Why couldn't I hook 'em?

[EGbassing]

I was skipping a little ned rig under laydowns today. I skipped it up under a willow tree once and immediately got a bite. I was just deadsticking it, when the line ticked, then started moving off. I tried to set the hook, but I just got my lure back. Made another skip cast and the exact same thing happened, except that little Z-man TRD was pulled almost completely off the hook. That exact thing probably happened another dozen times before I gave up and moved to the next spot. I'm 99% sure it wasn't a bass because I would've hooked it. (I can get a 90+ percent hook-up ratio with that lure) What do you guys think it was? That pond is stocked with bass, crappie, bluegill, channel cats, grass carp, and gizzard shad. I'm thinking it was probably carp or something.

[Russ E]

I would guess bluegill or sunfish. they are notorious for biting the tails .

a lot of times when bluegills bite it will be a series of ticks.

when a bass hits a ned rig, you don't have to set the hook. they usually hook themselves. It often just feels heavy.

[geo g]

I agree with Weedwacker, I hope your using a thin wire hook, they get stuck much easier.

[MichaelCopeland]

When you feel the bite, drop the rod tip down, reel in your slack and then set the hook. If the bluegill, sunfish or whatever else is biting is big enough, you can still catch it by doing those 3 steps.

1. Drop the rod tip down

2. Reel in slack

3. Set the hook

?

[Russ E]

20 minutes ago, MichaelCopeland said:

When you feel the bite, drop the rod tip down, reel in your slack and then set the hook. If the bluegill, sunfish or whatever else is biting is big enough, you can still catch it by doing those 3 steps.

1. Drop the rod tip

2. Reel in slack

3. Set the hook

?

I agree with that on most baits.

I am a cross their eyes with the hookset kind of guy.

 but the fine wire hook, usually Used on a ned rig, often pulls free if you hammer the fish with a big hookset.

usually all you have to do is lift the rod and start reeling.

[Boomstick]

Last week I was fishing with the kids, my youngest threw a NED rig. He didn't land any fish on it, but had a few bites. What was happening was the fish were biting the end of the TRD, pulling it over the hook but not fully committing -- it was pretty clear once he pulled it up. Perhaps the same is happening where you need to annoy the fish a little more to get a better bite?

[MichaelCopeland]

21 minutes ago, Weedwhacker said:

I agree with that on most baits.

I am a cross their eyes with the hookset kind of guy.

 but the fine wire hook usually Used on a ned rig, often pulls free if you hammer the fish with a big hookset.

usually all you have to do is lift the rod and start reeling.

I agree. All hook sets are not swinging for the fences hook sets. I've fished Texas rigged senkos on thin wire hooks and did the same thing, dropped the rod tip, reeled in slack and just pulled slightly more than usual because I felt the weight and just reeled in a 2+lber. Either way they are both setting the hook. One with lots of gusto and one without all the gusto. I've also had bass hammer chatterbaits, with stout hooks, that hooked themselves. More subtle bites tend to need a little more of a hook set than the hammering type bites do. At least in my experiences so far. I'm still learning though and so far nothing ever seems to be an exact way to do it every time. ?

[EGbassing]

1 hour ago, Weedwhacker said:

I would guess bluegill or sunfish. they are notorious for biting the tails .

a lot of times when bluegills bite it will be a series of ticks.

when a bass hits a ned rig, you don't have to set the hook. they usually hook themselves. It often just feels heavy.

That's what I'm thinking too. Most of the bites were at least 2 ticks.

[FishDewd]

Sounds like the same issue I had fishing a TRD weedless on a texas rig lol. I vote for perch as well. And I've gotten too where I can tell the difference now a lot better. I seem to be a perch magnet. Apparently a bad habit I developed growing up fishing perch. Now they're just attracted to me on any lure I use! 

[EGbassing]

9 hours ago, FishDewd said:

Sounds like the same issue I had fishing a TRD weedless on a texas rig lol. I vote for perch as well. And I've gotten too where I can tell the difference now a lot better. I seem to be a perch magnet. Apparently a bad habit I developed growing up fishing perch. Now they're just attracted to me on any lure I use! 

No perch in that lake, but it definitely could have been bluegill. Seemed like there was a whole school of them under that tree.

12 hours ago, geo g said:

I agree with Weedwacker, I hope your using a thin wire hook, they get stuck much easier.

I use the Z-man shroomz 1/15 oz. heads.

[FishDewd]

1 hour ago, EGbassing said:

No perch in that lake, but it definitely could have been bluegill. Seemed like there was a whole school of them under that tree.

I use the Z-man shroomz 1/15 oz. heads.

In my neck of the woods, any panfish is a perch lol.

[Bankbeater]

The panfish around here, and some of the small bass, will keep picking up the bait and playing with it as long as it is in front of them.  When I get those kind of bites I usually move to a new location.

[FishDewd]

There's panfish aka perch everywhere here, so moving locations hardly works lol. I like a good perch bite though, They are delicious if I can get enough of them to make fish tacos.

[fishwizzard]

On 7/26/2018 at 10:21 PM, EGbassing said:

That's what I'm thinking too. Most of the bites were at least 2 ticks.

I have caught some nice bass by letting the gills peck at my Ned as I slowly work it back in.  I assume the commotion the gills make is enough to get the bass interested in my lure.  When fishing clear stream I can see it happen, a few tiny gills chasing and pecking at it and then BAM, out of nowhere a smallie will rocket out and grab it.  

[CrankFate]

1 hour ago, fishwizzard said:

I have caught some nice bass by letting the gills peck at my Ned as I slowly work it back in.  I assume the commotion the gills make is enough to get the bass interested in my lure.  When fishing clear stream I can see it happen, a few tiny gills chasing and pecking at it and then BAM, out of nowhere a smallie will rocket out and grab it.  

I’ve seen that happen, too. More often with LMB, but once or twice with SMB. A few smaller bass usually come see the commotion. Then, every so rarely, a much bigger bass will appear, look ticked off, bump it’s way through the crowd and angrily inhale whatever is causing all the commotion.

 

[Bluebasser86]

Green sunfish do this constantly on some of the lakes I fish.

 

On a side note, if you call a sunfish or bluegill a "perch" you're the worse kind of person