What is Tom Monsoor saying here? - Swimjig content

[Eddie101]

@5:02.  Don't set the hook?! Can someone decipher what he's saying because I'm lost....

[Dwight Hottle]

He is saying with a moving bait that has sharp hooks you only need to keep reeling or lift the rod to get an adequate hook set. No crossing their eyes necessary. 

[A-Jay]

He is 'reel setting' the fish.

His swimjigs are fabricated on a medium to thin wire hook, in this clip he's using 12 lb line,

so a Bassmaster Hookset is not needed.

A-Jay

 

[Eddie101]

2 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

He is saying with a moving bait that has sharp hooks you only need to keep reeling or lift the rod to get an adequate hook set. No crossing their eyes necessary. 

I get that, but that trick never works for me for some reason, and my hooks are super sharp too.

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

He is 'reel setting' the fish.

His swimjigs are fabricated on a medium to thin wire hook, in this clip he's using 12 lb line,

so a Bassmaster Hookset is not needed.

A-Jay

 

Ah, I see. I don't think he mentioned THAT part of the story especially about using a thin wire hook. Now, that makes more sense. 

[Dens228]

2 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

I get that, but that trick never works for me for some reason, and my hooks are super sharp too.

Are you using bigger/thicker hooks?   I set the hook on my swim jigs but not as hard as on my non swim jigs. 

 

[Eddie101]

1 minute ago, Dens228 said:

Are you using bigger/thicker hooks?   I set the hook on my swim jigs but not as hard as on my non swim jigs. 

 

I don't make my own swim jigs a la Tom. I just buy basically whatever is on sale so my hook choices are limited and AFAIK, they all have thicker hooks. Lately, I'm buying nothing but finesse jigs - getting old I suppose? LOL - and I don't think they come with thin wire hooks either. IOW, I need to set the hook like Bill Dance to get it done.

 

 

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, Eddie101 said:

I don't make my own swim jigs a la Tom. I just buy basically whatever is on sale so my hook choices are limited and AFAIK, they all have thicker hooks. Lately, I'm buying nothing but finesse jigs - getting old I suppose? LOL - and I don't think they come with thin wire hooks either. IOW, I need to set the hook like Bill Dance to get it done.

 

 

I was out today and caught 9 on a jig. I'm a big guy, played D1 football and competed in powerlifting on a national level.  When I set the hook I cross their eyes! LOL  I was actually thinking on my drive home today how setting the hook on a jig is euphoric to me!  My far and away favorite way to catch a bass. 

[Heartland]

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

He is saying with a moving bait that has sharp hooks you only need to keep reeling or lift the rod to get an adequate hook set. No crossing their eyes necessary. 

I agree, the Monsoor jigs also typically use a thin wire hook VS the thick hook you see in the CA inspired swim jigs.

[Team9nine]

Many years back, Monsoor worked with BPS to release a line of swim jigs, of which I still have several. Just went out in the garage and measured the hook wire, and it was 0.040” Definitely lighter wire, along with a thinned down and lighter weed guard as well as a thin skirt.

 

[Tlauz]

With his arms he only has to flex and the hook is set!!

[Team9nine]

With his win and the topic being so current, I dug around last night and found some old BPS Monsoor swim jigs I had sitting in the garage. Decided to pull one out and hit a local pond today just to throw them. Picked off 9 or 10 bass on a shad colored swim jig with a white 3” boot tail trailer. Nothing big, but fun duplicating “the winning pattern” on your local waters.

 

 

[Eddie101]

1 minute ago, Team9nine said:

With his win and the topic being so current, I dug around last night and found some old BPS Monsoor swim jigs I had sitting in the garage. Decided to pull one out and hit a local pond today just to throw them. Picked off 9 or 10 bass on a shad colored swim jig with a white 3” boot tail trailer. Nothing big, but fun duplicating “the winning pattern” on your local waters.

 

 

Well, that's what it's all about! Now, I need to go buy some white trailer, and hope the winning pattern continues in our waters, too!  

[Cgolf]

Wow, I have always wondered if the cross their eyes hookset was for show or needed. I have always been a wrist snap set or reel set kind of guy. Only time I don't hook up with heavy pressure I figure it was a pike or Muksy. Doesn't seem that much is needed to hook a bass in the mouth.

 

Do see a lot of you tube and instagram videos where people almost fall out of the boat setting the hook and would take out their co angler if they got in the way of the rod.

 

Aren't the big hookset folks worried about tearing the mouth making it easier for the fish to toss the bait?

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, cgolf said:

Wow, I have always wondered if the cross their eyes hookset was for show or needed. I have always been a wrist snap set or reel set kind of guy. Only time I don't hook up with heavy pressure I figure it was a pike or Muksy. Doesn't seem that much is needed to hook a bass in the mouth.

 

Do see a lot of you tube and instagram videos where people almost fall out of the boat setting the hook and would take out their co angler if they got in the way of the rod.

 

Aren't the big hookset folks worried about tearing the mouth making it easier for the fish to toss the bait?

When I'm fishing jigs, especially now, it's usually fairly deep water.  With the flex of the rod I doubt the force of my set is transferred directly to the bass.  With a thicker hook and a weed guard I want it set.  I can tell you I've lost some with a lesser hookset.  Have I tore any out of a basses mouth?  Who knows, if I did they didn't make it to the boat.  I can also say that the ones landed don't appear to have a bigger hole from the hook than any other single hook lure.

[detroit1]

Teamnine9 had an Uncontrollable Urge!

[Dens228]

2 hours ago, Dens228 said:

When I'm fishing jigs, especially now, it's usually fairly deep water.  With the flex of the rod I doubt the force of my set is transferred directly to the bass.  With a thicker hook and a weed guard I want it set.  I can tell you I've lost some with a lesser hookset.  Have I tore any out of a basses mouth?  Who knows, if I did they didn't make it to the boat.  I can also say that the ones landed don't appear to have a bigger hole from the hook than any other single hook lure.

I should also add I'm sitting in my kayak during this.  It's not like I'm putting my hips into it and doing a 180 with my torso.  LOL   And I have seen people do that on YouTube too.......

[iabass8]

On 8/2/2020 at 7:21 PM, Team9nine said:

Many years back, Monsoor worked with BPS to release a line of swim jigs, of which I still have several. Just went out in the garage and measured the hook wire, and it was 0.040” Definitely lighter wire, along with a thinned down and lighter weed guard as well as a thin skirt.

 

it was just for sponsors. Tom did and has always poured his own jigs. you can't buy his off the shelf. The closest thing to them is Super K/Brovarney. His hooks are a touch different due to how he bends them but they are definitely a lighter wire which is why you see him just reel set. Tom is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and will even let you snipe one of his jigs when he isn't looking.