New To Bass Fishing Setting Hook Question

[Justin Tollefson]

Hello, I am new here and just had a quick question.

 

I recently moved to the Northwest, I was originally in NY. In NY I fished Bass mainly fished floating frogs 90% of the time, after moving to the northwest I noticed fishing for bass is a lot different. I started out with the floating frogs and had no luck at all, I would never even see a bass strike the surface at all even for bugs. I went fishing probably 10+ times with no luck

 

I then changed to a plastic craw (or looks similar to one) with a bullet weight and tried doing that for the first time. I then was able to catch several bass in about 30 minutes.

 

But here's my question, this is my first time jigging a lure on the bottom. I would cast out about 30 feet, and bounce/drag on the bottom. When I would get it about 5-10 foot from my kayak I would just real it in to recast. When I was at that 5-10 foot and reeled in quick, that's when I noticed the fish was on, and it nearly yanked the rod out of my hand everytime. I could never even feel the fish take the bait the entire time. This is how all 6 fish were that I caught that day. I never once set the hook, and have no idea how this can even happen with a weedless lure...I have a medium action rod and can feel every little thing on the bottom of the lake but never felt anything strange when I had a fish on. How is this even possible, it really makes no sense to me.

 

And just a side note, I fished only trout the last couple seasons, and their bites are very obvious.

 

any help would be really appreciated. Thanks! 

[Glenn]

This video should help:

 

 

[reb67]

This is what I did when I first started fishing Texas rig. If you're not fishing heavy cover were you need to punch, down size your bullet weight to an 1/8 or 3/16  and watch your line especially on the descent for any movement.  Once on the bottom with the lighter weight you will be able to feel it when a fish picks it up most of the time but trust me not all the time.

P.S. you are definitely in the right place for all your question. Welcome to the site

[WRB]

Sounds like the bass didn't strike your lure until it was moving faster. If the bass had your soft plastic creature while you were retreiving it along the bottom you would feel resistance and taps or tugs. 1 bass picking up a soft plastic and swimming towards you is possible, not all 6! Good size bass, keep doing doing whatever works for you. What you are really asking is how to detect strikes, looks like you know how to set hooks!

Tom

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, Justin!

 

I'll let the experts in your part of the country chime

in and answer your questions  I'm a lowly East

Coaster in the bass rich Virginia!! Good luck, mate!

[NorthwestBasser]

Where in the northwest are you? Here in Eastern Washington we have a great topwater bite. Especially mid July through the first part of September. Even now, I throw topwater, either frogs, buzzbaits, or a popper in the mornings and evenings and do great...

[BCline]

This thread reminded me of something my grandfather used to tell me about fishing for sheepshead.  "You need to set the hook just before he bites"

 

Sounds like you are getting bit right at the boat.

[Justin Tollefson]

10 hours ago, NorthwestBasser said:

Where in the northwest are you? Here in Eastern Washington we have a great topwater bite. Especially mid July through the first part of September. Even now, I throw topwater, either frogs, buzzbaits, or a popper in the mornings and evenings and do great...

 

I am in western washington, Tacoma area. Im thinking its just a bit to early in the season for it, really hope that it gets better later on.

 

Thanks a lot for all of the replies i really appreciate all of the help.

[jr231]

the change in speed of your lure triggered the bite all 6 times. They weren't on your hook. They were eye balling your bait and when it moved quickly , so did the bass. 

 

I love days like those. 

[Boomstick]

I have had a bass grab a swimbait that was moving and I never felt the bite, I just noticed my line suddenly felt heavy before. Usually you do feel the bass bites, but in one particular case, I cast across the shore a little too close to shore and started reeling it in to keep my line out of a bush and right then a smallie jumped on it.

 

Also as previously mentioned, a lighter weight might help in such cases (unless you're fishing in cover where you need the heavier weight).