problem setting the hook on a senko

[fishinfool]

i went out to the lake yesterday and got on some fish, but the problem was getting them hooked. i was working a wacky rigged watermelon senko. i would throw it about 6 inches away from the rock bank and get bites almost every single cast. when i felt the fish tap a couple times and then saw the line move i would set the hook, or try to atleast. this happened about 5 or 6 times before i decided to let the fish run with it a lil longer b4 i set the hook, but the fish would only tap the worm a few times and then disappear b4 i had a chance to set the hook. i know it wasn't bluegill b/c the fish would follow my worm all the way back to the boat and then turn around and run. i did manage to hook a 2 1/2 lber though.  i even tried following up with a crawdad for a while and couldn't even get a bite. any suggestions here? i have a tx coming up soon and i need to get this problem worked out asap.

[Rebbasser]

My first guess would have been bluegill.  I'd try a couple of things-change colors or downsize.  You had their attention, so you might need to just tweak your presentation.

[Brad_Coovert]

Several things could be happening.  The fish may not be eating the whole bait, so you are pulling the bait from the fish and the hook is not in their mouth to make contact.  Inspect your bait for the scuff marks from the fish's teeth.  If only an inch or two is scuffed, this is what is happening.  I would try a smaller bait if that is the case.

Also, what type of hook are you using?  I made the mistake of wacky rigging Senkos using circle style hooks and missed every fish because I was setting the hook like standard hook, pulling the hook right of the fish's mouth.  I learned that just reeling down on the fish and tightening the line was all it took to make a circle style hook dig in.

Brad

[fishinfool]

i've been using the 5" yum dinger with a 3/0 finesse wide gap hook by gamakatsu. i'm going to see if anyone around here carries the 4" yum dingers.

[BD]

I would say bluegill too. If they are tapping it really really fast and usually more than 2 times, it's more than likely not a bass.

To set the hook, just take the slack out, and pull 12 o clock fast. Once you feel the 1st tap, pull straight up.

[Shad_Master]

Another thing you can try in this situation is to just pinch off a piece of the Senko to make the bait smaller and texas rig it.  I learned this from a member of our club, who won a tournament with a 1/2 Senko a couple of years back.