Subtle hookset...or just whip it?!

[rich_ace_G]

Ok, I was out on an east trib over the weekend with my kid just to watch some salmon run. Saw 2 pinners on both sides of the river. Since I have a new centerpin gear I just want to see and learn some more. Older dude was catching steelies (this early?) he sets the hook very slow (could be the age he's about 60) but he gets it done. I don't know what's the right way but he let's his bobber dip for 2 secs then taps his rod slowly but succesful.

The other dude was also catching but he whips it when he feels a hit and at one point he line was on the tree behind him and probably took him 10 minutes to reset. 10 minutes is a lot of time wasted fishing...

 

[xxxSIBxxx]

I had a steel on this weekend but I didnt strike very hard and the fish jumped like 3-4 feet out of the water and spit the hook i regret not striking harder now.

 

[iJay]

That was probally me stuck in the trees.

I found this year especially these fish were able to spit the hooks seemlingly alot easier.

 

[rich_ace_G]

I was really looking forward to october-november to hunt for steels but if they're out this early...heck i'll be tooling up.

 

[416fish]

I apply subtle pressure to the line the moment the float goes down. If it doesn't move I assume it's a snag, bait hitting bottom, or accidental lining/flossing of the fish. If the float moves erratically or shifts direction while applying the subtle pressure, I then use the rest of the rod angle to set the hook firmly. If it's a decent size fish and I'm worried about losing it, I might set the hook again just to be sure. But using this method, I've lost many fish watching the roe bag get spit out by salmon, but that's fine because there's always 50 in the hole I fish anyways lol

 

[steelhead101]

set the hook so hard ive fell on my ass when i missed it... sometimes the steelies almost have let go by the time you see the float go down

 

[416fish]

set the hook so hard ive fell on my ass when i missed it...

I see this on the river with some guys.. hilarious, puts a smile on my face lol

 

[instapump416]

Have you guys ever experience salmon or steels swallowing hooks?

 

[IR4Jflyfishing]

whip it, whip it.... whip it real good

 

[BASSMASTER19]

Have you guys ever experience salmon or steels swallowing hooks?

ya typiCALLY IN SLOW WATER WHERE THEY CANT FEEL THE FLOAT AND JUST SWALLOW THE BAIT

 

[BASSMASTER19]

ya typiCALLY IN SLOW WATER WHERE THEY CANT FEEL THE FLOAT AND JUST SWALLOW THE BAIT

wow caps lock fail my bad

 

[miles]

Hero drift=Hero hookset

 

[dreamboy2010]

yeh i have a fast strike on the rod for a fast hook set

 

[Float_On]

If you see their float lay backwards lazily (as if the offering in snagged on bottom or bouncing bottom) followed by massive hooksets... they are liners.
Classic tell-tale mark of a flosser.

If a fish eats your bait... Float goes down.

Unless you are awkwardly positioned, like casting upstream, or in some type of back eddy, you should notice a definite drop of a float that is shotted properly.

I like a "medium" type of horizontal upstream hookset... If that makes sense. That's how I was shown by my uncle.
They're not bass and it's not a flipping jig you're setting. A flick and steady pressure does it. Usually. Haha. The first 5 seconds are key.

 

[rich_ace_G]

If you see their float lay backwards lazily (as if the offering in snagged on bottom or bouncing bottom) followed by massive hooksets... they are liners.
Classic tell-tale mark of a flosser.

If a fish eats your bait... Float goes down.

Unless you are awkwardly positioned, like casting upstream, or in some type of back eddy, you should notice a definite drop of a float that is shotted properly.

I like a "medium" type of horizontal upstream hookset... If that makes sense. That's how I was shown by my uncle.
They're not bass and it's not a flipping jig you're setting. A flick and steady pressure does it. Usually. Haha. The first 5 seconds are key.

hey man are you talking about those who pull the bobber to make it slant a bit and let the line swing? i'm pretty sure that's what you meant. compared to the ones who actually just let everything float and bobber is vertically straight.

 

[Float_On]

hey man are you talking about those who pull the bobber to make it slant a bit and let the line swing? i'm pretty sure that's what you meant. compared to the ones who actually just let everything float and bobber is vertically straight.

Nah, i always hold my float back a bit at the start of a drift to ensure that the bait is riding forward of everything else.
Its the guys that run 8' of line under their float with little shot and i guess it is more of a "swing" action that casues the flossing.

The tip of the bobber should be pointing slightly upstream indicating that your shots and bait are downstream of the float... its not always easy to achieve this in every type of current, especially when youre walking a creek and fishing everything from frog-water to white water.

 

[rich_ace_G]

Nah, i always hold my float back a bit at the start of a drift to ensure that the bait is riding forward of everything else.
Its the guys that run 8' of line under their float with little shot and i guess it is more of a "swing" action that casues the flossing.

The tip of the bobber should be pointing slightly upstream indicating that your shots and bait are downstream of the float... its not always easy to achieve this in every type of current, especially when youre walking a creek and fishing everything from frog-water to white water.

awesome to know. i'm excited to hit the water with my new pinning gear and need as much help i can get. still can't get over how some actually whip to set hooks...that seem dangerous. i love to fish but not dodging hooks.

 

[Porkpie]

It really depends on the action of your blank. My sage I can lift the tip and that sets the hook. With my loomis IM6 rods, I have to lay into it a little more. With my sons shimano 11.5 footer, I need to lean hard into the hook set to drive them home properly! This sometimes leads to the float rocketing backwards at me on a missed set!

 

[azppp]

It really depends on the action of your blank. My sage I can lift the tip and that sets the hook. With my loomis IM6 rods, I have to lay into it a little more. With my sons shimano 11.5 footer, I need to lean hard into the hook set to drive them home properly! This sometimes leads to the float rocketing backwards at me on a missed set!

agreed, theres a sweet spot for every rod that will apply the right tension. I've been losing fish setting too hard and too soft. I found setting fast and hard and maintain or back off SLIGHTLY to let the fish shake its booty then go from there. Also depends on the area you have to work with. This is after 0/20 experiences and i've only gotten slightly better since.

To answer the OP's questoin its neither; somewhere in between.

 

[jc53]

Ae mentioned depends on the rod's action you are using.

With my CTS and fireline crystal I just lift the rod up and that's it. No crazy ripping of the float which drives me crazy.