Long Distance Hook Sets?
 

Was out fishing early this morning. Grass was coming up all over the place
so time to fish some topwaters, and what better than a horny toad.

I wanted to cover a bunch of water and did so casting the heavy toad. A huge
explosion near the pads and a hook set, resulted in no fish. The fish had
the frog but it was way out there and the fish came off.

I was fishing 8lb mono but again distance was the reason I couldn't connect
with this fish. Any advice for hooksets at greater distances, or should I
just not be casting as far? Braid would not have made a difference, or at
least that's what I want to believe






--
A&A National Fishing Team

alwaysfishking wrote:
Was out fishing early this morning. Grass was coming up all over the place
so time to fish some topwaters, and what better than a horny toad.

I wanted to cover a bunch of water and did so casting the heavy toad. A huge
explosion near the pads and a hook set, resulted in no fish. The fish had
the frog but it was way out there and the fish came off.

I was fishing 8lb mono but again distance was the reason I couldn't connect
with this fish. Any advice for hooksets at greater distances, or should I
just not be casting as far? Braid would not have made a difference, or at
least that's what I want to believe






Actually Randy, I believe Braid would have made a huge difference. With
zero stretch you would have made the connection. Also a longer rod
would have helped. Maybe you were already using a 7'+ rod. But with
long casts and loooonnnnnggg hooksets Braids really shine.

Of course that has been my experience. The stretch of mono with the
long distances usually puts you at a disadvantage.

Chris

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
.. .
alwaysfishking wrote:
Was out fishing early this morning. Grass was coming up all over the
place so time to fish some topwaters, and what better than a horny toad.

I wanted to cover a bunch of water and did so casting the heavy toad. A
huge explosion near the pads and a hook set, resulted in no fish. The
fish had the frog but it was way out there and the fish came off.

I was fishing 8lb mono but again distance was the reason I couldn't
connect with this fish. Any advice for hooksets at greater distances, or
should I just not be casting as far? Braid would not have made a
difference, or at least that's what I want to believe






Actually Randy, I believe Braid would have made a huge difference. With
zero stretch you would have made the connection. Also a longer rod would
have helped. Maybe you were already using a 7'+ rod. But with long casts
and loooonnnnnggg hooksets Braids really shine.

Of course that has been my experience. The stretch of mono with the long
distances usually puts you at a disadvantage.

Chris


I agree. I have fished 10lb mono for topwater for a long time. This last
weekend I fished braid for the first time in a tournament. I nailed three
out of three topwater hits on braid. I used a 7' medium action rod to do
it. (Actually a Lamiglass 3 power) I was using 30lb Stren Super Briad
which is approximately the same size as 8lb mono. It worked well. The one
thing I did was to back my drag way... way... way... off. The biggest I
caught topwatering was about 14" I also used the same rig for crank baits a
little later in the day and had very good luck with hooking and landing
fish.

Still for most people for most applications I'ld probably stay with mono for
topwater. I went to braid because so often I am throwing to or into pockets
in weedlines with my topwaters. I still land more fish with mono I think,
but I hook more with braid. I also don't have to run my boat over an area I
planned to fish to retrieve my baits nearly as often.

The other thing to remember is that frogs are notorious for missed strikes.
I have never fished a Zoom horny toad, but I have fished other frogs. I
quit fishing them because I missed close to 75% of my strikes. A local pro
guide and good friend Dave Willhide told me that if you hook more than 50%
of frog strikes you are pretty darned good.


--
Bob La Londe
http://www.YumaBassMan.com

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message Actually Randy, I believe Braid would
have made a huge difference.


Chris,

I almost exclusively fish braid, the exceptions are wacky rig's and
topwater poppers/spooks etc. The reason being is that with the braid on a
topwater hook set I have pulled the lure free too many times, with mono
almost never. Little stretch is a good thing. The braid is great for slow
fishing jigs and worms when the bite is subtle

The only reason I used the mono was because it already had a hook on I
could use and was too lazy to re-tie on the braid, but I cast way too far
7ft med heavy rod so that wasn't a problem.

You always remember the big fish you lose,,,,at least I do

alwaysfishking wrote:
"Chris Rennert" wrote in message Actually Randy, I believe Braid would
have made a huge difference.


