When to hookset

[Skele21]

As the title states i'm having issues timing my hookset when fishing senkos. Today I went out and got a lot of bites but only landed a few. Growing up I was taught never to let the fish swallow the hook(common sense) and because of that I think I'm setting the hook before the fish has the whole worm. But heres the dilemma. Half the time I try and give the fish more time to eat the worm I stop getting bit so on the next fish I don't wait as long but end up ripping the bait away. Is that just the way it goes or am I missing something? I'm using a 2/0 EWG on a 4" senko.

[jbsoonerfan]

I have been fishing a LOOOOOONG time, not as long as some on here, but sometimes you are too early and you miss them and sometimes you are too late and you gut hook them. Still happens to me at least once an outing that I swing and miss. I am sure there are guys here that never miss or never gut hook one, I can think of one in particular, but I will let him tell you how good he is.

[JustJames]

To me with senko, if the line move I set hook, it I feel the tab set hook. Large mouth bass doesn’t nibble on prey, instead inhale the whole but will spit out as fast as you can imagine. 
Sometime you might get smaller bass, panfish or beded bass that not capable of 4” senko.

[Armtx77]

23 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I have been fishing a LOOOOOONG time, not as long as some on here, but sometimes you are too early and you miss them and sometimes you are too late and you gut hook them. Still happens to me at least once an outing that I swing and miss. I am sure there are guys here that never miss or never gut hook one, I can think of one in particular, but I will let him tell you how good he is.

Been a long time since I gut hooked one, but I am prone to setting the hook on grass, sticks, Lilly pads etc. I'm not ashamed of admitting it  either. 

 

When in doubt, knock em out.

If it feels weird, knock em out.

You see the line moving in a weird way, knock em out.

 

Hook sets are free. Dish them out with a smile in your face.

[Hammer 4]

Keep one of your fingers on the line at all times. Best way to detect bites..besides watching your line.

[plawren53202]

I'm no pro, so I could be totally wrong on this, but...

 

As I sit here and try to think about it, I think that if I feel solid pressure I tend to set the hook right away (this would include when I see or feel the line moving); if I feel a tap tap tap, sometimes I'll give it a second or two and then set the hook. Taps are generally just with worms or other soft plastics; not typically a moving bait like a crankbait or spinnerbait--although just tonight, I was throwing a mini spinnerbait (Booyah Pond Magic spinnerbait) for little ones in a pond, they were tapping it in some cases...and I think I was giving them a second or so before setting the hook.

 

I've been known to whiff on plenty, and to set the hook on logs, branches, rocks and weeds, so take that for what it's worth.

[WRB]

4" Senko is a small soft plastic. Try the o-ring rig.

If you use a circle hook it doesn't mater of the bass swallows the worm. If you fishing bed fish they may never eat the Senko.

Tom

[Bird]

Senkos, plastic worms get harassed by smaller fish but it's usually pecking. 

 

I wait to feel pressure or see line moving then swing.

 

With 1 hook baits there's always going to be a percentage of misses, for me anyway. 

[clh121787]

What works for me no matter what lure im using. when i feel a bite i reel up any slack and swing.   ASAFP! 

[scaleface]

1 hour ago, clh121787 said:

What works for me no matter what lure im using. when i feel a bite i reel up any slack and swing.   ASAFP! 

This . It takes  a second or two.

[Mike L]

Upsize your hook

 

 

 

 

Mike

[TriStateBassin106]

I don't fish senkos that much often but when I do I always watch my line and make sure I can feel taps on the rod tip, usually you'll feel a strong tap tap and that's when I set the hook. 

19 hours ago, plawren53202 said:

I'm no pro, so I could be totally wrong on this, but...

 

As I sit here and try to think about it, I think that if I feel solid pressure I tend to set the hook right away (this would include when I see or feel the line moving); if I feel a tap tap tap, sometimes I'll give it a second or two and then set the hook. Taps are generally just with worms or other soft plastics; not typically a moving bait like a crankbait or spinnerbait--although just tonight, I was throwing a mini spinnerbait (Booyah Pond Magic spinnerbait) for little ones in a pond, they were tapping it in some cases...and I think I was giving them a second or so before setting the hook.

 

I've been known to whiff on plenty, and to set the hook on logs, branches, rocks and weeds, so take that for what it's worth.

I'm guilty of this as well, I start feeling taps I pause for a second and don't move then set the hook at whatever is on the end of my line, one problem I really have when fishing jigs or texas rigs is getting hung up on weeds or a rock while dragging it and thinking it's a "heavy load" bite, usually I just pop my rod to see get my bait out of what ever it was hahahaha.

[TBAG]

Yeah, when I throw a Senko I'm guilty of gut hooking a fish at least once a trip. 

 

I really like the line on my Senko setup (6lb YZH) but I might switch to a more visible line, thinking neon braid. 

[NDbass13]

23 hours ago, Armtx77 said:

Been a long time since I gut hooked one, but I am prone to setting the hook on grass, sticks, Lilly pads etc. I'm not ashamed of admitting it  either. 

 

When in doubt, knock em out.

If it feels weird, knock em out.

You see the line moving in a weird way, knock em out.

 

Hook sets are free. Dish them out with a smile in your face.

This is great advice.  I always watch my line and I use really sensitive bottom contact rods for worm or jig fishing.  For Ned Rigs I use a medium spinning row with fast tip and I really watch the line. Sometimes you won’t feel them hit it per se but your line will move in an unnatural way.  For spinner baits, chatterbaits or cranks be patient.  Let the fish get the bait before you set but certainly with spinner and chatterbaits a strong hook set is key.  

[scaleface]

I   never feel the need to let  a bass run with the lure . As soon as a bite is detected , I set the hook . Rarely have I gut hook a bass with a soft plastic . Cant remember the last time I have .  Now I jinxed myself .   Bass frequently choke down a  crankbait . however .

[Hammer 4]

3 hours ago, TBAG said:

Yeah, when I throw a Senko I'm guilty of gut hooking a fish at least once a trip. 

 

I really like the line on my Senko setup (6lb YZH) but I might switch to a more visible line, thinking neon braid. 

Man, I hope you don't go out more than once a month..even that would be a bit much...?