I keep missing hooks set I see the bass take the mofo or feel them run with it and i keep failing to set the hook
Posted by shreddedtoasties
12 Comments
Current-Victory-47 on
You have to reel down until you feel the fish and then set the hook
Trapp3rK33per on
Are you jerking it really hard? If you have a fast action rod and are really hauling on it hard when they strike you may be pulling free. With trebles I give a little swipe to the side instead of raising the rod tip high.
gunsdrugsreddit on
I find that a gentle, sweeping hookset works best for jerkbaits and crankbaits. If you try to set it like you would a jig or Texas rig, you’ll end up pulling the bait out of their mouth more often than not.
What are your rod specs and line? Those also play a part in this equation.
ChiefBlackhawk630 on
Once you feel the bite just set the hook with a sideways jerk. 5% of the time I foul hook the bass because it drops the lure but I end up snagging it in the face…
Beneficial-Reach2121 on
Could be setting the hook to hard with treble hooks it’s more of a side sweep motion if I’m using anything with trebles an I get a bite I just smoothly sweep my rod and it works out lol
nSomniAEc on
There doesn’t need to be a whole lot of effort in setting the hook with the jerkbait. What action is your rod? Check your hooks to see if they’re dull? Maybe replace the hooks?
In my experience, I have maybe missed one or two fish with a jerkbait. They usually hook themselves pretty good.
HowToDoAnInternet on
I must have good luck because for me, with treble hooks, the fish do all the work: if the hook goes into its mouth, it’s not just gonna spit it out
Really not trying to be condescending here, but are you sure it’s being grabbed by big ol’ bass and not like, bluegill?
In my experience, bluegill will tug and pull at big baits, but not hook themselves as they are too small
Sad_Elk1943 on
If youre jerking it really hard that could be the prob…..you wanna pop it not pull it thru the water if that makes sense…..if ur jerking isnt the problem id say its the hooks
I dont use trebles much but with my reg hooks i always use plyers and bend down the barb or sand it down to a nub…learned this way ( from an old timer) that getting the hook out is 20x easier. And i rarely lose fish …can count on one hand how many fish got off in the past 5 years ….and most of those were because of slack lines after initial hookset
Idk why but my guess is that the barb makes a bigger hole….and takes more force to fully penetrate thru the lip…
Also ive slid the hook out after gut hooking/ throat hooking a bass….being catch and release thats a game changer for me
Duvhntr on
They will catch themselves with the treble hooks.. once they strike, just start reeling
bassfishing2000 on
Jerk baits are a tough one. Especially since you’re doing long pauses this time of year. Line watching is a huge one. But honestly a jerkbait rod isn’t one to cheap out on. They swipe at it and you gotta be able to feel them on slack line on a long cast.
BleagueZ on
For jerkbaits good hooks tend to set themselves. Typically if they bite, I tend to hook into the fish when I go to jerk it the final time. All you typically have to do then is just reel and the hooks end up sticking to them. But it usually all depends more on the diameter of your hooks. Thicker = jerk it a bit harder. Smaller = just lightly reel them in so the wire doesn’t pop out and hook doesn’t bend
LukeHal22 on
Don’t set the hook just reel into them and sweep the rod
12 Comments
You have to reel down until you feel the fish and then set the hook
Are you jerking it really hard? If you have a fast action rod and are really hauling on it hard when they strike you may be pulling free. With trebles I give a little swipe to the side instead of raising the rod tip high.
I find that a gentle, sweeping hookset works best for jerkbaits and crankbaits. If you try to set it like you would a jig or Texas rig, you’ll end up pulling the bait out of their mouth more often than not.
What are your rod specs and line? Those also play a part in this equation.
Once you feel the bite just set the hook with a sideways jerk. 5% of the time I foul hook the bass because it drops the lure but I end up snagging it in the face…
Could be setting the hook to hard with treble hooks it’s more of a side sweep motion if I’m using anything with trebles an I get a bite I just smoothly sweep my rod and it works out lol
There doesn’t need to be a whole lot of effort in setting the hook with the jerkbait. What action is your rod? Check your hooks to see if they’re dull? Maybe replace the hooks?
In my experience, I have maybe missed one or two fish with a jerkbait. They usually hook themselves pretty good.
I must have good luck because for me, with treble hooks, the fish do all the work: if the hook goes into its mouth, it’s not just gonna spit it out
Really not trying to be condescending here, but are you sure it’s being grabbed by big ol’ bass and not like, bluegill?
In my experience, bluegill will tug and pull at big baits, but not hook themselves as they are too small
If youre jerking it really hard that could be the prob…..you wanna pop it not pull it thru the water if that makes sense…..if ur jerking isnt the problem id say its the hooks
I dont use trebles much but with my reg hooks i always use plyers and bend down the barb or sand it down to a nub…learned this way ( from an old timer) that getting the hook out is 20x easier. And i rarely lose fish …can count on one hand how many fish got off in the past 5 years ….and most of those were because of slack lines after initial hookset
Idk why but my guess is that the barb makes a bigger hole….and takes more force to fully penetrate thru the lip…
Also ive slid the hook out after gut hooking/ throat hooking a bass….being catch and release thats a game changer for me
They will catch themselves with the treble hooks.. once they strike, just start reeling
Jerk baits are a tough one. Especially since you’re doing long pauses this time of year. Line watching is a huge one. But honestly a jerkbait rod isn’t one to cheap out on. They swipe at it and you gotta be able to feel them on slack line on a long cast.
For jerkbaits good hooks tend to set themselves. Typically if they bite, I tend to hook into the fish when I go to jerk it the final time. All you typically have to do then is just reel and the hooks end up sticking to them. But it usually all depends more on the diameter of your hooks. Thicker = jerk it a bit harder. Smaller = just lightly reel them in so the wire doesn’t pop out and hook doesn’t bend
Don’t set the hook just reel into them and sweep the rod