Crankin hookset...

[Red]

Hey guys, was wondering if I could get some thoughts.  Recently I have been throwing a crank alot and catching fish too.  But I have lost fish as well, it is always the bigger fish that seem to come unbuttoned at the boat.  I am using a good crank with good hooks and a crankbait specific rod.  Could there be any reason for this or ya think it is just "how it goes"?  I am using a 7' rod with 12lb mono if that helps.

Thanks

Cliff

[KYntucky Warmouth]

That's just fishing, you're bound to lose one every once in a while.  It seems like the big ones have more leverage against the treble hooks when jumping or shaking.

[Muddy]

Zel taught me to hold the rod high when getting close to the boat, making sure there is no slack in the line. They shake their heads and if you are not careful at the least you loose the fish, at the worst you have hooks embedded in you.

[Quitlimpin]

Trebles=gonna miss some fish.  Simple as that.

[pitchNbass]

Longer you fish cranks the more of a feel you get for keeping fish on. I actually have more success on larger bass (4+) bass because they tend to inhale a crank bait better than a smaller bass. The key is tension. When I feel a strike I reel very fast with a high speed reel to help imbed those hooks. I don't set a hook when I'm cranking at high speeds. If I'm cranking slow I'll reel fast and give it a sweep. Cranks typically have longer casts so the odds of having a fish jump on you is pretty great. You are going to lose some fish that jump, but I don't lose large bass very often, I tend to lose those little 3lb and less bass from shaking. Which don't bother me none.

[Jeff H]

Oy!  it's a bummer, but happens to all of us.  Doesn't help our case of "bass thumb" to show off Monday morning at work but it's not really all bad if lost right at the boat.  Fight is mostly over and likely you'd just unhook it and let it go anyway, right?  Don't have to worry about a thrashin' fsh getting them hooks into you either. :-/

[Red]

Thanks for the info guys, I figured this was the case.  I have not done alot of cranking but I am getting to like it more and more, and being more sussessful with it as well.  

Thanks again

Cliff

[The_Natural]

You really don't 'set the hook'...just lean into the fish and keep pressure.  Pressure is the main thing...you MUST keep your rod bent.   Like KVD and many contemporary crankbait power fisherman....I much pefer a 6.2:1 ratio reel when cranking, and feel it really aids in keeping pressure on the fish.  You will lose your fish if you get any slack in your line...plus, when you feel him coming up to jump...shove your rod tip down in the water.  A bass jumping is the easiest way to have your crank come unbuttoned.

[SammyLee]

Like RoadWarrior says "They should be taking drag or coming to you".  I am not a skilled cranker but have had sucess on topwater lately and have not lost one in weeks.  As soon as they hit and dive, I LEAN back, bringing the rod tip vertical, fast, far and hard, to drive the hooks in and with that Cronarch 7:1 I can keep em coming.

Well, gotta go and see what my buddies (the bass I mean, I just love em) are up to this morning.

[JLBomber]

You really don't 'set the hook'...just lean into the fish and keep pressure. Pressure is the main thing...you MUST keep your rod bent...

agreed. keep the pressure but be wary of the fabled bent treble.

[aarogb]

    Maybe try flourocarbon since it doesn't have much stretch?

[fire22driver]

Brings up another question, does Rapala "sure set hooks" make a difference or are another gimmick?

[DINK WHISPERER]

If you already have a crank specific rod with enough give than you can use fluoro or braided line. A soft tip and mono doesn't provide great hook sets IMO. I set the hook like i do when fishing a T-rig except i sweep sideways.

[flechero]

I'm 100% opposite of most people with cranks and traps... I set, with almost the same effort as I do with a worm... the only difference being that it's on the move when they strike. I don't lose a lot of fish with trebles. My own theory on it is that when you just lean on it and keep it tight, you don't always sink past the barbs which is why I think they throw it at the boat where you can't always hold a slackless situation especially when they thrash.

If a fish grabs a crankbait, the hookset has to pull a bulky bait from (or through) clenched jaws and then sink one or more hooks into the fish...

Try a few "sets" next time out, either it will work for you or it won't but you should know within a few fish it it's for you.

For what it's worth, I became a believer in this while fishing below the dam at Texoma, where the stripers are running the current... we'd lost tons of fish thinking they set themselves since they hit it so ferociously on the run with the current... when we started setting it harder, we instantly began catching most of the bites we got.

right or wrong, it works for me.

[cart7t]

I'm another that sets the hook pretty decently.  The reasons are simple.

I'm using a more moderate action rod that responds more slowly to my hookset and standard monofilament which has a lot of stretch.  If I merely leaned into a fish I'd never get the hook past the barbs as Fletch stated.

