Missing Topwater Hooksets. What Can I Do?

[NEBasser101]

Lately, I have been fishing a lot of walking baits. I have noticed that I have been missing a lot of hooksets. Is there anything I can do? Thanks

[poisonokie]

Be patient, grasshopper.

[NEBasser101]

Thanks.

[Mike L]

If you're walking treble hooked baits sharpen or replace them, even if new out of the package. Don't trust that they're good to go just because they're new.

If you're walking a frog of any size, style or brand hold your set till you feel the fish...It's not easy I know.

But if you're walking it good you should have plenty of slack as is, just give it a second more.

Mike

[EvanT123]

After a miss try stopping the bait in its tracks for a few seconds. Sometimes they will come back for a second swipe.

[J Francho]

Frog/mouse or treble hook baits? You don't need much of a set for trebles, just start reeling and put pressure on it.

[gardnerjigman]

Frog/mouse or treble hook baits? You don't need much of a set for trebles, just start reeling and put pressure on it.

Agree. If frog or mouse, set the hook when it disappears.

If a treble bait, change out trebles. This is the one top water technique that I say you don't set the hook immediately. Feel the fish, set it and bring her home.

[Montanaro]

1. The fish should hook themsleves. Just wait for bait to disappear and not pop back up and start reeling with a slight sweep of rod.

2. Fish aren't committed to eating your bait. Switch color...if not that cadence or style of topwater can be modified.

[poisonokie]

Thanks.

Lol, I'm serious. You shouldn't really try to set the hook with trebles, anyway, but even if you start reeling or sweeping the rod to the side when the fish blows up on it all you'll manage tondonis pull the bait away.

[scaleface]

Walking baits are one lure I have had trouble with . I can walk them real well but the bass just have never hooked up good for me .

[poisonokie]

*to do is. Tondonis sounds like a game of thrones character.

[Scarborough817]

Go by feel and not sight I always sweep after I feel the fish haven't lost one yet

[A-Jay]

 If you haven't already, try switching to braided line for top water; especially waking type baits.

 

I noticed an immediate & decided improvement in both hook set authority & success.

 

Additionally, "walking" the bait seems effortless with the braid as compared to nylon line.

 

A-Jay

[J Francho]

I don't like brad so much, but I do like no stretch, and I mean ZERO stretch. If you like that part, don't like the limpness of braid, take a look at Tuf-line Supercast. I did, and haven't looked back for top water. It's like it was made specifically for them.

[poisonokie]

Braid is always a good idea, but if you neglect to tie on a couple feet of mono leader you'll have to untangle your line from your hooks after every other cast.

[the reel ess]

You can actually get your hook point through the braid. Bad scene. Since braid is limp, it won't get out of the way when you twitch the bait left or right.

 

I find 15# mono to be the best line I've ever used with topwaters-except frogs. It has the stretch to keep you from yanking the hooks away from a fish or ripping them out when you do make contact. If the fish are really after it, they'll get some hooks and you'll have at least a full second to react. I caught a bass mid-summer that ate the plug so well, I picked out a backlash before I set the hook and I landed it.

 

I use Berkley Big Game specifically for topwaters and I tie directly to the eye with an improved clinch knot, no snap or ring. The bouyancy of a heavier mono also can't be beat for the action of topwaters. Braid and FC sink. Walking baits are easy to use and don't require limp line or hardware to help. If you really want limper line, try Trilene XL in a heavier weight.

[A-Jay]

You can actually get your hook point through the braid. Bad scene. Since braid is limp, it won't get out of the way when you twitch the bait left or right.

 

I find 15# mono to be the best line I've ever used with topwaters-except frogs. It has the stretch to keep you from yanking the hooks away from a fish or ripping them out when you do make contact. If the fish are really after it, they'll get some hooks and you'll have at least a full second to react. I caught a bass mid-summer that ate the plug so well, I picked out a backlash before I set the hook and I landed it.

 

I use Berkley Big Game specifically for topwaters and I tie directly to the eye with an improved clinch knot, no snap or ring. The bouyancy of a heavier mono also can't be beat for the action of topwaters. Braid and FC sink. Walking baits are easy to use and don't require limp line or hardware to help. If you really want limper line, try Trilene XL in a heavier weight.

 

A section of mono leader completely eliminates that.

 

A-Jay

[the reel ess]

A section of mono leader completely eliminates that.

 

A-Jay

Why add another knot as well as cost? That said, I have used braid for topwater on a very moderate spinning combo in a pinch. That's how I discovered the hook/braid issue.

 

Just one guy's humble opinion.

[A-Jay]

No offense, but IMO a section of mono won't fix a spool full of line that doesn't stretch or float. I'd rather put wax on FC than add a another knot to braid. Lower cost, better bouyancy, better stretch, no extra knots. That said, I have used braid for topwater on a very moderate spinning combo in a pinch. That's how I discovered the hook/braid issue.

 

Just one guy's humble opinion.

 

And yet -  I always use Braided line with a mono leader for top water baits with treble hooks; and it performs perfectly.

 

Interesting.

 

A-Jay

[the reel ess]

If all else fails, have another rod handy with a wacky rigged or weightless worm. After the miss reel the topwater in quickly and toss the worm over and let it sink. Often it won't make it to the bottom. Bass love a consolation prize..

[J Francho]

You need no leader with Supercast and it floats.

[NathanW]

 If you haven't already, try switching to braided line for top water; especially waking type baits.

 

I noticed an immediate & decided improvement in both hook set authority & success.

 

Additionally, "walking" the bait seems effortless with the braid as compared to nylon line.

 

A-Jay

I agree. braid is really nice on walking baits. If you watch a lot of fishing like I do you will notice most of the pros are doing this too. You will want about 2.5 foot of 15-20lbs test mono to avoid tangling your bait with the braid. Also first thing you should always do is make sure each hook point is sticky sharp.

[WPCfishing]

Use braid with a leader. Buy a different bait or put a larger hook set on the one you're using.

When you get a hit be sure the line is tightened and your tip is down, ease the rod back while you continue to reel him in.

What rod are you using?

[WPCfishing]

When I set on toads or frogs it's a short thump and I know he's mine. It's like a drug for me...

[Mike2841]

Just let them take it, if your hooks are sharp it'll hook itself most of the time. Sometimes when walking a bait the fish just miss it completely, if that happens just stop the bait and if they don't hit that they'll usually hit it on a second cast