Pop Shadz 5" - Keep Missing Strikes

[George Ward]

Hi there.  I tried out a pop shadz 5".  I thought the idea seemed pretty great so I was eager to try it out.  I got probably 6 or 8 strikes on it within the first hour but couldn't land a single one.  It was rigged texas style.  I went out the following weekend and had exactly the same luck - lots of strikes, nothing landed.  It became a bit of an obsession.  I re-rigged it texas style with a trailer hook.  It took me a few tries to get that right where it didn't seem to screw up the action.  Well, today I was out and got another strike and missed it.  Then I got a strike and lost it - I think it with a northern pike - it was a nice clean cut.

 

So... what am I doing wrong?  I seemed to get lots of strikes, but struggle to land a fish with it.  I've scoured the 'net and am struggling to find others with this same problem.  I think that's partially because it's not a heavily used lure, and partially because others don't seem to be having the same problem I am.  Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated!

 

To add a bit more info if it helps, I've primarily fished this in the weeds.  When I have not been in the weeds, I have not gotten the strikes.  In the weeds, I seem to get great strikes.  Also, I'm located in New Hampshire if that's relevant at all.

 

[MidwestF1sh]

First of welcome to the board! Check out the introduction section and make a post in there.

On to the problem, are you sure they are not all pike? Those can be very hard to hook on a top water.

Are you giving them time after the strike or setting the hook as fast as you can?

[George Ward]

The lake I went to the first two times there are no norhtern pikes.  However, there are pickerel.  Both of the bites I had today - both the one I missed and the one that cut my line - may very well have been pikes.  In fact, I'm fairly sure they were.

 

Now, when I first used it and got bites, I got excited and tried setting the hook immediately.  Then I tried giving them a solid second or so.  Then, I gave them a solid two or three seconds.  All to no avail.

 

I was wondering if perhaps I should use some scent on it to make it taste/smell better so they hold on longer?  Or perhaps I should be using line with less stretch so the hook set is more solid?  Or maybe I just did a poor job of getting the hook in the right place?  I'm pretty sure it was a 5/0 EWG hook which seems to be what everyone is suggesting.

[MidwestF1sh]

I only have experience with pike but I hear pickerel are very similar. Don't worry about missing those just because there isn't too much you can do to hook them with there mouth the way it is and how they seem to slash at the lure.

I would keep trying to wait to set the hook. Try to keep an eye on the line and see if it starts swimming to the side, then you know the fish has it or if you can feel the fish set the hook.

That hook size seems easily big enough for a 5" bait. You could try sent but I don't think it would do much. What kind of line are you using?

[George Ward]

On one pole I'm using mono - just cheap stuff spooled at Bass Pro because it's my first bait caster and I expected to have to cut line out until I got used to it.  The other pole is using some Pline fluorocarbon coated.  Both 12 lb test.  I'm thinking I might end up putting braid on my bait caster.

[MidwestF1sh]

I would use the mono just cause it floats. It does stretch a ton but I don't see that being a problem. Are you leaving the hook point exposed or buried in the plastic?

[MIbassyaker]

If you don't need it to be weedless, you can rig it as a line-through -- thread the line in through the mouth, and out the belly, with a treble on the end. 

[Bluebasser86]

If you don't need it to be weedless, you can rig it as a line-through -- thread the line in through the mouth, and out the belly, with a treble on the end. 

This is the rigging I've heard suggested for the bait, except you go out the back to help keep it a little more weedless.

 

I think you're on the right track switching to braid too. 

[MasonV]

Are you giving them time after the strike or setting the hook as fast as you can?

I would also make sure you're waiting long enough before setting the hook. It's hard because a topwater strike is so exciting your natural reaction is to jerk instantly but I always try to wait a full second after the strike.

[fishballer06]

The key to fishing plastics on topwater is letting the fish fully get the bait in their mouth. I know its easy to get excited and set the hook the second you see a blowup. You need to let that fish bite, get back down in the water, and then fully suck it in. Then you can set the hook. Even then, you won't hookup with every fish. 

 

Another thing to consider is the possible size of the fish hitting. Those 5" pop shadz are a big, bulky lure. Sure, any size bass will hit one, but if you're fishing it texas style, it's going to take a big fish to hit that thing and get it fully in its mouth in order for you to drive the hook home. 

[PitchinJigz]

The lake I went to the first two times there are no norhtern pikes.  However, there are pickerel.  Both of the bites I had today - both the one I missed and the one that cut my line - may very well have been pikes.  In fact, I'm fairly sure they were.

 

Now, when I first used it and got bites, I got excited and tried setting the hook immediately.  Then I tried giving them a solid second or so.  Then, I gave them a solid two or three seconds.  All to no avail.

 

I was wondering if perhaps I should use some scent on it to make it taste/smell better so they hold on longer?  Or perhaps I should be using line with less stretch so the hook set is more solid?  Or maybe I just did a poor job of getting the hook in the right place?  I'm pretty sure it was a 5/0 EWG hook which seems to be what everyone is suggesting.

Since its t-rigged, use a heavier rod and harder hook set than you normally would on a topwater.

[George Ward]

The key to fishing plastics on topwater is letting the fish fully get the bait in their mouth. I know its easy to get excited and set the hook the second you see a blowup. You need to let that fish bite, get back down in the water, and then fully suck it in. Then you can set the hook. Even then, you won't hookup with every fish. 

 

Another thing to consider is the possible size of the fish hitting. Those 5" pop shadz are a big, bulky lure. Sure, any size bass will hit one, but if you're fishing it texas style, it's going to take a big fish to hit that thing and get it fully in its mouth in order for you to drive the hook home. 

 

I was thinking that perhaps size was the problem.  That's why I tried the trailer hook, thinking it might compensate for that.  I have read that this now comes in a 4 inch variety and I'm thinking when I replace the one I lost, I'll do so with the 4 inch ones.

[George Ward]

This is the rigging I've heard suggested for the bait, except you go out the back to help keep it a little more weedless.

 

I think you're on the right track switching to braid too. 

 

Where I had the most strikes was right in the middle of a sloppy mess of lily pads.  For that, it would need to be weedless.  Where I lost it to the toothy fish - and that was the second strike in minutes - there were no surface weeds.  There were tons of weeds, but they were all submerged so that would have worked there.  Maybe I'll get a few and have some rigged with the trebble hook and some right without it.

[Bluebasser86]

Where I had the most strikes was right in the middle of a sloppy mess of lily pads.  For that, it would need to be weedless.  Where I lost it to the toothy fish - and that was the second strike in minutes - there were no surface weeds.  There were tons of weeds, but they were all submerged so that would have worked there.  Maybe I'll get a few and have some rigged with the trebble hook and some right without it.

Get a treble with just enough gap to reach around the edges of the bait. You'll push a needle through the mouth of the bait and out the back and tie the hook. After it's tied, pull the bait as far as you can back into the bait, pushing one hook into the back of the bait or cut it off completely. You should end up with something similar to a frog hook that is pretty weedless. 

[Megastink]

Sounds like you need braid. I'd go at least 50lb. Use at least a 4/0 heavy duty ewg hook, and finally the right Rod: 7' MH minimum, H would be better. Good luck!