GoTakeANap Posted May 23, 2015 Posted May 23, 2015 Hello everyone. I've just started fishing soft swimbaits for the 1st time. I'm using a 1/8 weight hook in a 4/0 with a MH 7ft rod with a fast action. I had pretty good success on the 1st time using this set up. The last 4 trips out to the pond/lake, I have been having a hard time hooking the fish when it takes the bait. I've also tried skin hooking the swimbait as well. There are only a few things I can think of that might be the problem. Reaction time setting the hook is to slow, setting the hook to hard or using the wrong setup as in rod. Anyone having this problem? Any ideas what I may be doing wrong? Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted May 23, 2015 Super User Posted May 23, 2015 Are you sure they are not tail bites? Sometimes the bass just don't take swimbaits fully, just grab the tail or slap at it. What weight and type of line are you using? Baitcast or spinning? Quote
papajoe222 Posted May 23, 2015 Posted May 23, 2015 I doubt your gear or hook set is the culprit. More than likely, the fish are hitting the back section of the swimbait. The good news is that those fish can be caught. Just as with fish that just bump a spinnerbait or crank, a change in color or size of the bait will often turn hesitant fish into striking. Then there is the ability to add a trailer hook to the bait, which is easily done with a spinnerbait trailer hook, or a treble hook. If the fish are solidly hitting the bait, it will show teeth marks similar tho the way 'bass thumb' looks. their location on the bait will give you a good idea of how interested they are in the bait. The closer to the head of the bait indicates that possibly just a change in retrieve is all that's necessary. Quote
GoTakeANap Posted May 23, 2015 Author Posted May 23, 2015 Are you sure they are not tail bites? Sometimes the bass just don't take swimbaits fully, just grab the tail or slap at it. What weight and type of line are you using? Baitcast or spinning? Im not 100% sure on the biting of the tails. Just started fishing them. Its good solid hits on the bait. 1/8 weight with Seaguar AbrazX Fluorocabon in a 12lb test. Fishing with a Revo STX and 7ft MH fast action rod. Quote
bassguytom Posted May 23, 2015 Posted May 23, 2015 Sounds like bluegills of some other panfish are nipping the tail. If a bass hits it you can feel the difference and set the hook on them. Also it seems like your set up is kind of heavy for this type of fishing. I use a medium or medium light spinning rod for soft swimbaits without any issues hooking up. 10 lb. power pro slick to 8 lb. floro leader. Hope this helps. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted May 23, 2015 Super User Posted May 23, 2015 Bass don't toy with soft swimbaits, they generally blast them; in fact they hook themselves half the time. Assuming that you're using braided line, I really see no reason to Texpose or Texskin the hook. Roger Quote
shanksmare Posted May 23, 2015 Posted May 23, 2015 It sounds as if you are setting the hook too quickly. I always (well most of the time when I can control myself) pause a second or two before setting the hook. Its sort of like fishing a frog. Generally when I strike immediately, I miss the fish. At least thats what works for me fishing Skinny Dipper style baits. Check out Mikeballz on youtube. He has a couple of videos that show him fishing these baits and pausing when he gets a strike before setting the hook. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted May 23, 2015 Global Moderator Posted May 23, 2015 Nothing wrong with your setup, you're good. You got some good info. Tip... One of the biggest mistakes people make when fishing a bait thats designed to be worked by a somewhat constant retrieve, is thier rod position. Don't know of course, but I'll bet you're holding rod at about 2:00 or 3:00 to retrieve. Think about it... You're winding and winding, you feel a tug, you wait a 1/2 second or just pull and you have nothing. Why? You pulled it away from the fish, or took it out of it's mouth. As Rolo said, the fish will almost hook themselves, but you can't pull it out and expect to get hooked. If you want to keep doing a sideways retrieve, then at least have the presence of mind to set with a more straight up set. Mike Quote
GoTakeANap Posted May 24, 2015 Author Posted May 24, 2015 Nothing wrong with your setup, you're good. You got some good info. Tip... One of the biggest mistakes people make when fishing a bait thats designed to be worked by a somewhat constant retrieve, is thier rod position. Don't know of course, but I'll bet you're holding rod at about 2:00 or 3:00 to retrieve. Think about it... You're winding and winding, you feel a tug, you wait a 1/2 second or just pull and you have nothing. Why? You pulled it away from the fish, or took it out of it's mouth. As Rolo said, the fish will almost hook themselves, but you can't pull it out and expect to get hooked. If you want to keep doing a sideways retrieve, then at least have the presence of mind to set with a more straight up set. Mike I have my rod at about 4 o'clock and have been setting the hook the same direction at about 2 o'clock. I'm going fishing in the morning and will definitely try setting the hook straight up in the air to see if that helps. Will let you guys know sometime tomorrow how it went. Thank you all for the comments. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted May 24, 2015 Global Moderator Posted May 24, 2015 IMHO, You don't need to hold your rod like that throwing a swim bait. I know a lot of people who do, Hell I did also at one point. Just try holding, reeling and setting like you were fishing a worm and see if that improves your results. Good Luck Mike Quote
Kyle46N Posted May 24, 2015 Posted May 24, 2015 I think alot of fisherman mistake a hit by a big bream as a missed bass. They will thump the heck out of a lure. No tap, tap, tap like the smaller bream. It's a kill shot. I only know this as I have fished A LOT of clear rivers and streams in my lifetime and have seen this many times. Quote
GoTakeANap Posted May 25, 2015 Author Posted May 25, 2015 Went out today and didn't even get a single bite on the swimbait. Caught a few on worms and a Rattle Trap. Took a friend of mine with me today who has never been bass fishing in his life. The only type of fishing he has done was with a cork. Steve ended up catching 5 bass. He must of thanked me a thousand times before he left. Great day overall! Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted May 25, 2015 Super User Posted May 25, 2015 This is a really simple thing but make sure your hooks are sharp. Those big swimbait hooks need to be really sharp to penetrate. If you aren't getting a real stout hookset combined with a hook that isn't very sharp, that could be your problem. Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted May 25, 2015 Super User Posted May 25, 2015 Sometimes they mouth it and swim bit then spit it out, other times they blast it. Just stay with what you are doing. 1 Quote
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