Setting the hook

[MikeD]

Hello All.
I'm relatively new to bass fishing and this is my first post on this forum. I was wondering what "set the hook means". I fish on a small pond in Massachusetts. There's bass. I've been catching them w/those green Zoom lizards. A lot of time though I feel a good twitch on the line but the fish isn't on the hook. Last year I went fishing w/ a guy who told me to quickly raise the tip of the pole up into the air. Is this right? Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[juicy]

Set the hook..... When you're working your bait and feel that fish tap on the line, reel up the slack in your line while lowering your rod tip, once the line is tightened rip the rod straight up and start reeling, that is pretty much setting the hook, a quick jerk on the rod to penetrate the hook into the fish's mouth.

[jeffman]

MB.

Whip the tip of the rod back over your head like you are trying to rip thier lips off!

JackL

[big_mouth]

And thats all she wrote...................... 8)

[MikeD]

Thanks all. I'll give it a try!

[MikeD]

Works! I just tried it and caught a small bass. I think these ones were getting away before the advice. I caught a big bass yesterday, but he had swallowed the whole bait. Good luck y'all.

[jglassguy]

I set the hook so hard it usually makes the boat rock.
Something funny happened last week, I was using a pig n jig and had one helluva thump, set the hook real hard and out comes this 11 inch bass flying through the air LOL

[macgyver]

[quote author=JB link=board=news;num=1115915947;start=0#6 date=05/12/05 at 14:02:03]I set the hook so hard it usually makes the boat rock.
Something funny happened last week, I was using a pig n jig and had one helluva thump, set the hook real hard and out comes this 11 inch bass flying through the air LOL[/quote]

For some of those who fish with me, can verify that if it's a small bass, it will be airborne real quick ;D Thumped the trolling motoer a couple of times

Lizards

[Bassin_Dude]

sounds like you have missed a couple of fish if you didnt know how to set the hook. i always reel up slack, then pull the rod back across my strong shoulder (the shoulder with your dominant hand) then i return the rod to straight and start moving it either up or down or sideways, depending on where the fish want s to go.

[sabass]

How hard you set the hook should be determinant on a couple things. The strength of the rod, the stretch of the line, how much line you have out, the type of fish you're going for, and the type of lure/hook all play a vital role in how hard you need to set the hook. A bass has a fairly soft mouth, so if you have a stout rod and/or some line that doesn't stretch much like braid or flurocarbo, you don't need a thunderous hookset. When fishing braid, a simple flick of the wrist is all I need for a good hookset. The fish will hook themselves most of the time when using braid, as long as the line is somewhat tight.

The more line you have out, the more stretch there will be, so the harder the hookset would need to be, and of course, always use the sharpest hooks available. If you're using a line with a lot of stetch, or a flimsy rod, a thunderous hookset would be required, but must people simple put too much into their hookset, no need shoot your diachi hooks right towards your eyes if the fish lets go, rattle traps in the face aren't much fun either.

[MikeD]

Thanks!!! That's great advice.
Is that a Florida Gators picture by your name.
I'm a Northener and a big Syracuse fan.
Remember 1992 in the Dome?

[Bassin_Dude]

that is the new coach urban meyer. im a big fan of the gators. i have been for my whole life :P :P yes i do remember the game, i never watched it, i was somewhere around 2 years old when it happened. but my dad was at that game. i think we played syracuse after that, in '93, not sure, but if we did play them we beat them. your just lucky we havnt played them since lol. i think this year will be a winning season, and then the next year after this will be a national title. we havnt played syracuse but 2 times i think. we dont venture out of the south to much. but that is the only time you have beat us, and if we ever play again, it will still be the only time you beat us lol GOGATORS

[Bassin_Dude]

flfireman, your turn ;D

[profishermenkid16]

I live near by Syracuse, about a 2 hours away and I like Miami Hurricanes. :-/ P N J

[Bassin_Dude]

the miami hurricanes? : :P im just about as fond of them as i am towards the noles :P

[profishermenkid16]

002, ;D I don't know why I like them.I just have for many years. I should like Auburn, Alabama.Thats where I went to college, but I don't. ;D P N J

[macgyver]

[quote author=Rodman_Rob link=board=news;num=1115915947;start=0#9 date=05/12/05 at 17:16:15]How hard you set the hook should be determinant on a couple things. Â*The strength of the rod, the stretch of the line, how much line you have out, the type of fish you're going for, and the type of lure/hook all play a vital role in how hard you need to set the hook. Â*A bass has a fairly soft mouth, so if you have a stout rod and/or some line that doesn't stretch much like braid or flurocarbo, you don't need a thunderous hookset. Â*When fishing braid, a simple flick of the wrist is all I need for a good hookset. Â*The fish will hook themselves most of the time when using braid, as long as the line is somewhat tight. Â*

