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Posted

I'm having trouble with setting the hook. I don't always know if it's a fish on my line. I tend to get excited when I think I'm getting a bite. So it ends up with me forgetting to reel my slack or not keeping my pole the right way.

I went fishing the other day and I was made fun of for trying to set the hook. I thought since I am new at this, it would be better to try to set the hook even if I wasn't sure it was a fish or a rock. I sure would hate to miss a big Bass, because I was too embarrassed that it might be a rock.

Anyway my question is should I wait and make sure it's a fish,  then it might be gone or should I look like a fool and keep on trying to set that hook?

  • Super User
Posted

Well Lady it's like this When in Doubt Set Hook & always remember that hook sets are still free. So yea after 40+ years I set hook on grass, I set hook on twigs, I set hook on stumps heck I've even once set hook on my buddies trolling motor now that was a strange story.

Posted

Fishing out here in California,we get a lot of strange bites.most of the time we get what's called pressure bites,when you only feel a slight weight on your line.Normally this occurs whenever I fish a split-shot,drop-shot,or when I'm doodling.Another strange bite is when your line goes slack all of a sudden,and there's no pressure on the line.The fish has picked up the line,and is swimming toward the boat with it.Better to swing at nothing,than miss a fish by not swinging.I peg my worms with a toothpick so I don't have to reel in every time I set the hook on a fish and miss.

Posted
Well Lady it's like this When in Doubt Set Hook & always remember that hook sets are still free. So yea after 40+ years I set hook on grass, I set hook on twigs, I set hook on stumps heck I've even once set hook on my buddies trolling motor now that was a strange story.

I agree with this. Watch your line 24/7 (unless fishing a topwater or a visual bait) Any little taps, ticks, bumps, if your line jumps or moves the tinyest distance or any kind of weight on the end of your line, just reel down any slack and set the hook. Even if its just grass or something, it means youre intune with whats going on with your lure and thats the main thing.

If your fishing a topwater, or a visual bait (Like a Fluke) When you see a fish hit, dont panic, just let him take it, and dont set the hook until you FEEL the fish. I JUST learned how set my nerves down enough to do this and it helped greatly and is pretty d**n fun watching fish go nuts on your lure hahah.

Good luck!

Posted

When to set the hook is definitely one of the hardest aspects of fishing.  Too soon and you can pull it out of their mouth. Too late and the fish may have already spit it out, or swallowed it.

I have two conditions that will make me set the hook.  I will wait until I see my line moving on its own, when I am sure I am not doing it.  The other is when I feel the wiggle of a fish's tail as it squirms with my bait.  I think wiggle is the perfect way to describe it.  The kind of movement thats definitely not an object that isnt moving.

I guess I am in  the more conservative hook setters though.  If I am unsure I feel its best to wait and be sure.

  • Super User
Posted

When in doubt, set the hook.

Point rod tip at bait; reel in slack very fast; set the hook hard by ripping rod OVER YOUR HEAD; keep reeling in fast and keep line tight.

Only exception is with a crank bait when you set the hook in a sweeping movement to your right or left.

Make your partner in the boat duck for cover if you miss the bass.

Everything the guys told you is correct, especially watching your line and feeling for the "tap, tap, tap."

Just remember, as said above, setting the hook is free so go ahead and just set the hook if you think the bass has your bait.

As Shakespear said, "It is better to have set the hook than to never have set the hook," or something like that.  Herman Shakespear out of Opelika, Alabama, that is.  ;D

Posted

If you dont set the hook you cant catch fish.  If it feels different than you think it should set the hook.  Eventually there will be plenty of fish on the end of your line.

Posted

only been at this for a few years and always set the hook they are free only exception for me is when fishing topwater you have to wait to you feel the weight or you pull the bait away at the sight of a  strike  so if you feel anything thats off and can not tell swing away

  • Super User
Posted

Well, I would suggest a totally different approach. Your hubby is the zen master with a jig, fishes soft plastics as well and developed his own style with hard jerkbaits. However, when you are starting out, a robust bite is so much easier. I recommend moving lures.

