Set the hook.....Fast!

[Todd2]

I was reading an article in a magazine over the weekend on a study they did with cameras that showed that a Bass can suck in and spit out a lure in 1/12 of a second. That's about .08 seconds.

 

So I did a quick search and found a study that shows how fast a human responds to stimuli. On average, it was .25 secs for visual, .17 secs for audio, and .15 secs for touch.

 

So on your best day, a Bass could take and spit the lure almost twice before you could even feel the bite to start to set the hook.

Just food for thought on your next bite at the lake....lol

 

[A-Jay]

Interesting . . . 

I imagine that my reflexes may have slowed a bit.

And there's a decent chance that a few young to middle age bass could come & go undetected.

But since I prefer to target the Older Slower bass - I think it sort of evens out.

So I'm OK with that.

A-Jay

[Montanaro]

If thats the case then switch to a lure they wont spit as quick!

[DINK WHISPERER]

@A-Jay That was a cheap plug for that fat girl pic, haha. Nice! 

[Todd2]

30 minutes ago, Montanaro said:

If thats the case then switch to a lure they wont spit as quick!

You can bet if they're crushing a certain crankbait....I ain't putting it down. But sometimes it is what it is.. I'm in the swing early and often camp.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Todd2 said:

I was reading an article in a magazine over the weekend on a study they did with cameras that showed that a Bass can suck in and spit out a lure in 1/12 of a second. That's about .08 seconds.

 

So I did a quick search and found a study that shows how fast a human responds to stimuli. On average, it was .25 secs for visual, .17 secs for audio, and .15 secs for touch.

 

I noticed the word "can"

 

That's averages for human but is that average for bass?

 

Average means some humans are faster & some humans are slower.

 

[A-Jay]

18 minutes ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

@A-Jay That was a cheap plug for that fat girl pic, haha. Nice! 

@DINK WHISPERER ~ Sure was . . . And Thanks.

 #credibility

A-Jay

[NHBull]

Heck, I guess I should just give then.....

[georgeyew]

I may have had bass spit out my lures in fractions of a second but I never knew it. In the end, ignorance is bliss. I can't get too mad over something that I didn't even know took place.

[scaleface]

I have seen those videos too . They opened my eyes . One of my favorite ways to fish is yoyoing lipless cranks in deep water . There are lots of times I feel or even hear the hit and miss the fish . I thought they were just bumping it closed mouth but now I think "after seeing the videos" that they are just faster than me . 

[IndianaFinesse]

I actually find that bass eat most baits (jerkbaits less so), but especially soft plastics and jigs, and don't readily let go on most days.  They can and sometimes do spit in a fraction of a second, but often times they will refuse to let go even if you try to shake them off.  Depends on the day and individual fish though.

[Montanaro]

Ive seen pressured fish spit plastics super fast...means they know its a trick.

 

Also have seen them engulf crankbaits and spit them and never felt a thing.  Just means you need to retrieve them quicker or switch baits

[scaleface]

Search this in Youtube.. " Most Insane Underwater Bass Fishing Footage Ever!! GoPro Footage of Giant Bass Eating Lures!  

[Todd2]

@Catt Had to go back and read...no mention of average for the Bass, but the Human study did say average, so that varies quite a bit.

 

I guess the point I took from the article is a Bass can (and often does) spit a lure fairly quick...even jigs and soft plastics here. Sure I'll get the occasionally walk off bite where the line kind of takes off to the side or sometimes right below your boat and you have no choice but to catch up with em and swing. But more often I seem to feel one small tap and that's it...those seem to be my bigger fish.

 

I fished with a good buddy from Texas for years. He's moved back home now. But we had two totally different hooksets...he'd get bit and say "take it baby, take it" and wait till the rod was bent before setting the hook. Id always swing at first tap. I never say a word...just swing fast. When I missed, he'd say "You didn't wait long enough." He'd miss and I'd say "They don't have hands, set the hook". Over the years we fished pretty even so I don't know if we ever proved which way was better. 

