Hook setting

[DaveKS]

Hey Everyone,

Just started fishing, and I'm hooked, I've taken a few weekend trips this year. I can't seem to figure out how to hook set. Whenever I try I yank it right out of the fishes mouth. I've tried letting him hold on to it, but it seems that I'm missing alot of opportunities to set the hook. This seems to just give them time to spit it out.

Any suggestions on how to do this right?

Thanks,

 

[PainInTheBass]

Welcome to fishing!

With respect to hook setting, I have a couple of questions for you. What type of fish are you fishing for? What type of lure/bait are you using? What type of fishing line are you using? They all have an impact on the most successful hookset to use. For example, fishing for panfish with worms, I tend to use a quick wrist snap. If I am using a float/bobber with monofilament line, and the bobber is a little ways away from me, I tend to use a larger more exaggerated hookset because the line stretches and my hookset can lose force the more line there is between you and the hook. Carolina rig fishing uses a sweeping motion to set the hook, whereas you typically see the Bill Dance with jig or texas rig fishing. Some live bait rigs requrie little to no hookset.

So in short, the answer is, it depends...

I know it is a cop out answer, but a little more info would help.

 

[YAWN]

Depending on the technique your using you need to adjust.

Couple of general tips:

First don't use all your strength to set the hook, Remember your 50 times heavier than than a decent fish. You don't want to rip it right out.

Second try reeling in the slack line before setting the hook and try feeling the fish and what it's doing. Large fish may close mouth and run or just sit there be patient and watch the line!

Third, Try setting the hook to the side and not the sky, softer tissue to hook into, more hook sets in my opinion.

Forth, Sharp hooks and proper size & type of hook are important. You don't want something too big, smaller is better, And in some cases such as riggin live minnows I prefer the Curvier shank hooks as opposed to the traditional worm hooks.

Fifth, if your using bait make sure the hook point is visible and can hook the fish, so many people cover the entire hook with worm "hiding" the hook to the point u couldn't get a decent hook set if u wanted.

Bobber: Frig if I see my bobber go under I count to 15 then reel in the slack and then set the hook, you got to be patient using a bobber because they can spit it 10 times over.

 

[DaveKS]

Welcome to fishing!

With respect to hook setting, I have a couple of questions for you. What type of fish are you fishing for? What type of lure/bait are you using? What type of fishing line are you using? They all have an impact on the most successful hookset to use. For example, fishing for panfish with worms, I tend to use a quick wrist snap. If I am using a float/bobber with monofilament line, and the bobber is a little ways away from me, I tend to use a larger more exaggerated hookset because the line stretches and my hookset can lose force the more line there is between you and the hook. Carolina rig fishing uses a sweeping motion to set the hook, whereas you typically see the Bill Dance with jig or texas rig fishing. Some live bait rigs requrie little to no hookset.

So in short, the answer is, it depends...

I know it is a cop out answer, but a little more info would help.

Generally, I'm going for bass with a plastic jig or a worm harness.

 

[DaveKS]

Depending on the technique your using you need to adjust.

First don't use all your strength to set the hook, Remember your 50 times heavier than than a decent fish. You don't want to rip it right out.

The guys I've been watching on TV seem to put their whole body into the set. Is this just for show?

 

[slimy]

Depending on the technique your using you need to adjust.

First don't use all your strength to set the hook, Remember your 50 times heavier than than a decent fish. You don't want to rip it right out.

The guys I've been watching on TV seem to put their whole body into the set. Is this just for show?

whenever I've seen them pitching or flipping on TV, they are fishing flooded timber or really thick weeds or something like that... so the big hook set also helps pull the fish away from whatever structure they were stitting in, so they don't get wrapped back up in the log/weeds/dock....

 

[gswift]

Try sharpening your hooks, even new ones out of the package can use a little honing. I keep a little hook sharpener with me at all times.