09-12-2020, 11:36 AM
I'm with TD. When I started fishing for cats 2 years ago I bought a couple of reels with clickers. I soon learned that with circle hooks it was better for the fish to have the line anchored so the hook can turn and set in their mouths. As I evolved as a catman I've started to do like TD said and sometimes adjust my drag so that the fish have the resistance that sets the hook but they can also run with it a bit. But if you want to stay traditional I can tell you what BLK does. Sometimes he holds the line between his thumb and forefinger. I guess he can feel the lightest bite and react accordingly. As a side note, I've only fished Willard once, going for wipers. Ended up catching two cats on the wiper lures. Go figure. They certainly didn't need a hookset.
I've used TDs big fligs a lot this year because they just plain work. Those sickle hooks are great. Only problem is that once in a while they swallow them and I end up having to take them home to eat and retrieve the lures. I bought some long-reach pliers with a bent tip to see if I could reach in and get the flig out of their gullet. Wouldn't you know it, I haven't had a deep hook since so I don't know how they work. The real trick is to grab the hook behind the flig body so you don't rip it up.
I've used TDs big fligs a lot this year because they just plain work. Those sickle hooks are great. Only problem is that once in a while they swallow them and I end up having to take them home to eat and retrieve the lures. I bought some long-reach pliers with a bent tip to see if I could reach in and get the flig out of their gullet. Wouldn't you know it, I haven't had a deep hook since so I don't know how they work. The real trick is to grab the hook behind the flig body so you don't rip it up.
The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.