PLEASE HELP: SETTING THE HOOK QUESTION?

[GAcraw22]

I'm having trouble setting the hook on fish with a spinning rod. Here is my set-up:

ROD: Shimano Clarus 6'6 - Medium - Extra Fast Action

REEL: Shimano Sedona 2500

LINE: P-Line 8 lb. Original

HOOK: Gamakatsu 3/0 Extra Wide Gap Offset Shank

I can  detect the sensitivity of the line bump then I set the hook. About 40% of the time, the hook will

not penetrate the worm on the hook set. My question is do I need a heavier rod with more backbone, a

different type hooh, or another type of hook set technique? I apologize for the seemingly elementary question

but I need help....the insane asylum isn't far from my house  

Brent Brannon

Calhoun, GA

[Wayne Gatt]

Hi, I have a question or two, are you reeling down to the fish before setting? Where you're fishing, is this open water or in sparce weeds or heavy cover?

[GAcraw22]

reeling down about 2 cranks of the handle.

Fishing in about moderate weeds..shallow water.

Brent

[islandbass]

A heavier action rod with the slack line reeled up could make the difference, using braid with its near 0 stretch might also help you with your medium action rod.

With my cheap, low end rapala spinning rod, I was fishing a fluke and when I got the bite (with 30# p-pro), the hook set I used was nothing more than a quick flick of my wirst. The bass was beautifully hook in the side of its mouth, nice and clean.

[Catt]

This is the way Shaw Grigsby put it to me, its call the three tap theory.

The first tap the bass has inhaled your bait

The second tap the bass has exhaled your bait

The third tap I'm tapping you on the shoulder asking you why you didn't set hook!

Drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook  

[Cravin]

That very very Funny Catt! ;D

Pretend someone is grabbing for your beer. Yank back fast and hold it to you chest!

[ThaKing]

since the rod topic came up  

When using texas rigs or crankbaits

what size rod would be good?

Medium, Medium heavy? Fast? Extra Fast?

I have a 6' 6" shimano carbomax M casting rod. Is this good enough or am i fishing the wrong rod?

[Garnet]

That Clarus is the rod I use. 8 lb is a little light for t-rig I've used 10 lb with great success and stepping to power pro will bump it up more.

You should run your hook strait thru the worm and skin hook the point.

Garnet

[Guest DavidGreen]

GAFarmpond,

ROD: Shimano Clarus 6'6 - Medium - Extra Fast Action

That rod tip should be moving the hook with no problem. Your back bone doesn't set the hook, backbone comes into play in the fight.

I can  detect the sensitivity of the line bump then I set the hook. About 40% of the time, the hook will  not penetrate the worm on the hook set.

I guess the main question here is what size worm are you using with the 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG. I throw a lot of 7" and 10" worms on 4/0's and 5/0's due to the balling of the plastic in the gap area. Also 8# line might be a little to stretchy for t-rigs.

I apologize for the seemingly elementary question

Never apologize for a question, that is what this forum is all about.

Tight Lines!!!

[bassassinator]

Ok, heres another question in responce to :

"This is the way Shaw Grigsby put it to me, its call the three tap theory.

The first tap the bass has inhaled your bait  

The second tap the bass has exhaled your bait  

The third tap I'm tapping you on the shoulder asking you why you didn't set hook!  

Drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook"  

Ok, I have been plastic fishing for years and seldome miss one. I have heard this before but when I try to set the hook at first detection of a bite IE:the tap, tap, I never have been able to get a hook set. I have always felt the tap, I always slack the line and wait......more times than not, the fish will run off with it so I can get a hook set. I am not saying that is the right way but it is what works for me. So, Am I supposed to set the hook on the initial tap, tap or what in the world am I doing wrong.

[hi_steel_basser]

I don't know where you are fishing, or how, but here are a few ideas. First, I usually let a fish run with a lure if I am fishong bigger lures. The only time I set instantly is when I am fishing a jig or a reaction type bait. Second, You may need to use a heavier action rod or bigger line or both. Also, look for the teeth marks on the worm. If the worm is still rigged straight, the fish may have gotten everything but the hook. That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[Catt]

The only time I wait on a hook set is with buzz baits, top water or a Johnson spoons  

The hook set with Texas Rigs should be the same as with a jig!

If at any time you feel a noticeable tap, tug, line tighten, heaviness, or see line movement, without hesitation drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook.

[Banor]

Ok, heres another question in responce to :

"This is the way Shaw Grigsby put it to me, its call the three tap theory.

The first tap the bass has inhaled your bait

The second tap the bass has exhaled your bait

The third tap I'm tapping you on the shoulder asking you why you didn't set hook!

Drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook"

Ok, I have been plastic fishing for years and seldome miss one. I have heard this before but when I try to set the hook at first detection of a bite IE:the tap, tap, I never have been able to get a hook set. I have always felt the tap, I always slack the line and wait......more times than not, the fish will run off with it so I can get a hook set. I am not saying that is the right way but it is what works for me. So, Am I supposed to set the hook on the initial tap, tap or what in the world am I doing wrong.

