Tips for better hookups?

[The Budget Angler]

I fish a lot of Texas-rigged soft plastics (what can I say, they work).  Unfortunately, I miss a lot of fish.  I'm a broke college student so I can't really upgrade my gear (I know it's stupid to use a 5' 6" rod with 10 lb mono, but it's all I got), but I find that as I reel up to twitch it again, there's a fish on there.  I've gotten a few of 'em, so I wasn't too upset until I missed a 5 lber recently.  Is this as simple as changing to braid/flouro, or is there a better way to increase my ratio?  What do you guys do?  I just want to stop missing fish!!!

 

Thanks in advance bros

[A-Jay]

Stop being stupid.

A-Jay

[Swamp Girl]

I think you're facing Mission Impossible with your current equipment. A 5' 6" rod is basically a Snoopy rod. What's your fishing reel?

[MediumMouthBass]

5'6" rod.... Is this a medium/medium heavy rod or something lighter? Is it an Ugly Stik rod or similar? (if so its material makes it a bendy noodle with almost no sensitivity). My suggestion would be to get a rod between 7-7'3" in medium or medium heavy depending on your weight choice, there are a few brands that make decent rods that are affordable and very budget friendly. Check out the Daiwa Aird X rods, they MSRP at $55 but you can get them on sale throughout the year around 40-45. They hold very well and have good sensitivity. Changing line will only help maybe slightly and will really only help if you are constantly watching the braided line on the top of the water, a rod change will help a TON. Plus the extra length will give you more distance in a cast, as well as help fighting bigger fish.

[The Budget Angler]

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I think you're facing Mission Impossible with your current equipment. A 5' 6" rod is basically a Snoopy rod. What's your fishing reel?

either a shimano sienna or just a stock Shakespeare reel

7 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

5'6" rod.... Is this a medium/medium heavy rod or something lighter? Is it an Ugly Stik rod or similar? (if so its material makes it a bendy noodle with almost no sensitivity). My suggestion would be to get a rod between 7-7'3" in medium or medium heavy depending on your weight choice, there are a few brands that make decent rods that are affordable and very budget friendly. Check out the Daiwa Aird X rods, they MSRP at $55 but you can get them on sale throughout the year around 40-45. They hold very well and have good sensitivity. Changing line will only help maybe slightly and will really only help if you are constantly watching the braided line on the top of the water, a rod change will help a TON. Plus the extra length will give you more distance in a cast, as well as help fighting bigger fish.

I have a 6' 6" Ugly Stik GX2, medium action, and one with either medium light or light action.  Should that be my new go-to?  I won't have to worry about bigger fish, trust me.  Also, I feel very strongly about Ugly Stiks so be careful what you say lol

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Stop being stupid.

A-Jay

Valid

[MediumMouthBass]

Ugly Stiks are great for what they are, and the price they cost. I have around 8-10 of them, some for trout and panfish, and others for bass, catfish, salmon and steelhead. But going from experience using them alot (even with braided line) i wouldnt choose to use them for texas rigs, they just lack sensitivity.... Not just missing fish but potentially can end up gut hooking a fish.

Plus even if you can feel a bass biting, the rod is just has so much bend to it that most times there isnt enough power in the rod to get the hook through the mouth of the fish when trying to do a hookset. They excel for moving baits like cranks but not for texas rigs or anything like it, plus dont most Ugly Stik guides end up getting chewed up by braid? I would highly suggest upgrading but if you want to keep using what you have use the Medium Ugly Stik rod, and just check the guides very good after each use if you put braid on it. And probably do a really fast and strong hookset as soon as you feel a bite.

[papajoe222]

I understand your situation. The only suggestions I can offer are to switch to a light wire hook, which will penetrate easier than a standard worm hook, and stick with short casts to help compensate for the line stretch (less line, less stretch).

[Mike L]

8 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I understand your situation. The only suggestions I can offer are to switch to a light wire hook, which will penetrate easier than a standard worm hook, and stick with short casts to help compensate for the line stretch (less line, less stretch).

