hook set problem

[dazbasser]

i  was fishing this morning at the pond and did not get a strike until around 11:30 and soon after i  got 2 more these were all good strikes but i could not get them hooked... i was using a popper and mayb i was just getting to excited when i saw the fish explode on the lure or mayb there is some tech. im missing.

any tips would br helpful ty

it was also abot 105 outside at this time makes it 2 times more frustrating

[playmaker47]

when fishing a topwater or a crank you dont need a hookset really because of the trebles. they usually just hook themselves if you pull back on the rod, but dont jerk it because you could pull it out of their mouth.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Really let your rod load up and then just turn your upper body.  It's tough, but so important.

[Max-in-Mn]

You have to wait to feel the hit. This takes some getting used to cause it's just human nature to pull hard when you see the splash. I usually do what playmaker said and let them hook them selves on the intial hit, and than I'll give them one or two more solid sets once the fish is actually on the bait. It is tough, but hang with it.

[Rebbasser]

Did you check your hooks?  So often the sharpness of the hooks gets overlooked-we just assume they are sharp, and that isn't always the case-learned that lesson the hard way.  If it in not sharp enough to dig into your fingernail with just a little pressure it needs to be sharpened.

[Will]

I would try putting a hook that has feathers on the back, and then a bleeding hook in the front. The feathered hook will draw more strikes, while with the bleeding hook bass will hit the front hook giving you a better chance for good hook-ups.

[bassguy]

i usually fish with spooks and poppers. how i hookset with these is when the fish hits i count to 2 or 3 depending on how explosive the strike was, reel in the slack line and set the hook hard to the side. i remember i lost many a fish getting excited and pulling the lure from the fish, but stick with it  and itll pay off

[Rattlinrogue]

With topwater baits,you need to pause a second after the explosion before you set the hook.I've done the same thing you're talking about plenty of times.I overcome this by reeling any slack there might be from the initial explosion in first and then giving the bass a good ,quick hookset.That second of pause does the trick for me.

[roadwarrior]

Whether it's a good, quick hookset like Rattlinrogue said or no real set like KU_Bassmaster described, it's NOT a Bill Dance hookset. If your hooks are sharp, I mean really sharp, the fish will hook itself.

You can dramaticly improve your hookup and landing ratios by fishing with a moderate or slow action rod. These actions allow your rod to become more of a shock absorber when hooking and fighting the fish which makes it far more difficult for the fish to throw your lure. I use a 7' medium power/ moderate action rod for light to medium weight lures and a heavy power/ slow action glass rod for heavier plugs.

[Nick]

I used to fish with a good angler who waited a full three seconds to jerk back when  a fish struck his topwater.   Amazingly, he had a near 100% hook-up rate.  He claimed that bass didn't try to spit them out as quick as people thought. These fish were not in heavy cover, however.