Hooksets With Crankbaits

[1234567]

I also have been fishing crankbaits alot lately. I am getting bit quite frequently with crankbaits, but I am having a hard time keeping fish hooked! I caught 7 the other day on crankbaits but I lost at least 7 or more. I am using 7 foot rod with a extra fast tip and I have tried sweeping my rod to the side and jerking hard when I feel the bite. I have waited until I feel the pressure of the fish and I have also set as soon as I feel some irregularity in the retrieve. I hook the fish but at least half of them are coming off after a couple seconds into the fight. I am using squarebills, xcalibur, rapala clackin crank, strike king kvd and norman's fatboys. Appreciate any insight on this!!!!

[slonezp]

Bigger hooks maybe?

[deaknh03]

sharper hooks perhaps? old, dull hooks will enable the fish to shake the hooks off.

[1234567]

sharper hooks perhaps? old, dull hooks will enable the fish to shake the hooks off.

These cranks are all very new, but I definitely think better hooks are needed. Before I replace them I am thinking maybe I am doing something wrong.

[zell_pop1]

Try using a moderate action rod, sounds like you are using a soft plastics rod.

[ChiCityBasser]

Try using a moderate action rod, sounds like you are using a soft plastics rod.

I agree try a softer action rod or mono to slow the rod down a bit. You might also want to try triple grip hooks as well. I would run into this problem with round bend hooks and started switching my most used cranks to the mustad triple grips and don't loose nearly as many fish as I was befor the switch.

[kperryman]

I know the perfect thing for this. I fish rapala crankbaits and they have (some don't) what is called sureset hooks. These hooks are amazing. They are extremely sharp and one of the three treble hooks is what I call a "crazy hook". It loops out further than the others. When I catch a fish on these hooks I usually don't even have to set the hook. You can buy a box of 4 of these hooks at bass pro for like $4 or so. The only disadvantage is you may get hung a little more but when that fish bites I guarantee that crazy hook was the one that got him. Here's a link from bass pro.

http://www.basspro.com/VMC-David-Fritts-Sure-Set-Treble-Hooks/product/58033/-1058406

[Paul Roberts]

Some interesting reading on the subject:

[Grey Wolf]

I also have been fishing crankbaits alot lately. I am getting bit quite frequently with crankbaits, but I am having a hard time keeping fish hooked! I caught 7 the other day on crankbaits but I lost at least 7 or more. I am using 7 foot rod with a extra fast tip and I have tried sweeping my rod to the side and jerking hard when I feel the bite. I have waited until I feel the pressure of the fish and I have also set as soon as I feel some irregularity in the retrieve. I hook the fish but at least half of them are coming off after a couple seconds into the fight. I am using squarebills, xcalibur, rapala clackin crank, strike king kvd and norman's fatboys. Appreciate any insight on this!!!!

Wrong rod , the rest is probably poor technique on your part.

[1234567]

Wrong rod , the rest is probably poor technique on your part.

Grey wolf, probably the most informative post in this thread as that's why I'm asking for help. Sorry for missing the old thread "crank baits plus hookups" but thank you Paul Roberts for posting that!!!

[KenG85]

Get a dobyns glass rod.....You cant lose the fish if you want to. 705 or 765cb glass.

[Fishmaster10]

Part of it could be the hooks, part of it could be technique but I tend to lose more fish when I'm fishing lipless crankbaits as well. I'm not sure exactly why this is.

[FL_Sharpshooter]

I'm telling you what, ever since I've started using KVD's mustad trebles, I can't even remember the last time I lost a fish. These hooks are on the pricey side, but they ARE worth it, there is no gimmick with these. Try rigging your cranks with the #2s, I promise you won't regret it. I use a 7ft medium rod with a fast taper for this as well, if that helps.

[1234567]

How many of you wait until you feel pressure from the fish before setting? From most of my catches it seems there's a fraction of a second to set the hook before the fish rejects it.

[1234567]

To add, when you hook into a crank bait fish, is it better to reel them in fast or slower?

[brushhoggin]

To add, when you hook into a crank bait fish, is it better to reel them in fast or slower?

i like to just make sure to keep em from jumpin. i bury my rod tip in the water, keeping him low. he knows exactly what he's gotta do to throw the hook. as far as the hook set, i've gotten in the habit of a slow motion side arm hookset, putting a decent bit of pressure on the fish and lettin him hook himself.

[Chris]

It could be one of many things that make you loose fish on a crankbait. It could be your fast tip that is making you rip the hooks out. It could be that your line is old and lost it's spring or stretch or water logged. It could be your hooks are not the right size or style that makes the hooks not stick the fish as good as they should so they pull off. It could be that the fish are attacking the bait from above and pinning the bait and not the hook.

