "cross their eyes."

 

When fishing multi barb presentations (crankbaits) you need to move the rod left or right at waist level and let the rod's action set the hook.

 

Hopefully you are using braid or fluorocarbon line in the weeds, mats and grass. If so, a strong hookset is needed to secure the fish and all the stuff you will pull in with it.

 

I suggest at least a medium heavy to heavy rod when fishing mats or heavy vegetation and a strong braid or "fresh" abrasive resistant flouro line.

 

Try different hook sets and let us know which ones are the best for you depending on the conditions and the rod and line you are using.  Thanks.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Yep cross their eyes with that pool cue son! That's what was told to me.

+1

[jignfule]

Some posts were interesting to me because I can't imagine fishing mats and not swinging for the fences on the hook set.

[FrogFreak]

I don't care what you say, when I feel that fish, my reaction is to set the hook like a gorilla!

[kikstand454]

quite literally, different strokes for different folks I guess. *shrug*

reeling into the fish and then setting the hook in a strong upsweep is working better for me than the ol "cross their eyes" t-rig hookset.

ymmv

[papajoe222]

There is also the possibility that the fish only had the trailer in it's mouth when it moved off, or it may have been bream messing with you.  I can't see a little fish moving off with that much weight, but I've caught 6in. crappie on a 3/4oz. swim jig so......

[calvincorey]

Using Trokar flippin hook. Thanks for the help

[hookset on 3]

Make sure there is no slack in your line, as you swing or  most of the inertia is lost before the hook even starts to puncture flesh.

 

Let's not kid anyone here,  your goal is to pierce flesh past the barb of the hook!

 

pierce (pɪəs)

vb (mainly tr)

1. to form or cut (a hole) in (something) with or as if with a sharp instrument

2. to thrust into or penetrate sharply or violently:

[Catt]

A less than authoritative hook set puts the bass in control for a split second which is long enough for em to wrap ya!

In one single motion, I drop the tip slightly, set the hook straight up (even taking a step bachwards), turn the handle a couple of times, & lip the bass.

I want that bass on my thumb before it realizes its caught!

[FrogFreak]

A less than authoritative hook set puts the bass in control for a split second which is long enough for em to wrap ya!

In one single motion, I drop the tip slightly, set the hook straight up (even taking a step bachwards), turn the handle a couple of times, & lip the bass.

I want that bass on my thumb before it realizes its caught!

 

That must be the technique my wife uses. I was under her thumb before I knew I was caught.

[WRB]

The key to a good hook set is timing, sooner is almost always better. Developing a hook set that works for you is up to you.

I use 2 hook set styles with jigs and worms; the reel and rod sweep set and the snap set.

For more vertical or when the jig is straight down out to about a 45 degree angle the snap set works for me.

The snap set is sometimes called a buggy whip set; detect the strike quickly lower the rod tip to get a slight slack in the line, then snap the rod tip up hard driving the hook point into the basses mouth. This works good when the jig is about 30' or less away.

The reel set/rod sweep I use most of the time; detect the strike point the rod tip at the bass while quickly reeling until the line is tight, then firmly sweep the rod back. This hook set works when casting the jig more horizontal or over 50 feet away from you. I keep my rod down more than most anglers so I am ready to reel set.

Tom

[dave]

Posted before and posted again...enjoy.  Tom's reference to the snap set.

 

[Catt]

That ole snap set will not work when punching!

We are punching because we are fishing matted vegetation!

If we do not move the fish with the hook set & keep him moving all the way to the boat they will wrap you deeply in the grass.

[kikstand454]

^this is why I employ the "sweep set" if you will.

I reel down to the fish. ...not drop the tip, then I lift up forcefully, as if I were lifting them out with a cane pole. Letting the super sharp hook and the backbone of the rod do the work. I rarely have more than....what. ...10' of line out when I'm punching? Maybe 12? Reeling down takes up almost 2-3' of that. Lifting an 8' rod straight up easily pulls up the rest of the line, and I have the fish pinned to the top of the mat. Three more turns of the reel, and he's got nowhere to go but out!