What techniques do you use when setting the hook with trout vs. bass or wallye? I’m starting to think yanking on the rod the second you feel a hit isn’t always the best thing to do. I feel that if I would have let the bait stay in the fish’s mouth just a moment longer with a bass or walleye, I would land more fish. With trout or catfish I think you set the hook the second you feel the hit. But it’s hard to say since bass and walleye intake the bait differently than a trout I’m not sure what to do. What do you think?
I’ve always felt it’s not so much the species, but what kind of bait or lure I’m using. If I’m using bait on a treble hook like cheese or power bait, I’ll try and let the fish swallow it. Otherwise, It seems the ball of bait just pulls out of their mouth without setting.
On the other hand, when using artificials, I try and set the hook right away and not give the fish a chance to spit it out when it doesn’t taste right.
I may not have the answer but I have a few self taught insights that may help.
Make sure your hooks are sharp, many people don’t realize how important this is and it is probably the number one cause of lost fish.
Tipping your jigs/lures with worm/pork/etc helps the fish hold on for just a second longer which can help you get the hook set.
When I set the hook, I reel in and give a little jerk at the same time. Make sure your yanks isn’t too big, just a nice little pop & set. Reeling in helps keep my yanks small so I don’t over react or jerk too far back.
Use a stiffer rod, if you have a medium-light rod there is so much play in them that I can’t get the force or strength I need for a quick hook set. With a stiffer rod it makes it much easier.
Trout seem seem to hook themselves while the bass (can’t speak for walleye) need to be hooked a bit more. I think you’re on the right path, I started off with anything that feels like a bit while jigging I set the hook, but had little success until I switched to a stiffer rod.
Not saying these are the answers but they are adjustments I’ve made and I am hooking a lot more fish than I was a year or two ago.
setting the hook is an instinctive reaction for me. The only changes i make is how hard to set it. i determine that by what kind of fish im fishing for and the type and size of the bait im throwing, in my opinion fish worth catching usually don’t mess around they bite and instantly decided weather they really want it or not. you cant give them the chance to decide you gotta set it! i guess there are certain times with smaller fish… that letting them tap tap tap before you set is apporpriate… but any trophy fish dont mess around.. alot of times you dont even have to set it they take care of that for you.. those are the bites im seeking … never set by site always by feel.. and top water is a different story…[fishin]
Have you noticed the bass pros on tv? If they have a bite on natural bait, or Yum, Gulp, baits etc., They will drop the rod tip a bit, then really lay the wood to them. I believe they use about 30 lb. test, 4.0 hooks, and rods as stiff as a 2 x 4.
How or how hard you set the hook???
There are many things that play in to the job of the hook set…
Here is just a few…
Type of fish..
Type of pole
Type of line
Type of hook or lure
Type of reel used
Any and all of these can and do play a part in if you hook the fish or just fell one…And then you can look at how you should fight the fish…
Some will miss and or lose a lot of fish and never know why…
That’s a good point - it really can depend on what you’re targetting. Timing and amount of power.
Fish like Kokanee and Crappie have soft mouths, and you can just rip lips instead of setting a hook. While fish like catfish, or bigger fish of most any aggressive variety had tougher bonier jaws.
Likewise a bigger fish will - as you say - take it like they mean it. And if you’re trolling - the boat motion, or a downrigger’s snap will take care of any hookset needed.
Then again - pesky perch (especially) and others like panfish may peck and peck. Little cats’ll do that to. Nibble your bait off quickly and effectively, with no actual BITE to set into. In fact some of my sets in those situations prove it - foul-hookings, just happened to tug it through an eye, or catch a gill. I think I’ve decided with those - I shouldn’t wait for the second “peck” but be ready and just snap on the first bite detected. Otherwise - ya end up reeling in to rebait. Or sit there waiting for a second bite that never happens, cuz your hook is already cleaned.
I concur - that bass, walleye, others - will suck in a mouthful of water and your bait. They can just as easily expel the whole thing. So if you feel it move, reel down, and strike. But some - especially if they don’t feel resistance (cats) will inhale, then swim off. So when it moves sideways - watch your line, not your tip - it’s strike time.
ANGLE can make a difference to. Depending on your hook shape, presentation. You may want to raise the rod straight up, but more often than not - you probably want to swing the rod to a side, and instead of pulling the bait OUT of the fishes mouth, you set the hook in their cheek.
Bassrods simple reply is spot on …
But, I have to tell you about a hook setting technique that I have discovered for trout at Strawberry. When vertical jigging with tube jigs, I have found that I can hook 80% more fish if I drop the tip for about 1 second before putting the steel to them.