[wisconsin heat]

I know the perfect thing for this. I fish rapala crankbaits and they have (some don't) what is called sureset hooks. These hooks are amazing. They are extremely sharp and one of the three treble hooks is what I call a "crazy hook". It loops out further than the others. When I catch a fish on these hooks I usually don't even have to set the hook. You can buy a box of 4 of these hooks at bass pro for like $4 or so. The only disadvantage is you may get hung a little more but when that fish bites I guarantee that crazy hook was the one that got him. Here's a link from bass pro.

http://www.basspro.com/VMC-David-Fritts-Sure-Set-Treble-Hooks/product/58033/-1058406

alot of people hate these, but i like these too. i feel you can get away with a heavier rod because the long hook is just like an ewg worm hook.

[KenG85]

It's all about constant tension and pressure keeping the hooks pinned. The reason fast action rods suck for cranking is that they respond to changes in tension too fast. This allows the fish to create slack and throw the hooks.

A fiberglass rod reacts much slower and it could be described as more "forgiving" under these changes in tension caused by the fish. Many techniques can be performed adequately on lots of equipment...but cranking is not one of them.

People dread jumping bass when fishing treble hooked baits, but this no longer scares me since I've been using my dobyns cranking rod. I just lift my rod and create tension, the rod keeps the fish pinned.

Get a designated cranking rod; this is an application where spending money will definately get more fish to the boat. Or you can ignore this and wonder why you keep losing fish.

[1234567]

Great input evrybody, thank you! I think from reading my biggest problem is the action of my rod. Any suggestions on best cranking rods that can still pull fish out of heavy weeds but still be forgiving as not to pull hooks from the fishs' mouth?

[Uncle Leo]

To be perfectly honest I rarely set a hook hard on a crankbait bite. They tend to hook themselves if the bait is moving. When I set the hook it is to try and sink a second hook into the fish. What you really need is proper gear if you are losing fish.

1) Moderate action rod, power to suit conditions and weight of crankbait.

2) Mono Line, diameter to suit weight of bait and depth desired.

3) Sharp hooks.

A Moderate Action Rod and the stretch that mono provides will keep a fish buttoned. I believe that the Bass a throwing the hooks due to using an Extra Fast Action you need more give to keep them buttoned. With this formula a graphite or fiberglass rod will work. Fiberglass would be much better but graphite will provide more sensivitity.

[KenG85]

There's a few crankbait rods that do it all. I would strongly reccomend a dobyn 705cb glass or 765cb depending on whether you like shorter or longer rods.

These rods will thrown anything from Bandits and baby 1 minus's to 10 to 15' divers. And will do all of them very well.

People say glass is less sensitive then graphite. And also that glass is heavier than graphite. But thats cuz they're not fishing a Dobyns.

Ttheir champion series glass rods are as sensitive any graphite rod. And they're extremely light... like 4oz. The "5" power is MH and has plenty strenght to pull in the big ones. The rods are also so good that there's no need to fish with mono. I use flourocarbon.

They are pricey, but think about being able to use one rod for every single crankbait you own. And to be able to do it better.

Someone has one for sale in the fleamarket for 170. Just get it you'll be happy. I know I mentioned it a few times....but man it's worth mentioning 3 more times. It's simple perfection.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A Mod or Mod F rod will make a big difference here as will sharp hooks. I find fish tend to hook themselves to a large degree and I set the hook on a crankbait bite with a sweep.

[FL_Sharpshooter]

How many of you wait until you feel pressure from the fish before setting? From most of my catches it seems there's a fraction of a second to set the hook before the fish rejects it.

With the constant reeling tension your putting on it, you should feel that bite immediately, atleast I always do. Most of the time I don't even have to set the hook, but I always try to as soon as I feel that resistance.

[NBR]

I also have been fishing crankbaits alot lately. I am getting bit quite frequently with crankbaits, but I am having a hard time keeping fish hooked! I caught 7 the other day on crankbaits but I lost at least 7 or more. I am using 7 foot rod with a extra fast tip and I have tried sweeping my rod to the side and jerking hard when I feel the bite. I have waited until I feel the pressure of the fish and I have also set as soon as I feel some irregularity in the retrieve. I hook the fish but at least half of them are coming off after a couple seconds into the fight. I am using squarebills, xcalibur, rapala clackin crank, strike king kvd and norman's fatboys. Appreciate any insight on this!!!!