This time of year buzzbaits are hot. Shallow running crankbaits and spinnerbaits will produce bites.  Bud and I have had great luck swimming a GYCB Kreature, both weightless and weighted. All of these lures are fished with a basic cast and retrieve. Strikes are generally very aggressive, so there is no "maybe". Fishing these baits will give you a feeling for grass, wood and rocks which will make the transition to finesse presentations much less stressful.

Crawl before you walk; walk before you run. When you are ready for the "soft touch", CJ has all the answers. I just don't think that's the place to start.

Good luck!

-Kent

8-)

Posted

Teria, I agree with everyone else - setting the hook when you're not sure if it's a fish or not will result in more landed fish over time.

Something you might want to try that will help you out...

try using braided line, at least for a while. It's more sensitive, therefore it's much easier to detect bites. Once you get the feel for it, if you want you can switch back to mono or flourocarbon and you'll have a better idea when to set the hook. A strike on mono or flouro just feels like a muffled bite when you get used to braid.

Posted

I just started really fishing a jig this year and I don't really want to talk about all the times that I set the hook on nothing.  However, as you get the hang of it (by setting the hook any time it feels different) you actually start to learn what is a fish and what is a rock/twig/grass/etc.  

I still try and catch my fair share of rocks though.  They're difficult though!

Posted
Well, I would suggest a totally different approach. Your hubby is the zen master with a jig, fishes soft plastics as well and developed his own style with hard jerkbaits. However, when you are starting out, a robust bite is so much easier. I recommend moving lures.

This time of year buzzbaits are hot. Shallow running crankbaits and spinnerbaits will produce bites. Bud and I have had great luck swimming a GYCB Kreature, both weightless and weighted. All of these lures are fished with a basic cast and retrieve. Strikes are generally very aggressive, so there is no "maybe". Fishing these baits will give you a feeling for grass, wood and rocks which will make the transition to finesse presentations much less stressful.

Crawl before you walk; walk before you run. When you are ready for the "soft touch", CJ has all the answers. I just don't think that's the place to start.

Good luck!

-Kent

8-)

Kent,

I Have been using soft plastics since I started fishing. I did use a shallow running crank bait once. I did catch a fish. There was no setting the hook to that. I just threw it and I had a fish.

Do you think there are different rods and reels that would better determine the feel of a bite? If so what kind?

Thanks for the tips, Teria  

  • Super User
Posted

Absolutely!

To fish jigs and soft plastics you need a rod with a firm tip. For "all-around" use,  6 1/2' or 7' Medium or Medium Heavy Power/ Fast Action rod will do the trick. I prefer a M/F spinning rod for soft plastics and a H/F baitcaster for jigs, but that is just a matter of personal preference.

8-)  

Posted

Time, patience and practice......

That's how you'll know when to set the hook....but for know..RELAX and have fun fishing! Everyone starts out setting the hook on weeds, trees, etc. If you keep the rod tip half way between the water and up straight in the air, it will help in setting the hook.

Good luck!!!

ajr

Posted

I'm using a kistler 6' 6 med heavy rod with a BC RevoS reel. I'm not sure about the line. What ever CJ puts on there for me. I know CJ is very busy. Every time I get to go fishing he is usually pre- fishing for a tournament. He don't have a lot of time to show me things I would like to learn, but He has helped me out some. I thought  I would ask the Bass resource family for help. I figured I would get it and I was right. Everyone has different suggestions and I will take them all.

Thanks again, Teria

Posted

all of us have been where you are.  it's just part of the learning process.    i have found that successful hooksetting is basically an "all or nothing" proposition with jigs and plastics.   the problem is that once folks get burned a couple of times by "mistaken identity" hooksets and end up hanging into rocks, wood, vegetation, whatever they become gun shy.  this usually results in hesitant, half-hearted hooksets because they become afraid that they will end up hung up or looking a fool.  remember, once you commit to set, set with everything you got, not halfway.

