how can I improve hookup ratio with topwater popper

[Largemouth21]

I have a clearance bin popper  from a no name brand in a color I would say is Tennessee Shad. I fished from my canoe this evening and in less than an hour, I had 6-7 strikes/blowups and 4 boaters. What can I do to improve hookups with my lure? Hooks are quite sharp btw...,

Thanks!

[Scott F]

First, make sure the hooks are sharp. Cheap baits often have dull hooks right out of the package. Second, don't set the hook as soon as you see the splash. It takes a little self control, but keep the line taught and don't set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish. 

[Will Wetline]

When I tie one on I remind myself to "wait for the weight" before setting the hook. 

[Catt]

4 out of 7!

 

Don't know if I would complain

 

Sometimes it aint operator error, sometimes the bass don't take right to ensure a proper hookup!

[Arobb2012]

I agree with Catt. Give the fish a second or two before setting the hook. My best day fishing a popper I landed 8 fish and had around 12 blow ups that morning.  

[huffman1988]

Biggestt hing with topwater is don't set the hook when you see the bite. You have to wait until you feel it.

[Largemouth21]

12 hours ago, Scott F said:

First, make sure the hooks are sharp. Cheap baits often have dull hooks right out of the package. Second, don't set the hook as soon as you see the splash. It takes a little self control, but keep the line taught and don't set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish. 

hooks are very sharp. if I remember right, I replaced them when I got them. They are kind of bent from snags now so I will replace them in the near future with VMC round bend hooks. I just need to figure out what size I need to get

18 minutes ago, huffman1988 said:

Biggestt hing with topwater is don't set the hook when you see the bite. You have to wait until you feel it.

that's what I'm hearing. I will try that. One of my bass last night hit when the lure was just sitting on the water I was distracted by the noisy loons behind me. I turned back around and gave the lure another pop and there was no splash, just weight so I set the hook

 

7 hours ago, Will Wetline said:

When I tie one on I remind myself to "wait for the weight" before setting the hook. 

easier said than  done  lol

4 hours ago, Arobb2012 said:

I agree with Catt. Give the fish a second or two before setting the hook. My best day fishing a popper I landed 8 fish and had around 12 blow ups that morning.  

pretty dang good for topwater

6 hours ago, Catt said:

4 out of 7!

 

Don't know if I would complain

 

Sometimes it aint operator error, sometimes the bass don't take right to ensure a proper hookup!

Perhaps! Im pretty sure some of them were misses. Also some were like 20" hammer handle pike so I could do without stinky pike slime all over the canoe. ( it smells for a while) Now if a fish misses it/ or I set to early, is there still a chance at that same fish? What could I do to possibly make him hit again?? 

Thanks for the help!

 

Edited July 20, 2017 by Largemouth21

[Megastink]

It could be several things:

1) dull hooks (sounds like it's not this)

2) Rod is too stiff/too soft: ideally you want a Medium Power, Fast Action to impart a tion yet have some give during the fight.

3) Line: mono is standard, but braid can be used when paired with a softer rod. Too light of mono stretches too much and might hinder hook penetration. 

4) too much slack line during the hookset

5) too hard of a hookset: should be more of a sweep. 

 

 

 

[Largemouth21]

Just now, Megastink said:

It could be several things:

1) dull hooks (sounds like it's not this)

2) Rod is too stiff/too soft: ideally you want a Medium Power, Fast Action to impart a tion yet have some give during the fight.

3) Line: mono is standard, but braid can be used when paired with a softer rod. Too light of mono stretches too much and might hinder hook penetration. 

4) too much slack line during the hookset

5) too hard of a hookset: should be more of a sweep. 

 

 

 

pretty sure the rod had something to do with it. I had a 6 6 M Mod. action instead of my usual 7' MF rod. I miss a lot less fish on the 7 footer. (Or al least it seems that way)

Thanks for the advice 

[ohboyitsrobby]

Yes there's always a chance the fish comes back to hit again. I'm not sure how good of one but a chance. During a tournament last Friday my brother in law had one blow up and he loaded the rod and set the hook like he was t-rigging thick cover while I was watching the bait float back up lol. He popped it another couple times and it blew up again. Told him to wait then set hook and he got it. 3 lber definately helped at weigh in

[Catt]

@Largemouth21 follow up missed strikes immediately with a Texas rigged plastic!

[Mike L]

Just because you have a blow up on a top water..popper, spook, frog etc. doesn't mean they hit it to eat it and you have a problem with anything. 

 

A Bass will come up just to stun it. That's why sometimes they will come back after a hit and crush it or something else as a follow up. 

 

How they can not get hooked hitting a 2 or 3 trebled hard bait is a question that can't be answered. 

 

 

 

Mike

[Angry John]

I fish a lot of poppers as they seem to work better than the moving baits in the areas I am fishing.  I use the st-41 hook by owner and I never set the hook.  I feel the weight and just reel as fast as I can until the fish starts to fight.  The hooks are supper sharp and this seems to work well for me.  If I feel the weight I have them every time.  If they slap it then its anyone's guess.

[J Francho]

Like this.  Yes, I set the hook.  Yes, it is an extra fast rod.

 

 

 

[Catt]

No @Mike L it's his rod, reel, line, lure & hooks

[papajoe222]

If you can get the tail of the bait to sit a little lower, you'll not only get better hook ups (notice I didn't say more), but it will be easier to get it to walk and spit. Add an extra split ring or a 3X treble to add a little bit of weight. 

[NHBull]

Not sure I would be complaining about that ratio.

I find most hook them self.  I just reel!

 

To your concern........changing the hooks to 41's, 36's, might help

 

Have also seen guys adding an 0 ring to drop the front treble lower

[Mike L]

5 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

If you can get the tail of the bait to sit a little lower, you'll not only get better hook ups (notice I didn't say more), but it will be easier to get it to walk and spit. Add an extra split ring or a 3X treble to add a little bit of weight. 

 

This is one of the best top water tips you'll get all year!

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Largemouth21]

On July 20, 2017 at 5:45 PM, papajoe222 said:

If you can get the tail of the bait to sit a little lower, you'll not only get better hook ups (notice I didn't say more), but it will be easier to get it to walk and spit. Add an extra split ring or a 3X treble to add a little bit of weight. 

 

On July 20, 2017 at 5:46 PM, NHBull said:

Not sure I would be complaining about that ratio.

I find most hook them self.  I just reel!

 

To your concern........changing the hooks to 41's, 36's, might help

 

Have also seen guys adding an 0 ring to drop the front treble lower

thanks! I'm not sure what size they are, I will need to compare them at a store somewhere. I replaced them once and will do so again as they are getting bent. VMC round bend is what I will use.

[Bluebasser86]

On 7/20/2017 at 2:54 PM, J Francho said:

Like this.  Yes, I set the hook.  Yes, it is an extra fast rod.

I fish mine on an extra fast with braid, rarely miss them. I just reel into them until the rod starts to load, then I lean into them. 

[J Francho]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I fish mine on an extra fast with braid, rarely miss them. I just reel into them until the rod starts to load, then I lean into them. 

 

I'm using a fused line for topwater - 20# Supercast.  It's like the stuff was made for topwater.