Considering you’re not changing your equipment, This is your answer 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Pat Brown]

8 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Ugly Stiks are great for what they are, and the price they cost. I have around 8-10 of them, some for trout and panfish, and others for bass, catfish, salmon and steelhead. But going from experience using them alot (even with braided line) i wouldnt choose to use them for texas rigs, they just lack sensitivity.... Not just missing fish but potentially can end up gut hooking a fish.

Plus even if you can feel a bass biting, the rod is just has so much bend to it that most times there isnt enough power in the rod to get the hook through the mouth of the fish when trying to do a hookset. They excel for moving baits like cranks but not for texas rigs or anything like it, plus dont most Ugly Stik guides end up getting chewed up by braid? I would highly suggest upgrading but if you want to keep using what you have use the Medium Ugly Stik rod, and just check the guides very good after each use if you put braid on it. And probably do a really fast and strong hookset as soon as you feel a bite.

 

 

I've been using an ugly stick with 40 lb braid for buzzbaits exclusively for 2 years now and I've caught countless fish over 5 lbs and dragged them out of heavy vegetation.

 

Stainless steel guides are completely fine and I can't say the same about my Fuji Alconites!

 

Take heed folks who believe the internet instead of trying things out!

 

To the OP:

 

Reel all the slack out of your line and reel very quickly while setting the hook and make sure you don't give them any slack during your retrieve. Make sure your hooks are sharp.  A hook sharpener is a great purchase if you're not particularly wealthy and like to up your odds of catching fish.

 

I do not recommend switching over to braided line unless you're fishing very heavy vegetation and need it.  I vastly prefer 10 lb mono for most situations.

[scaleface]

When I first started texas rigging it was with a 5'6'" MH rod . Thats what everybody used. Spool it with heavier line. 15 lb Big Game will work and cross their eyes with big hooksets.

[Swamp Girl]

8 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I understand your situation. The only suggestions I can offer are to switch to a light wire hook, which will penetrate easier than a standard worm hook, and stick with short casts to help compensate for the line stretch (less line, less stretch).

 

^This^ is good advice.

 

I went fishing earlier this spring. I was fishing a quantity pond, where the bass top out at 18". So, I thought I could get away with using a ML rod, a M rod, mono, and my 3/0 Owner underspin. I hooked three bass and two shook free. The hook fell out of the third one's mouth when it was in the net, so I don't think, despite my hearty hook-setting, that I ever made a dent in the mouths of those bass.

 

I went home and immediately switched back to my standard MH rods and braid.

 

 

[Pat Brown]

2 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

^This^ is good advice.

 

I went fishing earlier this spring. I was fishing a quantity pond, where the bass top out at 18". So, I thought I could get away with using a ML rod, a M rod, mono, and my 3/0 Owner underspin. I hooked three bass and two shook free. The hook fell out of the third one's mouth when it was in the net, so I don't think, despite my hearty hook-setting, that I ever made a dent in the mouths of those bass.

 

I went home and immediately switched back to my standard MH rods and braid.

 

 

 

 

For what it's worth, I usually like to balance things out between the rod and the line.  I like a little stiffer rod when I'm running mono and I like a little give in the rod when I'm running braid.

 

Seems like that's all I have to do and I can pick the line for the job after that.

 

When you're sitting down in a canoe, you need all the power you can get to set that hook though!

[Swamp Girl]

Just now, Pat Brown said:

For what it's worth, I usually like to balance things out between the rod and the line.  I like a little stiffer rod when I'm running mono and I like a little give in the rod when I'm running braid.

 

That makes a ton of sense.

 

1 minute ago, Pat Brown said:

When you're sitting down in a canoe, you need all the power. You can get to set that hook though!

 

Heck, yeah, I do! It's like trying to set the hook while wearing ice skates. On ice. Oiled ice. 

