Top Water Hookset

[vaparrothead]

Had tournment this weekend and top water bite was hot!! As a nonboater I was fishing from the back of the boat and lost at least four fish because I pulled the hook out of his mouth before I felt tension.  I was like a 3 year old at Christmas; just couldn't wait.

I know you're supposed to wait until you feel the fish.  Do you guys have techniques that you use to make sure you wait just the right amount of time before setting the hook.

My boater was culling fish by 7:30 am (1 hour into the tournment) all topwater bites (buzzbaits, frogs and even poppers) I landed one fish all day--- blaming myself and trying to learn how to hook fish caught on topwater lures.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

What topwaters were you using? The same as the boater? I notice that the fish I catch on top take the bait differently depending on the style of lure....

[senile1]

Well, you basically understand that you're supposed to wait until you feel the fish.  What bait or baits were you using when you missed the hooksets?  I would change the hooks on Zara Spooks and Pop-Rs, but even with the original hooks on them you should be able to keep fish more often than you lose them.  What kind of line are you using?  If you're using braid you won't have any stretch so it is extremely important to do the waiting game.  I guess you could use a more moderate action on your rod if you can't control the urge to set the hook too soon.  I would still say the most important thing is to wait until you feel the fish on.  When bass are very aggressive they will leap completely out of the water, over, and around a topwater bait, brushing up against it but never taking it in their mouths.  If you try to set the hook every time they brush up against it you'll rarely land a fish.

[roadwarrior]

Well, you basically understand that you're supposed to wait until you feel the fish. What bait or baits were you using when you missed the hooksets? I would change the hooks on Zara Spooks and Pop-Rs, but even with the original hooks on them you should be able to keep fish more often than you lose them. What kind of line are you using? If you're using braid you won't have any stretch so it is extremely important to do the waiting game. I guess you could use a more moderate action on your rod if you can't control the urge to set the hook too soon. I would still say the most important thing is to wait until you feel the fish on. When bass are very aggressive they will leap completely out of the water, over, and around a topwater bait, brushing up against it but never taking it in their mouths. If you try to set the hook every time they brush up against it you'll rarely land a fish.

Agreed.

Senile1 mentioned a Moderate Action rod which will help tremendously. A soft tip will load up when it's time to set the hook. I also think razor sharp hooks will improve your hook-up ratio dramatically.

[GrandSlamBasser87]

The soft tip definately helps but if thats not available, just think about maintaining your retrieve until you feel the fish. If your lure is paused when u get the strike, immediately begin some type of retrieve until you feel him.  It's always hard to hold back long enough but thats how I keep myself from being too jumpy with the hookset!! Nothin' like a good topwater bite!!

[vaparrothead]

I was using the same baits as my boater; different colors he had on a black buzzbait and I was using white.  How big a difference that was I don't know.  I had braid when throwing the buzz, we were both going about the same speed on retrive.  For poppers I had on 12 lb Triline XL.  

I think it's just me and wanting so bad to land a fish that I pull the hook before he's got the lure in his mouth.  I was hoping (wishing) there was some special technique to learn to be able to wait that extra second or two before setting the hook.  Ohh well patience is a virtue best learned; which is what I'm trying to do.

'Thanks for all the replies already

[BadKarma42]

Try watching your partner's lure instead of staring at yours waiting for the big splash.  This may increase your reaction time.  

[surfer]

You must wear brindfoed and ear prugs young grasshopper.

Every time I see or hear a strike I assume he missed until I feel it.

[BassPonder72]

Might help to throw the buzzbait on mono or copolymer.  I sense that the braid was causing the lure to rip free, the bass probably never had a chance to hold on.  The stretch in mono will allow fish to take the bait better.  As for the plugs, what works for me- I just set the hook after the explosion.  You've got to wait that extra split second to be sure she has it.  Whatever it takes, you have to let the fish take the bait.

[Sam]

Were you using a trailer hook on the buzzbait?

If not, please consider doing so in the future.

[MattStrykul]

I was at gaston this past weekend and those fish were just shortstriking my buzzbaits so bad. I threw on a trailerhook and it helped alot, and caught all my fish on just the trailerhook. The wait is very very difficult.

[BassHunter69]

well theres a couple of things that will help as were mentioned such as trailer hooks,and trailers also using a good mono,but i'd also just keeping reeling that line in untill you feel that weight on the line, otherwise 90% of the time your gonna lose

[Catt]

I quickly point my rod tip at the fish this giving the bass a second to take the bait, reel any slack, snap the rod upward & then simply lean back on the rod.

[BassHunter69]

I quickly point my rod tip at the fish this giving the bass a second to take the bait, reel any slack, snap the rod upward & then simply lean back on the rod.

now thats expert advise great post again catt as usual

[Bizzo]

I quickly point my rod tip at the fish this giving the bass a second to take the bait, reel any slack, snap the rod upward & then simply lean back on the rod.

Wow, that says it perfectly, thank for the advice! This will help me a lot.

[sal669]

When the fish expoldes on my bait, I immediately point my rod to the blast (that generates some slack in the line). Than I start reeling in the slack and when I feel weight I swipe the rod sideways to set the hook(s). Meantime I'm munbling somethig like" o' mee gosh", "Holly cow", Goodness gracious" , etc.

Why am I settig the hook sideways and not upward??? Because I had a Rapala Skitter-pop hit my glasses at "full speed "; luckily with no major dammage.

Never set the hook upward when you are fishing topwaters; IT might come strait at you !!!!

[=Matt 5.0=]

We've been fishing alot of topwater here at night exclusively. It's a whole new experience when you can't actually see the bait. When I hear the splash, I count 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, then do what Catt said  

[vaparrothead]

Well I didn't think my simple question would generate so much interest; but very glad it did.  Thanks for all the suggestions and helpful hints.  The next time there's a hot top water bite going on I'll try some of them.

[BassHunter69]

I quickly point my rod tip at the fish this giving the bass a second to take the bait, reel any slack, snap the rod upward & then simply lean back on the rod.

also dont forget to change treble hooks an example is the baby heddon torpedo when you 1st buy it has the worse treble hooks i'd ever seen