How to determine if you had a strike and missed it

[BareHook]

My son BareHook Jr. made an interesting observation/discovery, a lot of times when fishing, we feel possible strikes that turn out to be from structure such as rocks or grass, but when a bass hits and doesn't get hooked it leaves behind evidence in the form of smell (trace slime on lure). When you reel in your lure it will smell like a bass, but structure and such it will not have the bass smell.

Ken

[avidone1]

Personally I have never observed the "trace slime on lure" phenomena that you describe.

But I can tell you that a rule I always follow

"when in doubt, set the hook"

 

[00 mod]

Some lures you can see teeth marks. But as far as a smell goes, I doubt that.

Jeff

[lmbfisherman]

I haven't noticed that neither.  I have however found scales before on my hook tip. But that is rare.

[bigbassin']

I'll pay attention next time I think I've missed a hit to see if I get this slime trail.  Obviously I never miss fish though, so it might be quite some time before I can report back...

[scaleface]

Soft plastics , look for teeth marks . Zoom lizards , Guido Bugs and other smooth shiny lures  will show the teeth marks well .

[BillyBassMaster]

Whenever I think I have a hit it will reel up the slack and feel it but then let it sit and watch the line for my plastics.

[Fish the Mitt]

I would be extremely hesitant to believe this for the sole fact that it'd be completely relative to the water you're fishing, the strike, the bass, and the lure. Essentially, too many variables to consider this an absolute method in determining missed strike or structure hit. I personally have never observed this but being honest, I've never checked. When I think I've had a missed strike, I ensure my next few casts are back to that area. If nothing comes of it, I chalk it up to structure. It helps my ego doing it that way too! 

 

[the reel ess]

When using a soft plastic, I'll usually allow a second while I reel down to set the hook. If no movement, it was not a bite. If there's a surefire nibble so quick that I can't react, I chalk it up to bream like bluegill pecking at the bait and continue the retrieve. If you want to see that, put a worm loosely on a hook and toss it into a bluegill bedding area. They'll tear it to shreds like piranha-death of a thousand cuts.

Now, when the bait goes in a direction I'm not retrieving...well, I'm kinda thick, but even I can figure that one out. With experience (almost 40 years fishing) you just know.

The more scent a plastic has, the longer bass will hold. They'll fight you for a Chigger Craw. They won't let go even when you make a mistake.

[Bass newb]

This is not even close to true. No traces of fish slime in a bony bass mouth.

[BareHook]

Well something on the lure smells like bass after a strike, in particular a rattle trap.

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I've never experienced this. You can typically tell a strike or bite from structure unless just starting out fishing. If I am fishing a Texas rig or a drag and reel bait when I get to structure and feel weight on the rod tip I watch my line reel up slack and feel for any other movements. If a fish has it he is going to give off vibration up the line, movement of the line, movement of the rod tip, and in most cases multiple tugs on the rod. I've never smelled bass on a bait though. On my cloths after a catch yes but a bass does not have protective slime in its mouth like it does its scales and skin.

[BareHook]

This isn't defining a methodology just an interesting observation. Generally bites or structure are pretty obvious anyway and swings are free

Ken

[Master Bait'r]

If I missed it, automatic state record fish. 

[Catt]

Y'all must miss a lot of bites

[avidone1]

5 hours ago, BareHook said:

Well something on the lure smells like bass after a strike.

Yes, your fingers from an earlier catch

9 hours ago, scaleface said:

Soft plastics , look for teeth marks . Zoom lizards , Guido Bugs and other smooth shiny lures  will show the teeth marks well .

The bass I catch don't have teeth.   Good thing too because lip landing the beast would be

very uncomfortable.

[Airman4754]

I'm going to respectfully disagree. I do know when I've missed a fish on plastics. I use straight shank hooks on almost everything and the bait slides down on a strike every time. 

For anything else you really need to know your equipment to tell the difference. If you're swapping out rods every couple months you'd never know. 

[Outdoor Zack]

10 hours ago, avidone1 said:

Personally I have never observed the "trace slime on lure" phenomena that you describe.

But I can tell you that a rule I always follow

"when in doubt, set the hook"

 

Yep.  And be willing to fight a stump or rock for your lure

[bassguytom]

My lures always smel like garlic, megastrike also sometimes suntan lotion but I don't think they have ever smelt like fish. Sometimes my brother smells the fish he catches and I always ask him to smell their butt to see what they are eating. Lol. If I think I missed a fish I throw back with somthing diffrent. Hook sets are free and missing fish is part of the game!

[bigbill]

On all my plastics I use weedless hooks with the spring. The spring is closed when I cast. When I get a strike and a missed hook set the weedless spring guard comes up open. If it's still closed it may have bumped something or a bass grabbed it's tail. A shot of scent and another cast will tell.

[SDoolittle]

I've never sniffed a bait after a bite, but I'm quite certain that if I did the only thing I would smell is garlic. 

[scaleface]

11 hours ago, avidone1 said:

Yes, your fingers from an earlier catch

The bass I catch don't have teeth.   Good thing too because lip landing the beast would be

very uncomfortable.

Youre right . Bass dont leave teeth marks . I made the whole thing up .

[Scarborough817]

fished my savage gear trout in a local lake on monday and apparently the pike are hitting it but i'm not feeling them everywhere from the tail, up to right behind the hook

[Ratherbfishing]

When sniffing didn't work, I once licked the hook for said purpose and wound up with a pierced tongue.  No regerts!

[eyedabassman]

asleep at the REEL!