 

When I used to fish for smallies in Ontario from a  two-person, heavy, Royalex canoe that sat much lower in the water from its weight and our weight, I didn't struggle with hook-setting. Of course, I was younger too. 

[scaleface]

  Is this a light action spinning rod? If so, try barely hooking the worm on the side. Use a small soft worm and light wire hook . 

[detroit1]

Like others have said, a sharp, fine wire hook would help. Maybe even leaving the hook slightly exposed. Ajay was a little harsh...(unlike him)

[A-Jay]

28 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Like others have said, a sharp, fine wire hook would help. Maybe even leaving the hook slightly exposed. Ajay was a little harsh...(unlike him)

Tongue & Cheek comment.

Used the OP's own words. 

Seems he understands perfectly well what the challenges are here, yet is unwilling to modify anything to improve his deal.

For the price of a pizza and a half a tank of gas, he could.

A-Jay

[FishTax]

I see you're in NC. I have an Abu black max combo that's well used but still works fine I'll sell you for $20 if you'll meet me to get it. Hard to beat that but it's baitcast, are you comfortable throwing that? It's mh, not very sensitive but will set the hook without issue. Basically the opposite rod of an ugly stick noodle. I was going to use it for a catfish rod but am happy to set you up if you're interested.

 

FB marketplace has fishing equipment regularly at good prices as well in Raleigh market and Winston and Charlotte, not sure what you're close to. 

 

Shoot me a message if you want to discuss it. Otherwise, definitely agree on light wire hook and not burying it in plastic. 

[The Budget Angler]

1 hour ago, FishTax said:

I see you're in NC. I have an Abu black max combo that's well used but still works fine I'll sell you for $20 if you'll meet me to get it. Hard to beat that but it's baitcast, are you comfortable throwing that? It's mh, not very sensitive but will set the hook without issue. Basically the opposite rod of an ugly stick noodle. I was going to use it for a catfish rod but am happy to set you up if you're interested.

 

FB marketplace has fishing equipment regularly at good prices as well in Raleigh market and Winston and Charlotte, not sure what you're close to. 

 

Shoot me a message if you want to discuss it. Otherwise, definitely agree on light wire hook and not burying it in plastic. 

DM me and we'll see if we can set something up

[Swamp Girl]

Since @FishTax is willing to take the time to deliver his rig to you, I'd like to pay for it. $20 isn't much for me, but it's a chunk for a college kid. If you can work out the hand-off, let me know and I'll send FishTax a check. 

[roadwarrior]

WOW!

That's sweet.

 

[The Budget Angler]

5 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Since @FishTax is willing to take the time to deliver his rig to you, I'd like to pay for it. $20 isn't much for me, but it's a chunk for a college kid. If you can work out the hand-off, let me know and I'll send FishTax a check. 

That's super generous of you but we live several hours away from each other, so I'm not sure it's gonna happen.  Thanks again though!

[Glenn]

Despite the equipment limitations, there are tangible things you can do to improve your hookups:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MediumMouthBass]

10 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

 

 

I've been using an ugly stick with 40 lb braid for buzzbaits exclusively for 2 years now and I've caught countless fish over 5 lbs and dragged them out of heavy vegetation.

 

Stainless steel guides are completely fine and I can't say the same about my Fuji Alconites!

 

Take heed folks who believe the internet instead of trying things out!

My top guide on a Medium GX2 has a deep groove going in it after using 10lb powerpro light fishing with ned rigs. Maybe it has something to do with differences in braid thickness idk.

[Pat Brown]

45 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

My top guide on a Medium GX2 has a deep groove going in it after using 10lb powerpro light fishing with ned rigs. Maybe it has something to do with differences in braid thickness idk.

 

The GX2 does not have stainless steel guys. It has the cheap ceramic inserts that I hate with a passion.

[T-Billy]

8 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I went home and immediately switched back to my standard MH rods and braid

Wild thing... I think I love you. 😘😂