I"ve heard this quote before on TV by other anglers but they were referring to Jig and Pigs.  Bass dont hold on to Jig and Pigs as long due to it being hard lead instead of soft meat.

I've watched alot of the underwater videos and I also have the experience of nearly 75% of my fishing being T-rigged soft plastics.  From what I have seen on the videos and personal experience when fishing with 7 to 10 inch worms the bass quite often do not inhale the worm immediately.  They will grab it by the tail and turn while shoving it into their mouth.

I personally think waiting a couple of taps when fishing soft plastics is the smart move and it is what I do.  I've missed more bites setting the hook immediately than I have giving them time to fully eat the bait.  

This applies to soft plastics only and mainly T-Rigged or C-Rigged.  

B

[Catt]

Every bass I've seen inhaled and spit out a worm faster than you can react  

You can sit and hope the bass doesn't spit your worm or you can drop the rod, reel the slack, set the hook, & catch the bass.

I'd also like to know which show this quote was used on since no one was in the boat but Shaw and me.

[Banor]

Every bass I've seen inhaled and spit out a worm faster than you can react

You can sit and hope the bass doesn't spit your worm or you can drop the rod, reel the slack, set the hook, & catch the bass.

I'd also like to know which show this quote was used on since no one was in the boat but Shaw and me.

I've heard the quote several times.  Maybe someone else stole it from him?  Or he heard it somewhere?  Several possibilities.

Bass must be different in your area than mine.

This one was caught 5 days ago down in Tennessee.  He gave it a good 3 to 4 taps before I set the hook.  If I was fishing a JnP I'd have set the hook at the slightest twitch.

The important thing to remember here is it works for me.  It obviously doesnt work for you.  That's the beauty of life.

B

[fishbear]

I am with Catt on this one.  Set the hook immediately and hard.  

Also, I have increased my hookup on plastics since I went to a 7ft. BPS Extreme MH rod, and a flourocarbon line.  The rod I was using was a 6'6" mh I bought from Walmart,  I think it is a Daiwa, and it just wasnt cutting it.

[.ghoti.]

Ga Farmpond, my suggestion would be either heavier line, like some 10lb test, or a light wire hook. In my experience, 8lb test has just too much stretch to set a big hook.

Cheers,

GK

[Triton21]

THEY(the bass) AIN'T GOT NO HANDS.  If you feel it they have the bait in their mouth.  SET THE D@MN HOOK!!!!!!!!!!

[LAO162]

Great discussion  

I've been questionning my own technique.  When setting the hook do you use only your wrist, or do you use some arm as well?  How hard is too hard?  Does the hook set differ for "Finesse" fishing?

Thanks

[RecMar8541]

LAO I use just a quick snap of the wrist.  But I uses power pro which has 0 stretch.  If using mono you will need more uuuummmmppphhh  to take up the stretch in the line.  

[Turtle.]

I'd also like to know which show this quote was used on since no one was in the boat but Shaw and me.

 Papaw taught me how to fish a worm,and the three tap rule.That was over 35 years ago.And he never knew Shaw Grisby.

 

By the way, I feel a tap, I'm settin the hook

[Banor]

Great discussion

I've been questionning my own technique. When setting the hook do you use only your wrist, or do you use some arm as well? How hard is too hard? Does the hook set differ for "Finesse" fishing?

Thanks

When I'm finesse fishing I'll still use a standard hook set but I'll be using a rod that absorbs a bit more shock and will have the drag set appropriately so that I dont exceed the breaking point of the line/knot with the hook set.  

When I'm drop shotting and wacky rigging with a DS hook or Octopus hook I dont hook set like normal.  I'll apply increasingly harder but steady pressure and let them hook themselves.

B

[ThaKing]

Yep like RecMar said, i use sufix braid and i just slightly set the hook and i always hook em with no problem, when throwing mono or fluoro leader i always have to add more strength to se the hook.

works the same for me on 6'6" or 7'

[sal669]

When I started bass fishing I had a Shakespeare combo (fiberglass rod, Synergy 35 reel) with 6lb Stren original line, 2/0 mustad hook, 6" worm T-rigged. And I was catching fish !!!

After a couple of outings, I went to a new lake.At that time I was only fishing from the shore. At this new lake I had lots of bites in a certain area (weady shallow flat, with some wood and rocks), but I couldn't catch any.I got frustrared and I asked a friend of mine to come fish with me on my next trip. My friend climed a tree on the shore(about 15 ft high) and watched the "action". I cast out my worm , got a "bite", set the hook and... nothing! My friend was loughing like crazy up it the tree.

When he calmed down he told me that the moment my worm hit the water a couple of big bluegills dashed at my worm, one of them grabbed the tail of the worm and started swimming away when I set the hook...

My $0.02: Your tackle is fine, just make sure that is BASS that bites, not other species !If you have lots of bites, one after the other it's probably not bass( or very small bass)

Set the hook ASAP! A decent size bass sucks in the whole bait with no problem and than starts swimming away.

[LAO162]

Lot's of great info here.  Thanks