St Croix Mojo Bass Thrown Hooks

[WRB]

2 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

Interesting! So, you are not of the camp that fish are line-shy to braid? Or they can “hear” braid under water? Frankly, I’ve not seen a big difference in hookups with moving baits and leaders vs straight braid either; if I use leaders it’s because I’m around rocks and I’ve lost too many fish to cut braid on rocks that I finally learned my lesson. (Sorry to OP for the thread hijack!)

Not a fan of braid. Cutting braid on rocks using a spinner bait isn’t a common problem.

Bass are not line shy fish especially using a flashy spinner bait.

Heavy single hook lures like spinnerbaits require a hook set that penetrated the hook and using the rod after casting 75’ + doesn’t move enough line, the reel moves 24” rack handle full turn.

Tom 

[gim]

22 minutes ago, WRB said:

Cutting braid on rocks using a spinner bait isn’t a common problem.

Bass are not line shy fish especially using a flashy spinner bait.

Yes, but the OP is in North Dakota and he has toothy predators like pike and muskies, so he's going to want to use something to mitigate bite offs.

 

Heck, his screen name is even @ToothyCritter.

[Deleted account]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Yes, but the OP is in North Dakota and he has toothy predators like pike and muskies, so he's going to want to use something to mitigate bite offs.

 

Heck, his screen name is even @ToothyCritter.

 

I think you just like saying muskie...  

[WRB]

6 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Yes, but the OP is in North Dakota and he has toothy predators like pike and muskies, so he's going to want to use something to mitigate bite offs.

 

Heck, his screen name is even @ToothyCritter.

That is when wire leaders are used.

Tom

[ToothyCritter]

Yeah, black steel leader works well out here so far. Bass aren't very pressured because all the ND dudes do is walleye fishing it seems, so they aren't leader shy.

 

Can't test any of these tips out until the ice melts, but first thing to concentrate on will be hook sets. Fish were holding pretty far out in the autumn, like 150 foot casts, which probably complicated things a bit lol. 

[Cbump]

On 3/23/2023 at 7:20 PM, waymont said:

I guess I go against the grain here. I don’t think you’re going to get a good hook set with mono/fc and a moderate rod at the end of your far cast. Your rig sounds good to me. First things I’d do is make sure all hooks are very sharp, and add a trailer hook.

Same. I’ve had this exact rod for chatterbaits with 50lb straight braid. I never lost fish. Was a great combo. 
 

On jumps, I lower the rod but I’m sweeping the rod to put more tension on them if that makes sense. No slack at all. 

[FishTank]

On 3/23/2023 at 3:20 PM, ToothyCritter said:

I'll give a leader a go. Mind explaining what you mean by turn the fish/rod over? 

 

I was watching highlights of the Bassmaster Classic and came across this example. It shows it exactly what I was talking about.  Go to the 42:00 min. mark.

 

 

[ToothyCritter]

On 4/13/2023 at 10:26 PM, FishTank said:

 

I was watching highlights of the Bassmaster Classic and came across this example. It shows it exactly what I was talking about.  Go to the 42:00 min. mark.

 

 

Like that change in direction when he turns to his left? 

 

We're still freaking frozen here, just got three inches of fresh snow. North Dakota is some BULL CRAP! 

[FishTank]

13 minutes ago, ToothyCritter said:

Like that change in direction when he turns to his left? 

 

We're still freaking frozen here, just got three inches of fresh snow. North Dakota is some BULL CRAP! 

Exactly. 

 

This doesn't always happen but when you set the hook to the right and turn the rod over to the left, you turn the fish over putting the bait on the bottom lip. All the fish has to do is shake and it will come off.

 

Hate to hear about the weather. It was almost 80 here in Indiana yesterday.  Sunday it will be 32 for a low and maybe 50 for a high. We always say, if you don't like the weather, wait till tomorrow. 

[Bdnoble84]

On 3/23/2023 at 12:26 PM, ToothyCritter said:

Quick background, I fly fish but ND isn't too cooperative so I've taken up conventional tackle recently. Not new to fishing, but new to this side of it. 

 

I've got a 7' MH moderate fast Mojo Bass spinnerbait casting rod spooled with 20lb braid that is haunting me. Had a day on the water in September that could have been an awesome day of smallmouth fishing, except that multiple fish threw the hook on the jump and I lost most that day. It was infuriating. I was fishing with a 1/2oz chatterbait and couldn't get a solid hook set for the life of me. Fishing from the bank and casts were pretty far because that's where the fish were. Have also lost fish with this rod using spoons, which confuses me seeing as the hooks are open and fairly light wire. 

 

Does the spinnerbait rod simply not have enough backbone to set the hook home at that distance? Is there something I should have been doing differently? I've never lost so many fish in one day. Any ideas from experienced folks would be great. 

 

 

 

 

I find i have this issue with my mod fast mh rod as well when working spinnerbaits and swim jigs (not much experience with chatters for Smallies). I feel its that the softness of the rod leads to a delayed reaction in setting the hook which leads to a less than ideal hook-set. Particularly on slack line hooks where u need to catch up with the fish first and then drive the hook in. I dont have an answer other than i favor my fast action mh if i think im going to be having to catch up to fish alot before setting the hook.

[dodgeguy]

Put a trailer hook on. You are also putting to much pressure on the fish. If it starts to come up keep the line tight and shove the rod into the water.

[HawkeyeSmallie]

On 4/13/2023 at 10:26 PM, FishTank said:

 

I was watching highlights of the Bassmaster Classic and came across this example. It shows it exactly what I was talking about.  Go to the 42:00 min. mark.

 

 

 

Holy cow, maybe this is why I lose some fish as well.

 

Sunday night my biggest bass jumped and threw my spinnerbait.

 

I'm fishing from a kayak, but many times I'll set the hook on the right side of it and switch to the left to reel it in. I'm really trying to not let them jump if I can help it.

 

This guy was farther out though and spit it before I realized he was coming up.

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Holy cow, maybe this is why I lose some fish as well.

 

Sunday night my biggest bass jumped and threw my spinnerbait.

 

I'm fishing from a kayak, but many times I'll set the hook on the right side of it and switch to the left to reel it in. I'm really trying to not let them jump if I can help it.

 

This guy was farther out though and spit it before I realized he was coming up.

 

I fish from a kayak about every other week and loose fish like this as well. Sometimes there is nothing you can do about it. The fish can turn you and so can the wind. Sometimes it's a struggle to get them in. A net can help when there close.