Hookset Issue

[JWall14]

Usually when a bass hits my soft plastic there are three taps (occasionally two or four). These taps are very hard and rapid so I usually wait until I know they have it to set the hook. But most of the time they leave the bait after the three taps. I have set the hook after the taps and the lure comes screaming at my face!

 

I was reading another hookset post and one person said each tap is the bass sucking it in or out? Is this true?

 

Should I set as soon as I feel the taps? How many taps? 

[Scott F]

Multiple taps are often bluegills pecking at your plastic. That's why there is nothing there when you set the hook. Each tap could be a bass sucking it in or spitting it out. You won't know until you hook one. I normally try not to wait for a second tap. 

[A-Jay]

Set when you feel the strike.

Sometimes bass strike quick & drop the bait - not much we can do.

But many times bass hold on - a long time.

The right gear & hook will get them.

Really small bass & especially panfish will tap tap tap - quickly - hooksets come up empty.

Finally, when a bass really wants your bait, you'll have a hard time getting it away from them.

A-Jay

 

[BigAngus752]

53 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Multiple taps are often bluegills pecking at your plastic.

^^^this^^^

As usual @Scott F and @A-Jay are handing out great advice.  It's not bluegill where I'm at though.  I am a truly spectacular crappie fisherman...unfortunately I'm always fishing for bass...heck, last Saturday I caught a 15in walleye on a lipless crankbait in a forest preserve pond where they swear THERE IS NO WALLEYE.  Uh, so this bass is dressed up like a walleye for Halloween then?

[Sam]

Good inquiry, tough response.

 

If you set the hook too fast you will miss them.

 

If you set the hook too late they will swallow it and you will have a difficult time keeping the fish alive as you try to remove the hook from its throat or gills.

 

When you feel the first tap or if the line moves or if the line gets heavy, you set the hook.  You can let the bass run a little and then set the hook, but it is necessary you put your weight in the hook set to make sure you set the hook.

 

If you ever get to see Hook and Look on TV or you obtain some of their videos, you will see what happens when the bass hits yoru lure and then spits it out. We see this under the water and the guy in the boat had no idea he had the strike.

 

That is why we avoid any petroleum products or other chemicals that can leave a "smell or bad taste" on your baits, both hard and soft. The bass inhales your bait; tastes it; and then either eats it or blows it out before you even know what is going on.

 

Use some MegaStrike, JJs Magic or other scent to help the bass hold onto your bait just a second or two longer. This is the difference between a good hook set and missing the fish.

 

And yes, the bluegills, Crappie, warmouths and bream can drive you nuts hitting your plastics. But you still set the hook as that tap-tap could be your personal best.

 

Have fun and you will pick up the feel of your bait with and without a fish on it. Just remember, if it feels different you set the hook. If you feel a tap-tap you set the hook. Just be aware that your bait and hooks can come screaming back to you so be ready to duck.

[LionHeart]

Most likely what you described means a blue gill or other bait fish.  If a bass has to make 4 attempts to eat your lure, it is a dink, or just simply investigating what your lure is.  At any rate, the fact that you can't hook up with it ain't exactly your fault.

[WRB]

What do you all think a tap is?

Bass don't have hands!

Tom

[scaleface]

Bass sure can fool you . Sometimes that rat-a-tat-tat is a keeper bass , sometimes a dink . I have caught a multitude of bass on worms , craws... and still cant tell the size by the way they hit . I rather strike out swinging than  looking .

[TOXIC]

If it is a bass the taps will usually end up with your line moving in a steady motion.  If it's a bluegill you will usually end up fouled under a rock on in a branch underwater because those little turds love to bite and run under and through stuff.  My advise is to watch your line and not key in on the tap.  When it starts to do a steady move, set the hook.  I use Yamamoto for all of my plastic presentations and feel that the fish will hold them longer so I have time to make the decision.  

