I always set the hook right away, I rarely wait. The key is always paying
attention to the line and a good rod for feel. Chances are you never felt
the intial pick up, the tap you feel is usally the fish starting to swim
away with your bait. IMO

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"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message
...

"Joe McIntosh" wrote in message
...
new to bass fishing but learned to set the hook when mountain trout
fishing with small flies.

Now have a 21 acre pond within our golf course that no one else fishes
so am spending lots of time learning to catch bass with spinning gear.
Fishing from kayak and using senko 4 inch jerkbait and size 3
hook--should I let bass { 10 to 12 inch } take the bait for awhile ??
Seem to be missing some strikes a couple of feet down as I have some
slack in line.;-- need help-thanks
Joe McIntosh

The problem with waiting to set the hook is that while you will likely
increase your catch rate, you'll also increase the number of gut hooked
fish that will in all liklihood suffer delayed mortality.

I usually wait about a two count, one thousand one, one thousand two, set
the hook. I'd rather miss a few fish than kill them. A 21 acre pond can
be fished down in little time.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com