My hook up ratio sucks

[dodgeguy]

Try waiting until you feel weight then hammer them.

[BoatSquirrel]

This topic has been hook focused but lots of factors at play here.  I fish with 3 different guys. The two that are the more experienced sticks cannot seem to land a fish on a ned rig to save their lives.  The least experienced guy can catch em because he uses the right rod for the technique, a flimsy little crappie rod that loads up right.  

 Is the rod you are using too stiff?

[BassNJake]

48 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

No appendages were ripped off. 

Now that you mention it, I did see a fish (couldn’t tell what it was) pick up my bait and move it, but never really committed to engulfing it. I didn’t see a bed, but the water is pretty stained. My son was throwing a blades jig and lost a few as well. The one I did bring in the boat was barely hooked in the lip, so it’s quite possible they just didn’t want to commit. 
 

 

I think you have your answer right there.

Maybe some fry guarders

 

 

[dodgeguy]

18 minutes ago, BoatSquirrel said:

This topic has been hook focused but lots of factors at play here.  I fish with 3 different guys. The two that are the more experienced sticks cannot seem to land a fish on a ned rig to save their lives.  The least experienced guy can catch em because he uses the right rod for the technique, a flimsy little crappie rod that loads up right.  

 Is the rod you are using too stiff?

I find waiting until you feel weight on a bed is key. If you do this it hooks them in the top of the mouth every time. I also use a 6-6 medium bps Patriot baitcast rod. It has plenty of give for the Ned rig.

[Paul Roberts]

Only thing I can add to all the above advice is... the wind, which may be affecting your detection/timing. 

[plawren53202]

Random thoughts that popped into my head regarding this:

 

--Spawn/post-spawn/fry guarders--If the spawn is still going on or just wrapping up, it is entirely possible that you've got fish that aren't really interested in eating the bait but rather are just trying to move it. My experience with them is that they won't suck it in but grab just enough to move it and spit it out, and they can do this lightning fast.

 

--I might have missed it but didn't see what kind of line you are using. If you're using mono or something else high stretch and have a bunch out on a long cast, that can make an effective hookset especially on a T rig (or something similar like a jig) really hard. I used to bank fish with a M action spinning rod and mono, and when I would hook set while fishing something T rigged I felt like I had to get a running start backwards to drive the hook home.

 

--How are you burying the hook point in the bait? Many many moons ago when I first started bass fishing, I thought T rigging meant you had to have the entire hook point buried inside the middle of the bait--as compared to what I almost always do now, "texposing" it where you bring the hook point all the way through the bait and out, and then just barely bury the tip of the point back in the plastic. This is especially true with bigger baits like the creature baits you were using. If the point of the hook is just buried inside the middle of the bait, it can make it difficult to get enough behind the hookset to drive that hook point through all that plastic and home. Especially if you have fish not swallowing the bait but just grabbing and moving/spitting it out.

[BrianMDTX]

On 6/14/2020 at 6:24 PM, A-Jay said:

Use the 4/0

Also if the bait is balling up on the hook,

add a Parasite Clip

Or even a Parasite weight 

A-Jay

 

http://parasiteweights.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=30&osCsid=heuigpglumupstl65rp6jg3uu0

 

Why a 4/0? What makes a bigger hook a better option on a Texas rig? I’m trying to get a good grasp on this as I have had some “hook up” issues with 3/0 EWG (and smaller) hooks on weighted or weightless TR. Is it more due to length (tip is farther back towards the tail of the bait)? Gap width (increases leverage on hookset)? School me on this! 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

Why a 4/0? What makes a bigger hook a better option on a Texas rig? I’m trying to get a good grasp on this as I have had some “hook up” issues with 3/0 EWG (and smaller) hooks on weighted or weightless TR. Is it more due to length (tip is farther back towards the tail of the bait)? Gap width (increases leverage on hookset)? School me on this! 

In my world Hook size is directly related to the baits size, shape & profile.

There needs to be sufficient bite or space between the hook shank and the bait itself to ensure proper hook penetration. 

Too small a hook, or the wrong shape of hook (Type) on a bulky bait can seriously reduce strike to landing ratio.

Plastic ends up all balled up on the hook.

No es bueno

Also to be considered is the tackle I'm using (line & rod),

as well as presence of cover and it's relative density. 

Lighter gear, lighter cover - lighter wire hook.

Heavier gear, heavier cover - heavier wire hook.

Think Gaff. 

YMMV

A-Jay

[BrianMDTX]

Ok, makes sense. I’ll have to get some 4/0 EWG hooks and try them. 

[Bird]

You may be dealing with an inappropriate rod for the task, possibly. 

 

I recently bought what I thought would be an ideal spinnerbait rod, lost fish after fish as they leaped and spit the bait. 

 

The new rod was a MH moderate and after examination, closely resembled a heavy action. 

 

I was opening up some size holes in the fishes mouth allowing an easy escape. 

 

Went back to a decently stout med fast and problem solved. 

Enough bend in the rod to ride out the tail dancing. 

 

Loosing them under water at the boat could be the opposite though.