[Newbie-Co]

so, I am new to the forum, but here is what I have learned. For me, I am blind as a bat and cannot really see the line moving because I cast "a country mile". So, I fish with someone who, after the first time, he pulls on the rod slightly enough to feel the pull, then he sets the hook, 2 of out 10 catches are gut hooked. He rarely misses a fish. If I feel a tap, I set the hook. My hook up ratio is twice as much as his but he has more quality fish. But I often use the term "hook-sets are free" because I miss so many on the first tap. So what would you prefer?

[WRB]

18 minutes ago, Newbie-Co said:

so, I am new to the forum, but here is what I have learned. For me, I am blind as a bat and cannot really see the line moving because I cast "a country mile". So, I fish with someone who, after the first time, he pulls on the rod slightly enough to feel the pull, then he sets the hook, 2 of out 10 catches are gut hooked. He rarely misses a fish. If I feel a tap, I set the hook. My hook up ratio is twice as much as his but he has more quality fish. But I often use the term "hook-sets are free" because I miss so many on the first tap. So what would you prefer?

Welcome to BR.

I am blind as a bat at night yet manage to detect strikes. I generally cast between 40 to  50 yards when jig fishing during the day and can see very well with good light and manage to detect most strikes with a combination of keeping in touch and watching my line. I can't remember gut hooking a bass jig fishing or weighted T-rigged soft plastics, day or night.

At night I reduce my casting distance simply because it isn't needed, bass are less wary in low light.

If you can't see well it's impossible to accurately cast. The key is to maintain a specific casting distance from the target zone that you are comfortable casting, about 30 yards is my night casting distance that I can judge and repeat without seeing the lure land.

Why your partner catches larger size bass could be do to his ability to see where he is casting to higher % targets.

What type of presentation p's do you use?

Tom

 

[Newbie-Co]

23 hours ago, WRB said:

Welcome to BR.

I am blind as a bat at night yet manage to detect strikes. I generally cast between 40 to  50 yards when jig fishing during the day and can see very well with good light and manage to detect most strikes with a combination of keeping in touch and watching my line. I can't remember gut hooking a bass jig fishing or weighted T-rigged soft plastics, day or night.

At night I reduce my casting distance simply because it isn't needed, bass are less wary in low light.

If you can't see well it's impossible to accurately cast. The key is to maintain a specific casting distance from the target zone that you are comfortable casting, about 30 yards is my night casting distance that I can judge and repeat without seeing the lure land.

Why your partner catches larger size bass could be do to his ability to see where he is casting to higher % targets.

What type of presentation p's do you use?

Tom

 

what does " What type of presentation p's do you use? " mean?

[Smokinal]

 

 

[WRB]

On October 9, 2018 at 4:43 PM, Newbie-Co said:

what does " What type of presentation p's do you use? " mean?

Gotta love the auto correction. What type of presentations do you use?

Meaning; soft plastics Texas rigged, Carolina rigged, drop shot, split shot etc, etc?

Tom

[Boomstick]

On 10/3/2018 at 8:51 PM, Scott F said:

Multiple taps are often bluegills pecking at your plastic. That's why there is nothing there when you set the hook. Each tap could be a bass sucking it in or spitting it out. You won't know until you hook one. I normally try not to wait for a second tap. 

 

My experience has been similar. Usually those repeat taps are smaller fish nibbling at it.

[Mobasser]

On 10/10/2018 at 10:02 PM, Boomstick said:

 

My experience has been similar. Usually those repeat taps are smaller fish nibbling at it.

Yes. Panfish, especially bluegill, will rapidly tap the bait, pick it up and drop it, and make it hard to tell if it's a bass or not. If this continues to happen, your in a school of panfish.

[Shaners]

Once I feel that first tap I apply slight pressure if I feel any resistance whatsoever im setting the hook on em! Don't wait long, you'll miss your chance or worse case, gut hooked bass.

[Glenn]

Perhaps of interest...

 

 

[Harold Scoggins]

On ‎10‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 7:53 PM, A-Jay said:

Sometimes bass strike quick & drop the bait - not much we can do.

"Huh, what was that?"

Anymore it seems like the only hookset problems I have is "Sleeping at the Reel."