What is Happening?

[Locked]

I went fishing tonight and had about twenty good hits that I missed. I was using a 7 inch power worm, texsposed on a Gamakatsu EWG 2/0 hook and 1/8oz bullet weight. My Tackle is an old 5'2"M spinning rod with equally crappy reel, and 10lb Trilene XL. I caught a one to two pounder with that set up, but still missed quite a few bites. Then I switched to a 3/0 EWG, and still the same problem... although I caught one that was at least 19 inches on the 3/0. I say that because he was longer than my arm from my elbow to the tip of my middle finger(what a beautiful fish). Anyways, my main question is what is going wrong? Am I setting the hook improperly? Is it possibly bluegill hitting the worm? Although, some of the times I let the fish run with it when I would pull to set the hook, it would just sling shot out of the water.  Any help is appreciated.

[evrgladesbasser]

I've had this happen before. If you inspect the tail of your worm you may find bite marks at the end, or even halfway up. This tells me that it was probably small fish grabbing the tail and running with it. Seting the hook is useless in this case, because the hook is not in the mouth. Of course I have no way of verifying this but it's the only thing that makes sense to me........

I know I have had small LM hold on all the way to the boat before releasing too.

[Mattlures]

You are trying to drive in a 4in framing nail with a finishing hammer. Finishing hammers are for finishing nails.

A spinning rod is a great tool and works great for sticking fish with a small fine wired hook. It is not a good choice for driving a big heavy wired hook through a bulky plastick worm and penatrating bone and skin. It does not have as much leverage as a baitcaster. You need more backbone. Finer sharper hooks will help some with a spinning rod but idealy a medhvy-hvy bait cast rod is what you should be using when fishing a plastic worm.

If you feel resistance(fish) when you set the hook but your not sticking them, then the rod is your answer.

If your swinging and feel nothing then it could be a bluegill or other fish that does not have the hook portion in its mouth.

[Locked]

That actually makes a lot of sense matt. I would have to say that at least half the time I would set the hook. I would think I had the fish hooked good, they would swim with it and then let go. Hrmm.. kind of disappointing to think what I would've caught with the proper equipment. Well, payday is soon.. so I guess I can really justify investing into a nice setup. Thanks for the help.

[Grey Wolf]

In this case , equipment means everything. Upgrade.

[Nibbles]

It is possible that bluegill are hitting the worm. However - you should probably be using a larger hook with a 7 inch worm. I personally have used 4/0 Mustad Elites with 5" Senkos with a lot of success (haven't lost a fish yet after the hookset). Perhaps you should try a 4/0 or even a 5/0.

Before investing a large amount of $$$ on a better setup, you may want to first try using a braided line as well. Monofilament has stretch, which is the last thing you need if you're using a short rod, as you have reduced leverage as is when setting the hook. Braid doesn't stretch, and may help you set the hook better. IMO, Try some 20 or 30# power pro first.

Lastly, this goes back to your rod - it's short. This means less leverage when setting the hook, so you may have to set the hook a bit harder and bring your rod tip back more than you currently are. Try this first as well.

I'm a firm believer in the fact that most of the time, it's the Indian and not the arrow.

[Drew_Pearland]

A spinning rod ....does not have as much leverage as a baitcaster. Y

Matt,

Complete newbie question here, but can't you get a spinning rod with the same stiffness characteristics for a baitcaster? For example, a medium hard with fast tip is available on both spinning and baitcasting.  Educate me!

[Chris W.]

