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Posted

This year, it seemed many of the people I got to fish with all had 1 thing in common as far as what was holding them from progressing to that next level.

Hooksets

Upon observation, I notice that many people on the newer side to bass fishing tend to "UNDER do it" when it comes to setting the hook.

You want a quick, snapping, hook driving hookset.  Visualize your hook impaling the roof of a bony mouth.

Too many fish are lost with a "Don't hurt 'em" hookset.

I threw together a quick video of examples below.

HOOKSETS

  • Super User
Posted

Also want to bring up this:

Watch how LBH reels up his slack line as he dropping the rod before the hook set. If you just drop your rod and set .... you are really aren't packing much of a punch.

  • Super User
Posted

Also, another important note to make . . . . notice that LBH doesn't fall backwards out of the boat when setting the hook. ;)  

Posted

I don't think I have ever set the hook light. Accroding to my buddy my hook sets never look soft. I don't think I have ever lost a fish due to a hook set. Wait I guess there was one time I lost a fish. I had a over run pitching a spinner and made a long cast to fix it. Well I was realing in and felt what I thought was a patch of weeds. So I jerked and my rod went limp. So I conutied to reel back to the boat and saw a 2 pound smallie on the spinner. Just as i told my buddy to get the net the fish got off. By the way the link dosn't work/.

Posted

LBH,

I fall in the category that 'under-sets' the hook.  From years of crappie fishing, I am used to a soft hookset in order to not rip it out of their lip.  As this season progressed, I began putting a little more behind my hookset and I am confident that is a big reason for my better hookup ratio.

Also, maybe it is just me, but I noticed it was even more important to set the hook very solid on finesse type baits-senko, fluke, brush hog, etc.  it seemed that I had better hook ups on cranks and spinners from the beginning.

Fishing Doug

Posted

When you set the hook on baits like cranks or hard jerks, etc, baits with trebles or baits that are hit on the retrieve, you don't so much 'Stick it" quick and hard as much as just absorb the collision and maintain a steady pressure afterwards.  This results in more of a "sweeping" or "side-arm" hookset, if any.

  • Super User
Posted
Also, another important note to make . . . . notice that LBH doesn't fall backwards out of the boat when setting the hook. ;)

Yes, a good hookset is a balanced, athletic move. Just like a good golf swing or punch thrown by a boxer.

When you hit a dink in shallow water and then have to duck... you are doing it right. I'm only 1/2 kidding.

It is my opinion that the hookset is often the most important moment of the fight. In heavy cover if you don't turn the fish on the hookset, many times that is all they need to cut you off. Most of my ramblings pertain to soft plastics and single hooked baits, obviously.

link is ok here

Posted

I found out that I was just the opposite of this. I was setting the hook too hard and ripping it out of the fishes mouth. I have switched over to the snap set like LBH is talking about from the advice of Roadwarrior and know I am boating even more fish.

I use to think that if you weren't making huge waves from the boat rocking you werent setting the hook hard enough.  But I have fixed the problem and increased the hookup ratio

  • Super User
Posted

I think Rolo calls it a "quick set," I call it a "snap set." Lower the rod and reel down QUICKLY. Without moving the position of the butt of the rod, snap the tip to drive the hook home. With a SHARP hook, you will penetrate the fish's mouth 100% of the time.

LBH, that is a VERY instructive video. This is THE hook set for single hooks. As Russ mentioned, I don't think that is required with treble hooks, in fact I think a hook set loses more fish because you generally pull the lure away from the fish and out of their mouth. Firm, steady pressure is more important with crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater.

Posted

Ooo... Let me check my hooksets...

Light!!!  :D  Time to review everything I do on the water...  I guess I'm just too darned worried about the 5lb line.... Next time I'll practice with my baitcaster with 12lb so I don't have to worry about the line and concentrate on solid hooksets.

Posted

Laggy- When you match the gear appropriately, the line size shouldn't matter.

Many of those fish in the video were on 6lb test line.(the ones where I'm using the silver spidershaft rod).  That's why you'll hear drag occasionally.  I match the line with the power of the rod for the intended application, set the drag accordingly

and let her rip.  

