When to set the hook?

clam man · Post by **clam man** » Sun May 10, 2009 6:57 pm

I threw a little shaky head jig tipped with a 7" power worm next to a shallow dock where I knew a fish "lived." Sure enough, it swam out, looked at the lure, and it looked like it picked it up. My line started to move to the side...I tried to set the hook, I watched it's head turn and I hauled water. I know it had the worm in it's mouth because it turned...but the hook didn't set.

Did I wait too long, or not long enough? I usually can't see the bass, so I was lucky in that regard....

Post by **fishnislife** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:15 pm

Might be a female trying to pick up the bait up off her bed. If it was, she won't try to eat the bait but just pick it up with here lips and move it. So it wouldn't have been fully in her mouth.
Other than that, as soon as you know that you've been bit set the hook. You did the right thing. Just keep at it.

fishnislife

BassinBomber · Post by **BassinBomber** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:24 pm

"Hook-Sets-Are-Free",..as soon as you seen your line move maybe then would have been good! JMHO!

BB

Cman2007 · Post by **Cman2007** » Sun May 10, 2009 8:23 pm

as soon as you know there a fish at the other end ....make sure to make a soild hook set fishislife is on point if the fish was on a bed they will tend to try to pick the bait up move it out of the bed if thats the case i like to use black jig on a light colored bed and white on darker bed but if you throw in there enough the fish will get pissed and end up hitting

swedefish4life1 · Post by **swedefish4life1** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:14 pm

Clam at least 5 miles outside of the Seatac strip#-o

or 20 plus miles traveling at a high rate of speed!:thumleft: =d>

lol

Trent Hale · Post by **Trent Hale** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:38 pm

You say that you were useing a 7" worm on a jig right. I dont think you let it run far enough. If the fish could have run a little bit more as its eating the 7" worm you would have caught that fish.

Bigbass Dez · Post by **Bigbass Dez** » Mon May 11, 2009 8:08 am

cla man !

wazz up playa , Hey man fishing those shaky heads kinda takes some gettin use to . I myself use to miss a lot a fish when i started fishing the shaky heads . I can offer a little advise that might help ya . I noticed that the fish was taken the bait well but for whatever reason it would still shake my hook . I than realized after a few fish that the problem had to to due with two main factors. My Rod , i would suggest atleast a 6' 10" rod in med-heavy with a x fast tip . The Hook set , No diferent than most jigs , you must put a strong hook set on when using a shakey head . When your using the proper rod length you create leverage over the fish and are able to pull up that slack line faster not to mention a rod that has enough backbone to handle a solid hook set . By putting both of these factors together prior to using the shakey head rig can make all the difference . This is just my opinion and what works for me on the shakey head . Good luck and BTW this is a killer bed bait

BBD

Cman2007 · Post by **Cman2007** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:39 am

Trent Hale wrote:You say that you were useing a 7" worm on a jig right. I dont think you let it run far enough. If the fish could have run a little bit more as its eating the 7" worm you would have caught that fish.

you could also drop the worm size down to 5 or even 4 then you hook up will be better

davidwat1 · Post by **davidwat1** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:31 am

can't tell how you had the hook rigged, but sometimes changing from exposed to texas rigged (weedless), or vice versa, can make a difference in either how long they hold on to it, or how far they swim before they spit it. with a 7" worm it's really easy for them to pick it up tail first and move it which means you're hauling water no matter how far they swim with it, or how strong your hookset is! One thing is pretty certain though, once you've got them agitated enough to grab it and swim off with it, there is a really good chance they will keep coming back for it, as long as they are locked on the bed pretty solid. Like Trent said, try dropping down to a 4" worm or throw a tube in there to get the hook in that fish! Good luck!

clam man · Post by **clam man** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:31 pm

Thanks for the advice guys. Unless there was a bed under the dock, I don't think this one was bedded. But I was targeting bedding bass that day. I almost always rig texas style so the hook is somewhat weedless.

Swede you are a smarta__!

Maybe the shorter worm or exposed hook would work. I am also going to switch to flourocarbon line so it is less visible underwater...this lake is fairly clear.

BassFanatic · Post by **BassFanatic** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:46 pm

Cman2007 wrote:as soon as you know there a fish at the other end ....make sure to make a soild hook set fishislife is on point if the fish was on a bed they will tend to try to pick the bait up move it out of the bed if thats the case i like to use black jig on a light colored bed and white on darker bed but if you throw in there enough the fish will get pissed and end up hitting

I'm with Cman on this one, But if you are using a 7" worm try shortening the worm up some go with an 3 may be 4" trailer so you will have a better chance of setting the hook.

BOLDbomber · Post by **BOLDbomber** » Thu May 14, 2009 6:20 pm

Reel down & pickup the slack.,, this will vastly improve your hookset if you dont do so already.,, MO

GOD SPEED

kzoo · Post by **kzoo** » Thu May 14, 2009 6:35 pm

It happens quite a bit with bed fishing. Lots of times males will pick it up just enough to move it off the bed. Try throwing a different biscuit after the first swing.

Northwest Fishing Reports

When to set the hook?

When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?

RE:When to set the hook?