Newbie, texas rig, failing to set hook

I'm not particularly experienced at fishing, and have just started fishing
texas-rigged plastic worms. I get lots of good bites this way, but never
manage to set the hook. I've switched to wide worm hooks to no avail.

I know the fish isn't spitting out the bait, because if I open the reel, the
fish will swim away with it until I try to set it (and proceed to yank it
out of the fish).

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Rick

The Holy Cow wrote:
I'm not particularly experienced at fishing, and have just started fishing
texas-rigged plastic worms. I get lots of good bites this way, but never
manage to set the hook. I've switched to wide worm hooks to no avail.

I know the fish isn't spitting out the bait, because if I open the reel, the
fish will swim away with it until I try to set it (and proceed to yank it
out of the fish).

Any suggestions?

Using too light of a rod can cause this,, you did not state if the hook
came through the bait or not, I used to let them run twice and set the
hook on the 2nd run, but I ended up with a lot of gut hooked fish. Many
set the hook on the first twitch they see or feel in their line, and
they set it HARD.

Another problem I have run into is big bream grabbing the tail, or very
dink bass, they just never get the hook in their mouths

--
Rodney Long,
Inventor of the Long Shot "WIGGLE" rig, SpecTastic Thread
Boomerang Fishing Pro. ,Stand Out Hooks ,Stand Out Lures,
Mojo's Rock Hopper & Rig Saver weights, Decoy Activator
and the EZKnot http://www.ezknot.com

Rodney wrote:
Using too light of a rod can cause this,, you did not state if the hook

I have a heavier rod I'll try, and I'll try really whipping the hell out of
it to set.

came through the bait or not, I used to let them run twice and set the

Sometimes the hook comes through the bait, sometimes the bait slides down
the hook so only the head of the bait remains on the hook (and does so at
the curve), and sometimes the bait doesn't move.

Another problem I have run into is big bream grabbing the tail, or very
dink bass, they just never get the hook in their mouths

Could be. On other lures, and one lucky time with a texas rig, I'm landing
12" bass here, so there could be smaller ones. I've also got sunfish and
pickerel in the same water.

Rick

Remember to reel up any slack before setting the hook also.

When texas rigging, poke the hook through the plastic then skin tuck it back
in. Also it real easy to rip the worm from a bass if it's swimming right at
you

Rodney is right about light rods especially if your making long casts, if
that's the case switch to a braided line

It will not require as much of a hook set like mono does.

Like I mentioned, I always try to avoid setting the hook on a bass coming
right at me.

A good thing to do is fish some surface plastics like Yum buzz frogs or
Zoom Ultravibe speedworms, you will know when the fish has it and they are a
little more reluctant to let it go right away IMO, you can also try that
hammer hook set!! Good Luck

"The Holy Cow" wrote in message
news:hRyUe.45551$Sj1.1326@okepread04...
Rodney wrote:
Using too light of a rod can cause this,, you did not state if the hook

I have a heavier rod I'll try, and I'll try really whipping the hell out
of
it to set.

came through the bait or not, I used to let them run twice and set the

Sometimes the hook comes through the bait, sometimes the bait slides down
the hook so only the head of the bait remains on the hook (and does so at
the curve), and sometimes the bait doesn't move.

Another problem I have run into is big bream grabbing the tail, or very
dink bass, they just never get the hook in their mouths

Could be. On other lures, and one lucky time with a texas rig, I'm landing
12" bass here, so there could be smaller ones. I've also got sunfish and
pickerel in the same water.

Rick

The Holy Cow wrote:
I have a heavier rod I'll try, and I'll try really whipping the hell out of
it to set.


Try this.

http://www.richz.com/fishing/fishtips/hookset.html

RichZ wrote:

Try this.

http://www.richz.com/fishing/fishtips/hookset.html

That's the best I've seen written on hook setting

--
Rodney Long,
Inventor of the Long Shot "WIGGLE" rig, SpecTastic Thread
Boomerang Fishing Pro. ,Stand Out Hooks ,Stand Out Lures,
Mojo's Rock Hopper & Rig Saver weights, Decoy Activator
and the EZKnot http://www.ezknot.com

alwaysfishking wrote:
When texas rigging, poke the hook through the plastic then skin tuck it
back in. Also it real easy to rip the worm from a bass if it's swimming
right at you

I've rigged like that, and even taken to leaving the tip just outside of the
worm, such that it rests against the worm. Since then, I've only gone out
once, and I didn't get any nibbles except some excessively small fish that
were hanging around under my boat in the shade.

I think the bites I was getting before were going mostly sideways or away,
not towards me. Sometimes it's hard to tell, as the fish shakes the hell
out of the line without going far.

that's the case switch to a braided line
It will not require as much of a hook set like mono does.

Worth a try.

Thanks, everybody, for all the help.

Rick