The more line you have out, the more stretch there will be, so the harder the hookset would need to be, and of course, always use the sharpest hooks available. Â*If you're using a line with a lot of stetch, or a flimsy rod, a thunderous hookset would be required, but must people simple put too much into their hookset, no need shoot your diachi hooks right towards your eyes if the fish lets go, rattle traps in the face aren't much fun either. Â*[/quote]

Well we'll have to agree to disagree. I BASS fish, so I don't worry about thin mouths. There mouths are not soft. I set the hook hard, every single time, with the exception of cranks. I am not taking the chance of the hook barely getting through the plastic, or the weeds or whatever. I use Superlines, and a stout pole, and I still cross their eyes everytime. If you choose to just give it a tug that's your perogative.

Lizards

[basscatcher]

yeah- bass have pretty tough mouths... just try to turn them inside out, they can take it.

[sabass]

[quote author=lizardsrule link=board=news;num=1115915947;start=0#16 date=05/12/05 at 18:07:54]

Well we'll have to agree to disagree. Â*I BASS fish, so I don't worry about thin mouths. Â*There mouths are not soft. Â*I set the hook hard, every single time, with the exception of cranks. Â*I am not taking the chance of the hook barely getting through the plastic, or the weeds or whatever. Â*I use Superlines, and a stout pole, and I still cross their eyes everytime. Â* Â*If you choose to just give it a tug that's your perogative.

Lizards
[/quote]

I've gotta stick to my guns on this one, sharp hooks and line with very little stretch doesn't need that thunderous hookset. Â*With braid, every inch you move the rod tip is how far you're gonna move that lure. Â*A foot of applied pressure with a sharp hook will always penetrate a basses mouth, granted you're using the right sized lure/hook. Â*Since switching to braid I've flicked the wrist the majority of the time and RARELY lose a fish from a poor hookset. Â*With the sucess rate I've had, I'll be keeping the rattle traps outta my face, already had swim baits in the back of the head. Â*

[madmarty]

Amen JB. I can think of numerous occasions I've had to duck those flying bass.

[james33]

ROB. I gotta agree with Lizards on this one. There are way to many variables. I agree with what you say about the braids, super sharp hooks, length of line etc... but you may as well set the hook hard. For instance. Which way is the hookpoint facing?? If it's pointing say toward the lower lip, thats a pretty thick spot, you need to set it hard. Jig fishing, fish hits, is the trailer covering my hookpoint?? I dunno better set the hook hard. Just entirely to many unknowns not to set the hook hard. Just my opinion.

[profishermenkid16]

IL, Your telling me you never had a fish grab a jig so hard that you didn't stick him with the hook point, all you did was pul him through the water before he let go ? P N J

[james33]

[quote author=pig_n_jig link=board=news;num=1115915947;start=0#21 date=05/13/05 at 06:07:16]IL, Your telling me you never had a fish grab a jig so hard that you didn't stick him with the hook point, all you did was pul him through the water Â*before he let go ? P N J[/quote]
Well I'll give an example. I was prefishing with my buddy. Had a good solid hit on a jig. Half azz set the hook. it came most of the way to the boat then mysteriously shook off. After I reeled it all the way in, I found out that the trailer end balled up on the hookpoint and I didnt even get it past the barb.

So note to all. When you get bit, put your purse on the boat deck and swing for the fence.

[jglassguy]

I got to thinking (smell the wood burning? ) lol
All of us have a point here..
I can see where a angler that fishes a action bait like a spinnerbait, buzzbait, crankbait or any searching bait, the hookset is a sweep of the rod or flick of the wrist, cus lets face it by the time the angler feels something on his pole or line, the fish has probably already set the hook itself to some minute degree and your pulling back on the rod sets the deal..(hopefully)
and yes we all miss strikes now and then
But what I see lizards and several others like myself thinking about the hard hookset is probably
in response to a worm , jig , or some plastic critter that we were flipping n pitching with.
When I am up close to structure targeting my worm into a good looking area, I know that as soon as I feel the peck , I'm not going to wait for the line to move and dont care if it happens to be a bullgill f/n with me,
I'm going to set the hook as hard and quick as i can.
I like the stretch in mono and I know that braid doesnt need a hard set, but for me, its programmed in my head to cross her eyes