 

 

[Catt]

@Todd2 not questioning you or the report ?

 

I've seen similar studies with similar numbers but if .08 is average that puts plenty well above our .15 range.

 

Funny cause I got a friend that does the same waiting game yours does & wonders why he's never hooked bass over 7 lbs.

[riverbasser]

Im keyong in on it sayin how  fast humans react to stimula of touch. Are they measuring a body reaction(twitch) or the time it takes for the brain to react and perform(hook set)?

 

I'm sure of one thing, I ain't as quick as a bass

 

Maybe we should all be throwing mighty bite baits. They guarantee a fish to hold on longer

[Deleted account]

6 hours ago, riverbasser said:

Im keyong in on it sayin how  fast humans react to stimula of touch. Are they measuring a body reaction(twitch) or the time it takes for the brain to react and perform(hook set)?

 

I'm sure of one thing, I ain't as quick as a bass

 

Maybe we should all be throwing mighty bite baits. They guarantee a fish to hold on longer

I think the hookset on some presentations, particularly moving baits does not involve a conscious decision once someone has fished for a while, much like playing a guitar, you just strum g. 

and, if hookset reaction time was the required skill to land fish, hockey goalies would own the AOY awards. 

[BigTerp]

I miss my share of fish on the hookset fishing for smallmouth in my local river. I'm switching out my 6' M/L moderate fast action rods for 6'6" or 7' M/L fast action. Thinking the increase length and faster action will give me a little quicker hookset.

[Catt]

What opened my eyes was back in the 70s at a fishing seminar that featured the Hawg Trough (huge aquarium on wheels).

I was standing right up against the glass eyeing a 4# bass when the Pro flipped a worm in front of the bass & it flared it gills sucking the worm in & spit out before I know what happened.

 

After what happened sunk in my pea brain I thought...dude ya better set hook faster & don't wait on nothing!

[BrianinMD]

I think most people would be shocked to see how many bites they actually get versus what they feel.

[WRB]

The ability to detect unseen strikes from bass seperate the men from the boys. The fact that boys have faster reflexes tells you there is more to hook sets then quickness.

Tom

[riverbasser]

3 hours ago, reason said:

I think the hookset on some presentations, particularly moving baits does not involve a conscious decision once someone has fished for a while, much like playing a guitar, you just strum g. 

and, if hookset reaction time was the required skill to land fish, hockey goalies would own the AOY awards. 

I get what you mean and I'm no neuroscientist so there's no real point in me even commenting but I still believe that it is a conscious choice but that the choice is made quicker through repeated actions like setting the hook or mashing the brakes on a car. 

 

I agree with what Tom said though. Its more important to know a strike occurred than having the quickest hook set

 

Who knows how many we miss that we never felt, I want to catch as many fish as possible but at the same time I'm fishing for enjoyment so its all good

[38 Super Fan]

I still say fish that can spit a lure that fast are pretty rare. It's not something I worry about too much while fishing, who knows, maybe I'm missing a dozen bites a day though.

[WRB]

43 minutes ago, 38 Super Fan said:

I still say fish that can spit a lure that fast are pretty rare. It's not something I worry about too much while fishing, who knows, maybe I'm missing a dozen bites a day though.

My educated experienced estimate is more than 50% strikes go undetected, even higher ratio for bass over 5 lbs.

Tom

[Choporoz]

How do I count/measure undetected strikes?

 

Sorry...just the smartazz in me....

 

 

My eye openings were Big Mouth Forever (spittin cranks) and at the other end of the spectrum, watching Bobby U fishing a demo tank and pulling bass 10 yards or more....with Megasticken plastics, but no hooks....the spectrum is wide.  I will admit that I've caught plenty of bass that I never felt -- if the line hadn't been moving sideways, I'd have never known there was an actual fish involved with those casts.  That doesn't mean that they spit it fast, but they certainly can spit fast enough if they're subtle about the whole thing.