one tip i will offer is this.  successful bite identification is learned by a proficiency with what is called "weighing the bait."  in other words, you have to learn exactly what that particular bait feels like WITHOUT a fish, before you know what it feels like with one.  and you have to learn this with all the bottom/cover conditions you will be fishing.  i would recommend while you are learning to always use the same rod and reel combo to avoid introducing another confusing variable into the equation.  also would help to use approximately the same size (weight) bait each time if possible.  have cj take you out to fish a variety of bottom/cover conditions and make sure you know what bottom/cover condition you are fishing at that particular time  - hard bottom, muck bottom, weedy bottom, brushpiles, stumps, rip rap, etc.  you get the picture.  learn what the bait feels like in each of these conditions WITHOUT a fish.  then when it feels different from the norm in that particular condition you'll know it's probably time to set the hook.  sure you'll have a miscue every once in a while.  all of us do.  but in time by learning to "weigh the bait" your hooking % will go way up.

one other tip i will suggest is maybe using a weedless hook or rigging texposed (skin hooked) until you learn the drill.  these options will increase your landing % on less than perfect hooksets and shouldn't hang up much more.  another thing that will really help is to make sure you are using proper form.  a lot of folks i know who have been fishing for years still use poor form, jerking the rod up over their heads or way out to their side.  pay attention to where the rod butt ends up at the end of your set.  if it ends up anywhere but in close to your midsection area, you are doing something wrong.  of course you will tend to go to one side or another depending on whether you are right or left handed.  many times i have bruises all over my ribs after a good day of plastic or jig fishing.   when you try to jerk with extended arms way out to the side or above your head, you are robbing yourself of a lot of power.  

that's all i can think of right now.  sorry this turned out so long.  but like you've found out, it's far from simple.  but take comfort in the fact that even the pros miss/lose fish on hooksets all the time.  we all do.  hope that helps and good luck to you and cj out there this summer.   :)      

     

  • Super User
Posted

Jesus! talk about some awesome advice these guys gave you teria.I don't think you are doing anything wrong.Hook sets are free...it's better to set the hook than miss a fish.You'll learn as you go.

I hope everybody new reads this thread too.

Posted

Went out with my son-in-law this past weekend.  It's his second year bass fishing. He was doing what you experienced, and sometimes got very frustrated.  I told him it can take years to develop a good feel for the strike.  I told him when in question, set the hook, and don't worry about how you look or feel.  Even now, with over 30 years of bass fishing, sometimes things just don't feel right, and I set the hook.  You are using very good equipment.  For me, a tick tick on the line is always a fish (unless it's at night and then it's usually bats hitting the line agravating!!!).

Posted

I'm sure the jokes are all in fun, i wouldn't worry about it. If you feel something, SET THE HOOK, its the only way you will find out what is and isn't a fish. Don't feel embarrassed if its not a fish, just cast it out and repeat. Some day's i set the hook on more things that aren't fish than are fish. You cant catch fish without doing it so like everyone has said "If it feels different set the hook!". Good luck.

Posted

Wow! I can't get over all the great advice I have received. I'm really thankful for everyone's opinion. I have already learned some new things.

Last Sunday, CJ and I went out on KY Lake fishing with Tammy Richardson. I was fishing and got a bite. I was to embarrassed to set the hook just in case it wasn't a bite. She looked at me and said "I saw that girl". So evidently it was in fact a bite. She said a pretty good one too! I'm frustrated that I just did nothing. I guess it's all a learning process and eventually in time it will all come together for me.

Thanks, Teria

  • Super User
Posted

I always tell my wife, when in doubt, set the hook. Hook-sets are free.

Good luck,

Falcon

Posted

I don't get emarassed with it, I'd rather set the hook and nothing be there, than to 2d guess myself out of hooking a Bass! Trust me, I've had my fair share of texas rigged plastics flying back at me like a missle!!!! ;D ;D ;D Got cracked in the shin by on as a matter of fact. I quickly learned to sweep the hook set when the bait was close to the boat!!! ;D

Posted

For me, a tick tick on the line is always a fish (unless it's at night and then it's usually bats hitting the line agravating!!!).

arg! i hate when bats hit the line!  Its the worst when cat fishing, late a night just staring at your pole waiting on any movement.  I think the bats like to annoy us!

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