They make spinning rods in light, medium light, medium, medium heavy and i believe heavy, but i'm not sure on the last one. I have used light and medium, i have yet to try my medium light i just got the other day, but i've stuck 5 lb 22" largemouths with a 5'6" light shakespeare rod i found in the garage. It's all about hookset and your tackle. My quantum accurist pt is on a 6'6" medium action baitcasting rod. If you want to get into baitcasters, it's really not that hard to learn and it's so much smoother. You feel like you have a tiny winch in your hands and it's a more balanced feel. I use spinning stuff most of the time because i trek through the woods to a few spots and bringing a 1 piece 6'6" rod is just not on my list of fun, so i throw the spinning stuff in a backpack. How are you rigging your worms exactly? Pics? I use #10 spiderwire supermono xxx but i used to use #12 big game. I now have #8 spiderwire super mono xxx, i'll see how this stuff holds up. I think your line should be fine.

[brushhoggin]

It is possible that bluegill are hitting the worm. However - you should probably be using a larger hook with a 7 inch worm. I personally have used 4/0 Mustad Elites with 5" Senkos with a lot of success (haven't lost a fish yet after the hookset). Perhaps you should try a 4/0 or even a 5/0.

Before investing a large amount of $$$ on a better setup, you may want to first try using a braided line as well. Monofilament has stretch, which is the last thing you need if you're using a short rod, as you have reduced leverage as is when setting the hook. Braid doesn't stretch, and may help you set the hook better. IMO, Try some 20 or 30# power pro first.

Lastly, this goes back to your rod - it's short. This means less leverage when setting the hook, so you may have to set the hook a bit harder and bring your rod tip back more than you currently are. Try this first as well.

I'm a firm believer in the fact that most of the time, it's the Indian and not the arrow.

that's the ticket and you said you let him run with it before you PULL to set the hook? you need a hard swing, an almost violent one

[SoFlaBassAddict]

A spinning rod ....does not have as much leverage as a baitcaster. Y

Matt,

Complete newbie question here, but can't you get a spinning rod with the same stiffness characteristics for a baitcaster? For example, a medium hard with fast tip is available on both spinning and baitcasting. Educate me!

Spinning rods for the most part still have a lot more flex to them than baitcasters.  A lot of it also depends on the quality of the rod.

[Raul]

What 's happening ?

1.- Purty darn short rod, has too little leverage

2.- Ok, texposed ---> fine, what wire gauge is the hook ? cuz there are thin wire, regular wire and superline, you will hardly drive a regular or superline hook with a medium rod, not enough power in your rod.

3.- 7 inch worm with a 2/0 hook ... kinda small dont 'cha think ?, 3/0 well, I still think it 's a little bit small, why not a 4/0.

4.- How sharp are the hooks ?

5.- You are fishing with one of the limpest lines available, limp lines like XL need a really good pull because they stretch like a rubber band.

6.- Yeah, bluegills do have the habit of biting the tail of the worms.

[Shane Procell]

If your just tucking the barb back into the worm you may want to run the barb all the way through the worm and then skin hook the barb to the backside. Less rubber to go through.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

RIP THE LIPS SON!

[Lund Explorer]

"Locked" came really close to one of my favorite setups...... until he got to the rod length.

Tendinitis can play havoc on you when using a baitcasting rig.  They also aren't much good with lighter line.   I have used a spinning rod for a lot of my worm fishing the last few years.

6'6" Medium Fast Action, 8lb Trilene XL, Gammy 2/0 EWG, with assorted weights.  This outfit fishes T-Rigged 7" power worms, 5" craw worms, and 5" grubs.

Adding a foot of rod length would help a lot.

[bigfruits]

id go with a longer rod and a bigger hook like mentioned above.

spinning or casting doesnt matter as long as the specs are right. my favorite t-rig rod is a medium power spinning rod. i have no problem setting the hook on my t-rigs with normal gauge worm hooks.

[Red Bear]

i primarily fish with mono and the line does not stretch as easily as some of you make it out to, its not even close to a rubberband...

[Nibbles]

i primarily fish with mono and the line does not stretch as easily as some of you make it out to, its not even close to a rubberband...

Depends on the brand sometimes. At this very moment, I have a spool of Trilene XL Smooth Casting 6# in my hands. The stuff stretches quite a bit when I take a 3' length in my hands and pull.