Setting the hook

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

For some reason the past month has been really wierd because I have never had this big of a problem. I have been having an incredible time with fish throwing the hook and short-striking. I've lost like three 5+ lb fish this last month from them throwing the hook and probably 30+ from short strikes or me missing. I don't know if I'm not setting the hook hard enough, setting it too early, pre-season jitters or what. Past seasons my strike/catch ratio has been like 90% and now its dropped to like 70%. Any advice would much be appreciated.

BTW: It's only happening on Texas Rigged Senkos.

[wdy77]

I have had the same problem this year!! I think its because of bad luck and small fish. I have lost more fish this year then I have caught. Some big fish have pulled off of my crank baits and I have lost a ton of first year fish around one pound!! the little guys just short strike and the big fish seem to be pulling off my crank baits. Im not that worried about it because when I catch 5 and loose 6 its still better then work!!! ;D

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

Im not that worried about it because when I catch 5 and loose 6 its still better then work!!! ;D

Agreed. But I would like to fix the issue before my summers tourneys roll around.

[CJ]

Well first off, what setup are you using, rod, line, and hook? What size senko?

Alot of missed fish are probally dinks. That's usually the case for me. I can tell the bite apart most of the time. Dinks feel like they're hitting the lure constantly. They're trying to fit the lure in their mouth. Bigger fish usually are able to inhale even larger plastics with one gulp. Usually the line just jumps or you feel a bump and then them trying to crush the lure or even swallow.

As for bigger fish throwing the lure, you need a strong hookset to drive the hook. Your chances of landing the fish will increase by keeping the line taught at all times and keeping the rod tipp down.

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

Gear: 6'5" med/heavy pole, 12lb mono, #4 or #2 Offset Ewg Hooks, 4" or 5" *** ***.

I thought about it for a bit and I think I just need to be setting the hook harder. My two big fish last month were hooked but not as solid as I want and I went fishing today and saw two dinks hit it and it was the exact feeling I was feeling in deeper water.

Thanks for the suggestions

[islandbass]

For some reason the past month has been really wierd because I have never had this big of a problem. I have been having an incredible time with fish throwing the hook and short-striking. I've lost like three 5+ lb fish this last month from them throwing the hook and probably 30+ from short strikes or me missing. I don't know if I'm not setting the hook hard enough, setting it too early, pre-season jitters or what. Past seasons my strike/catch ratio has been like 90% and now its dropped to like 70%. Any advice would much be appreciated.

BTW: It's only happening on Texas Rigged Senkos.

Are you fishing with braid? With braid, sometimes we can react too soon. Well, at least I suffer from that when I don't keep in mind braid's near zero stretch.

[roadwarrior]

Solution:  Snap-set also called quick-set

When you detect a strike, lower your rod tip while reeling down quickly. When you feel the fish, snap your wrists to raise the tip of your rod forcefully without moving the position of your hands relative to your body.

8-)

[Catt]

Solution: Snap-set also called quick-set

When you detect a strike, lower your rod tip while reeling down quickly. When you feel the fish, snap your wrists to raise the tip of your rod forcefully without moving the position of your hands relative to your body.

8-)

Slap your chest  

[outdoorsman]

Get away from using that mono on your senko rig.I like using 12 # flourocarbon (it has less stress ) and a 4/0 hook. Nothing against mono , it has it's place for me like for topwater. Hope this helps and good luck.

[Grey Wolf]

Why do you use mono ?

[tyrius.]

Gear: 6'5" med/heavy pole, 12lb mono, #4 or #2 Offset Ewg Hooks, 4" or 5" *** ***.

Do you mean 4/0 or 2/0 hooks?  #4 and #2 hooks are really small and may be a reason why you aren't hooking up.  

[tyrius.]

Get away from using that mono on your senko rig.I like using 12 # flourocarbon (it has less stress ) and a 4/0 hook. Nothing against mono , it has it's place for me like for topwater. Hope this helps and good luck.

Contrary to popular belief flouro stretches nearly as much as mono.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbon2.html

[George Welcome]

Tip: Good hookset is a function of speed, not power.

[Crestliner2008]

Load up your reel with Fireline or Power Pro and use a fluoro leader attached either with a small swivel or back-to-back Uni-knots. Your hook-up ratio will rise dramatically.

[CFFF 1.5]

Position the butt of your rod about 4 inches above your belly button and the hook quick and hard. Give these fish the BUSINESS. When I am throwing soft plastics I always set the hook with a lot of force. I rarely ever loose a fish when fishing a soft plastic. Be quicker and use more force and you should have a much higher hook up ratio.