I also take more walks around the boat with a crankbait vs any other bait.  I tend to try and lead the fish around letting her swim till she is done and ready for lipping.  

[David P]

I'm 100% opposite of most people with cranks and traps... I set, with almost the same effort as I do with a worm... the only difference being that it's on the move when they strike. I don't lose a lot of fish with trebles. My own theory on it is that when you just lean on it and keep it tight, you don't always sink past the barbs which is why I think they throw it at the boat where you can't always hold a slackless situation especially when they thrash.

If a fish grabs a crankbait, the hookset has to pull a bulky bait from (or through) clenched jaws and then sink one or more hooks into the fish...

Try a few "sets" next time out, either it will work for you or it won't but you should know within a few fish it it's for you.

For what it's worth, I became a believer in this while fishing below the dam at Texoma, where the stripers are running the current... we'd lost tons of fish thinking they set themselves since they hit it so ferociously on the run with the current... when we started setting it harder, we instantly began catching most of the bites we got.

right or wrong, it works for me.

I sure don't crank a lot, but have noticed this sure helps for me as well. I set a little less hard then I do with a jig, but I still give it a good real hook set.

[bmadd]

Different then a jig or tx-rig but more than just leaning on them. Quick and steady pull gets them most of the time. I also agree as well though, keep your rod tip in the water whenever you think the fish is going to go airborne.

[alwayslooking]

i switched to fluro and triple grip hooks,,,still let some get away, but not near as many, i, also don't "set" the hook, just steady pressure

[Paul Roberts]

Sorry, I'm about to run here so I haven't read other responses.

First, yes you set the hook. Often they may hook themselves, but not always. You don't have to cross the eyes like a plastic I guess but do set the hook.

Losing fish on a short line, esp with small gaps and trebles (points can work against each other) is really common. Keep a firm tight line but don't pull TOO hard on the short line due to lack of stretch in short line. Keep rod low when they get close so they won't jump. LEAD the fish; that is, do not go for the jaw until you have them relatively docile and swimming smoothly toward you. Lead 'em back and forth if you have to, esp with a big fish. People will tell you to get 'em in as quick as possible, and this is true, but the 'possible' is the trick. Don't try to lip a green fish, or one you don't have control of and gain an idea of what they are about to do. Lead until they are docile enough to lead 'em right to your hand. If you miss, stay cool, and bring em back around. Stay cool. No rush. But don't fall asleep either. Short line at boat or shore is when things get critical.

[Needemp]

Hey Red, if your like me when you ask a question you will read most of these replies and decide which responses make the most sense and which ones don't. Experience is key! Take Flecheros advice for instance. He gave you his experience, why it worked and where he learned it. Pretty good stuff. I, too, will give you my experience. Take it for what you think it's worth.

I believe opposite of the theory that losing fish on cranks is just part of it. You will lose some, but not very many if you do things right. I have believed this ever since I got serious about fishing. I heard Pros alluding to this and now from my experience, I know it to be true. I catch a few 5+lb fish on cranks and quite a few 3+lbers as well. After the initial 3 to 5 seconds of a bite, if a fish gets hooked, I have a 95% or better landing ratio. In fact, this year I only have lost one 3lber on a #6 hook on a jerkbait. And that was because I did something really stupid. But other than that, I haven't lost a fish on a treble the rest of the year. That includes 4 over 5lbs, the biggest was 7lbs 6oz. And well over 30 bass in the 3lb+ range this year alone. So here is what I do.

I have long medium/moderate Avids with monofilament line and 5:1 reels. That equipment does the work for me after the initial hook-up. Of course you have to fight them properly. But the limber rods, stretchy line and slow gear reels keep the right amount of pressure on the fish for me.

But the most important thing I do is to use top quality hooks and change them as soon as one of the points is even slightly damaged. I use Gammy Round bends only. I used the VMC Suresets for a while, but they are not sharp enough. The most important thing I do to hook and land most of my bites is to check the sharpness of my hooks and replace them immediately. That act alone, I believe, has helped me land those fish I use to lose. Then, of course I constantly check my line for imperfections. I cut and retie if I feel anything. I also retie after a few fish or an ugly snag. I also replace my line fairly often. The blue label Siege line has yet to fail me.

I hope this helps.

[ab8aac]

If the crankbait you are using does not have split rings between the hooks and the bait, you should add them, I put split rings on all my cranks and top waters that don't have them so there is not as much pressure put on the hook by the fish when and if they do jump, this helps in keeping the fish from using the torque of the bait to back the hook out.  Case in point I fish the zara spook a lot and the ones I use did not come with split rings and I was loosing  a lot of fish, a pro saw my baits and showed me his and when I changed the hooks I have yet to loose another fish since.