Posted

Oh, yeah so I guess that's why the drag is supposed to slip right?? Mo' power to the drag  8-)

Im going tomorrow so Ill see if I can get a good hookset. No wonder I lose fish on jigs...  :-/

Posted

Jigs can be slightly different, depending on how they are hitting it.  Subtler bites get more of a "pop" set.  Like a snap set but with a "check" swing.  When they are tagging it, it's just tough to miss no matter what you do,lol.

Posted

This is THE hook set for single hooks. As Russ mentioned, I don't think that is required with treble hooks, in fact I think a hook set loses more fish because you generally pull the lure away from the fish and out of their mouth. Firm, steady pressure is more important with crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater.

I agree with that RW on the treble hooks.  If I set the hook on them like a jig I dont think I would ever catch a fish on a treble.  Another thing I have noticed is when I set the hook if I pull strait up I tend to catch more then pulling to the side.  The pulling to the side hookset I believe pulls the lure out of the fishes mouth.

Posted

I still have a bunch of my heavy saltwater jigs if anyone wants one to practice with, say about 8 ounces. You can have one for free, to practice those deep hooksets with, as long as they last but you must pay the postage. Those babies are heavy! ;D

Posted

Hey LBH, you wouldn't have to set the hook so hard if you mixed in a cheeseburger or a steak once in a while.  When you had your shirt off in that video you looked like the skeleton my wife had hanging on the door for halloween.  If the camera was filming you from the front we wouldn't be able to see you hiding behind your Spidershaft.  

Seriously though, good video.

Posted

One thing I commented to LBH about while fishing with him once is how he almost wedges the butt of his rod under his right armpit or between his upper arm and his torso. Keeping the butt high like this gives him a higher fulcrum, so that when he cranks down to set the hook, he can get a longer and more powerful arc. I noticed that I tended to keep my rod butt lower, which I think gave me a weaker hookset.

Posted

VERY VERY cool video but I have a question... what are y'alls views on double hooksets? I hear its a big no no yet I see lots of folks do it...

AL

Posted

Im guessing they say double hook sets are a big no no because it may rip the hook out of the fishes mouth, correct me if im wrong. When im salmon/steelhead fishing i tend to do double hook sets, they fight so hard that you have to make sure they arent gunna pop off the hook.

Posted
Hey LBH, you wouldn't have to set the hook so hard if you mixed in a cheeseburger or a steak once in a while.  When you had your shirt off in that video you looked like the skeleton my wife had hanging on the door for halloween.  If the camera was filming you from the front we wouldn't be able to see you hiding behind your Spidershaft.  

Seriously though, good video.

I'm built for speed, not comfort. :)

VERY VERY cool video but I have a question... what are y'alls views on double hooksets? I hear its a big no no yet I see lots of folks do it...

AL

Well, the only time I'll use a double hookset in freshwater is if I feel the initial one didn't sink the hook.  There are a few in this video, I should probably take them out but those are from pulling fish from deeper grass.  Misleading, I know.  Sorry.

Im guessing they say double hook sets are a big no no because it may rip the hook out of the fishes mouth, correct me if im wrong. When im salmon/steelhead fishing i tend to do double hook sets, they fight so hard that you have to make sure they arent gunna pop off the hook.

It also widens the hole made by the hook, giving the fish an opportunity should he get the slack he needs.

  • Super User
Posted
VERY VERY cool video but I have a question... what are y'alls views on double hooksets? I hear its a big no no yet I see lots of folks do it...

AL

My view is ONLY if you get caught off gaurd and have a puny hookset or accidentally have a slack line.  I believe that 8 or 9 times out of 10 a second hookset only creates a tear or hole (where the hook was already set through)  which makes it very easy to have the hook thrown.

  • Super User
Posted

I agree with Flechero.  I'll use a second hookset if I'm caught off guard or in the wrong position and my first one was shabby.  Otherwise, I would never set the hook twice.  

Posted

good video LBH.

Hook sets are one of my weaknesses. When i first started fishing i used poppers and rattletraps. When a fish hit, it almost always hooked itself on the double trebbles. So i didn't set the hook, i thought i didn't need too. Result is i lost alot of fish on jumps and got a habit of not setting the hook.

Nowdays i usualy remember, but once in a while i'll give a weak pull instead of a set, kinda like i start fighting in the fish.

What should you do if you have a weak/bad hookset, but the fish apears to be hooked fine? should you risk making the hole bigger or risk losing the fish?

Matt

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