Chris,

I almost exclusively fish braid, the exceptions are wacky rig's and
topwater poppers/spooks etc. The reason being is that with the braid on a
topwater hook set I have pulled the lure free too many times, with mono
almost never. Little stretch is a good thing. The braid is great for slow
fishing jigs and worms when the bite is subtle

The only reason I used the mono was because it already had a hook on I
could use and was too lazy to re-tie on the braid, but I cast way too far
7ft med heavy rod so that wasn't a problem.

You always remember the big fish you lose,,,,at least I do


Yeah, I agree 100% (about losing big fish). I have guess I have
reserved myself that i am going to lose fish in slop. It is going to
happen no matter what I throw. I figure Braid gets me a solid hookset,
it cuts through the weeds, and moves the fish quickly. Combine that
with a longer rod that gives you leverage I believe you increase your
odds. I have actually lost less fish since going to strictly a braid
for a slop presentation than I did when I used 17lb XT a few years ago.

Now, if I am throwing a Pop-r I use either fluoro or mono combined with
a very soft rods, and triple grip hooks (nickel plated).

For a spook, I use a heavier/stiffer rod and mono, but heavy 17lb xt.
I have a specific rod for each type of topwater I throw. The soft
action rod is one I use for Pop-R's, Tiny Torpedos, or jerkbaits like
#9, #11, & #13 Rapalas.

I have a MH rod I use for Zara Spooks only, and I have a Heavy Rod I use
for Frogs or any slop type topwater.

That is what has worked for me. Here on the lakes I fish they are very
fertile and very shallow (my home water anyway). So I am fishing very
thick cover for about 4 months out of the year.

Oh well, I am learning still, and I am sure there are more sure fire
techniques. If I am really motivated I will go through and pitch a
plastic worm with about a 3/4 ounce sinker into irregularities in the
pad fields. That takes forever, but can produce some big fish!.

Oh well, that is off the subject, but good luck!

chris

alwaysfishking wrote:
Braid would not have made a difference, or at
least that's what I want to believe


Believe what you want, but a not-stretch superline, whether braided or
fused, would have made all the difference in the world.

Randy, as odd as it may seem reconsider your choice of rods.Stop and
consider trying a rod with a bit more flex with the super lines . Especially
when doing any long distance casting.

--
David Norton

"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...
"Chris Rennert" wrote in message Actually Randy, I believe Braid would
have made a huge difference.


Chris,

I almost exclusively fish braid, the exceptions are wacky rig's and
topwater poppers/spooks etc. The reason being is that with the braid on a
topwater hook set I have pulled the lure free too many times, with mono
almost never. Little stretch is a good thing. The braid is great for slow
fishing jigs and worms when the bite is subtle

The only reason I used the mono was because it already had a hook on I
could use and was too lazy to re-tie on the braid, but I cast way too far
7ft med heavy rod so that wasn't a problem.

You always remember the big fish you lose,,,,at least I do

I was second guessing the braid thing after the posts. I always fish the
horney toads on braid


I just hated thinking it was my lack of re-tying a hook that cost me a fish,
better for fun than a tourney i guess


"RichZ" wrote in message
...
alwaysfishking wrote:
Braid would not have made a difference, or at
least that's what I want to believe


Believe what you want, but a not-stretch superline, whether braided or
fused, would have made all the difference in the world.

"Dan, danl, danny boy, Redbeard, actually Greybeard now" wrote in message
Randy,
What size hook were you using???


5/0 Lunker City Texposer, it was all me I believe, not the equipment

On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 11:50:51 -0400, "alwaysfishking"
sent into the ether:


Was out fishing early this morning. Grass was coming up all over the place
so time to fish some topwaters, and what better than a horny toad.

I wanted to cover a bunch of water and did so casting the heavy toad. A huge
explosion near the pads and a hook set, resulted in no fish. The fish had
the frog but it was way out there and the fish came off.

I was fishing 8lb mono but again distance was the reason I couldn't connect
with this fish. Any advice for hooksets at greater distances, or should I
just not be casting as far? Braid would not have made a difference, or at
least that's what I want to believe

Randy,
What size hook were you using???
I have had some hookup problems with 2/0 Gammie EWG's. Larger appear
to work better on HT's.

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