[RobbyZ5001]

What rod do you suggest for plastics?

[SimonDM17]

I have a 6ft medium power fast action that I paired with 30lb PP.  (Once the spool runs out, I'm going down to 20lb).  I like the 6ft rod as opposed to a 6ft 6in or even a 7ft, because i feel like with the shorter rod I can "hop" baits along the bottom better, and get a faster, more compact hookset.

I think braid is invaluable for most baits, but especially for drop baits like senkos.  Not only will you feel more hits, but even a sloppy hookset can still stick a fish.  I stay away from the swivel and go uni-to-uni if I feel like I need a leader, which isn't often.

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

Do you mean 4/0 or 2/0 hooks? #4 and #2 hooks are really small and may be a reason why you aren't hooking up.

Sorry shoulda been more specific... 2 and 4 aught. For the question why I use mono...I have been using mono since I was a little kid and never had any problems with it. Why switch a good thing

I think ony of the other reasons why I might be losing fish is that the larger fish have a much harder mouth and I have never caught anything on regularily in the 5lb range, I am used to 2-3lb fish. I have been working on technique and bait selection and the 5lb+ fish have been hitting more and more. I just need to get used to setting a 6-7lb fish hook set.

Thanks for the advice RW. I will give er a try.

[Grey Wolf]

Do you mean 4/0 or 2/0 hooks? #4 and #2 hooks are really small and may be a reason why you aren't hooking up.

Sorry shoulda been more specific... 2 and 4 aught. For the question why I use mono...I have been using mono since I was a little kid and never had any problems with it. Why switch a good thing

I think ony of the other reasons why I might be losing fish is that the larger fish have a much harder mouth and I have never caught anything on regularily in the 5lb range, I am used to 2-3lb fish. I have been working on technique and bait selection and the 5lb+ fish have been hitting more and more. I just need to get used to setting a 6-7lb fish hook set.

Thanks for the advice RW. I will give er a try.

Not to beat a good horse to death but you should at least consider using braid just to see if it helps on your hook ups.

[roadwarrior]

Tip: Good hookset is a function of speed, not power.

I just want to emphasize what George mentioned. A razor sharp hook and a quick snap will bury the hook into the fish. Believe in your hook-set and NEVER double set. The chances of pulling the hook out on a second try far outweigh any perceived advantage. As you fight the fish, the hook will keep and embed itself even further into the fish.

8-)

[fishfordollars]

Snap hookset and the correct size and design of hook for the type of plastic you are using. I use straight shank hooks for most of my plastics in 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0.  For wide body plastics I use wide gap hooks in 4/0, 5/0, and 6/0. On the smaller plastics I also use thin wire hooks as they will penetrate better than the thick wire hooks. For example while fishing a baby brushhog I will still fish the 3/0, and 4/0 thin wire hooks. I do not recall ever having a thin wire hook straightened out or opened up.

[mcbassin]

If your fishing clear water, I don't think braid is the way to go. I think it will show up more than mono or floro. I think a bunch of bass just bite a senko you know, to kill it and don't really eat it. Sometimes, you can throw back and let them take it a little longer then give them the business!

mIke

[WRB]

Your tackle is OK for the worms you ae fishing, the hooks are too small for Texas rigging. The hook gap needs to be 3X the worm diameter for the T-rig. Try using a Gamakatsu Wide gap weedless finesse hook size 1/0 for the 5" to 6" Senko type worms and nose hook or wacky hook the worm. If you plan on T-rigging, then use a 3/0 wide gap G-Lock style hook and texpose the hook point.

The old cross their eyes hook setting will not help, try reel setting and sweeping the rod back for better hook pentration with the weedless hook rig. The heavier the hook wire the more force is required, that is why it's important to expose the hook point, then pinch the worm at the hook point location to cover the point slightly.

Give the weedless finesse rig a try, you can get a good hook set with 6 to 8 lb mono, with 12 lb and med/hvy fast action rod,you shouldn't have any problems. Good luck.

WRB

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

Thanks all for the suggestions! I am heading out here in about 15 mins after I get work finished up. I will keep everyone updated on my outing.

[Tooth Dr]

I did not do original post, but I like mono because it cost much less and does not sink as fast as fluorocarbon. I usually use mono for top-water. I also agree about the stretch of mono. I also use fluorocarbon #17 test for worm etc, and braid #50 test for frog fishing etc. I do use fluorocarbon on top water when fishing the spook in grass areas because the hooks get tangled in the line using braid and I like the less stretch, better hook-set issue.

Dr T