Hook Set on Top Waters - and a Question at the end.

I have got a pretty good hook set figured out for topwaters. They say never
set the hook until you feel the hit. I partly agree. I don't set the hook
when I see the strike, but quite often when a fish takes the bait under I do
not feel the strike.

This can happen in a couple different circumstances. The first one that
comes to mind is when I basically bump a resting fish on the nose. I have
had this happen on weed points and under docks when I figure the fish was in
ambush position. They sucked down the tidbit and just sat there.

I have also had it happen when fishing in a current like a main irrigation
canal. The fish hits and rides with the current or worse swims towards me
with the current.

If I waited to feel the strike in either of those situations I would never
set the hook. What I have found I have to do is watch the water very
carefully. If my topwater has not resurfaced by the time the splash from
the initial strike has settled down I crank down the line until it starts to
straighten out, but I don't feel the weight of the fish. Then I give it a
long hard hook set.

It takes between 1/2 and 1 second to tell if your bait is still on the
surface. If you wait too much longer though the fish often releases it and
you see it float back to the surface.

I have had the strike and fish on with no strike felt in open still water as
well, but not as often.

One thing I can say is that almost everytime I got excited and set the hook
as soon as I saw the strike I missed the fish.

Now for my question. I got into some smallmouth on a local canal that I
managed to hit the same time on three different days. On two of those days
I tied into a larger fish that got off. They both got off when diving away
from me in the current. I had tension on them, but because they had the
current helping them I was careful not to horse them. I basically felt like
the hook just pulled free. They didn't shake it out.

Today I boated a 14 inch LM fishing the mouth of the Arizona Channel on the
Colorado River. (picture in ABPF) He was barely hooked by one barb of the
rear hook. If I had a long fight or if I had to drag him out of the current
I am sure that hook would have torn out. What can I do to minimize the loss
of lightly hooked fish like that?

One of the smallies I lost was probably a much larger fish based on the
fight.


--
Bob La Londe
Yuma, Az
http://www.YumaBassMan.com
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"Bob La Londe" wrote in message SNIP

One thing I can say is that almost everytime I got excited and set the hook
as soon as I saw the strike I missed the fish.

***That's very common and easy to do. Topwater bites can be very subtle or as explosive as someone
dropping a cow from a bridge!

Now for my question. I got into some smallmouth on a local canal that I
managed to hit the same time on three different days. On two of those days
I tied into a larger fish that got off. They both got off when diving away
from me in the current. I had tension on them, but because they had the
current helping them I was careful not to horse them. I basically felt like
the hook just pulled free. They didn't shake it out.

***If the hook pulled free, either it wasn't hooked securely, i.e. thin tissue/barely hooked or your
hookset wasn't what it could be.

Today I boated a 14 inch LM fishing the mouth of the Arizona Channel on the
Colorado River. (picture in ABPF) He was barely hooked by one barb of the
rear hook. If I had a long fight or if I had to drag him out of the current
I am sure that hook would have torn out. What can I do to minimize the loss
of lightly hooked fish like that?

***You don't say if you're using spinning tackle or baitcasting. Regardless of which method you
use, it sounds like you might have the drag set too tight, loosen it up some so that the fish can
strip drag if needed. If using spinning tackle, you can backreel, a method that offers superb
control IF you know how to do it properly. If using baitcasting tackle, you can also freespool the
fish, applying pressure with your thumb as the fish surges.


One of the smallies I lost was probably a much larger fish based on the
fight.

***If you're like me Bob, it probably was! ;-)
--
Steve
OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com



--
Bob La Londe
Yuma, Az
http://www.YumaBassMan.com
Promote Your Fishing, Boating, or Guide Site for Free
Simply add it to our index page.
No reciprocal link required. (Requested, but not required)

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message ...
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message SNIP

One thing I can say is that almost everytime I got excited and set the hook
as soon as I saw the strike I missed the fish.

***That's very common and easy to do. Topwater bites can be very subtle or as explosive as someone
dropping a cow from a bridge!

Now for my question. I got into some smallmouth on a local canal that I
managed to hit the same time on three different days. On two of those days
I tied into a larger fish that got off. They both got off when diving away
from me in the current. I had tension on them, but because they had the
current helping them I was careful not to horse them. I basically felt like
the hook just pulled free. They didn't shake it out.

***If the hook pulled free, either it wasn't hooked securely, i.e. thin tissue/barely hooked or your
hookset wasn't what it could be.

Today I boated a 14 inch LM fishing the mouth of the Arizona Channel on the
Colorado River. (picture in ABPF) He was barely hooked by one barb of the
rear hook. If I had a long fight or if I had to drag him out of the current
I am sure that hook would have torn out. What can I do to minimize the loss
of lightly hooked fish like that?

***You don't say if you're using spinning tackle or baitcasting. Regardless of which method you
use, it sounds like you might have the drag set too tight, loosen it up some so that the fish can
strip drag if needed. If using spinning tackle, you can backreel, a method that offers superb
control IF you know how to do it properly. If using baitcasting tackle, you can also freespool the
fish, applying pressure with your thumb as the fish surges.


One of the smallies I lost was probably a much larger fish based on the
fight.

***If you're like me Bob, it probably was! ;-)
--
Steve
OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com



--
Bob La Londe
Yuma, Az
http://www.YumaBassMan.com
Promote Your Fishing, Boating, or Guide Site for Free
Simply add it to our index page.
No reciprocal link required. (Requested, but not required)



--------------------------------
Bob, you can also try replacing the hooks that come on the
bait. Many times the hooks on the bait are to small, not very good etc.
I like the 4 barb hooks (Strike King Saber Point Super Quad hook).
I use these on my spooks, etc.
-Justin
--------------------------------

"Justin Hires" wrote in message
m...
"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message
...
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message SNIP

One thing I can say is that almost everytime I got excited and set the
hook
as soon as I saw the strike I missed the fish.

***That's very common and easy to do. Topwater bites can be very subtle
or as explosive as someone
dropping a cow from a bridge!

Now for my question. I got into some smallmouth on a local canal that
I
managed to hit the same time on three different days. On two of those
days
I tied into a larger fish that got off. They both got off when diving
away
from me in the current. I had tension on them, but because they had
the
current helping them I was careful not to horse them. I basically
felt like
the hook just pulled free. They didn't shake it out.

***If the hook pulled free, either it wasn't hooked securely, i.e. thin
tissue/barely hooked or your
hookset wasn't what it could be.

Today I boated a 14 inch LM fishing the mouth of the Arizona Channel
on the
Colorado River. (picture in ABPF) He was barely hooked by one barb of
the
rear hook. If I had a long fight or if I had to drag him out of the
current
I am sure that hook would have torn out. What can I do to minimize
the loss
of lightly hooked fish like that?

***You don't say if you're using spinning tackle or baitcasting.
Regardless of which method you
use, it sounds like you might have the drag set too tight, loosen it up
some so that the fish can
strip drag if needed. If using spinning tackle, you can backreel, a
method that offers superb
control IF you know how to do it properly. If using baitcasting tackle,
you can also freespool the
fish, applying pressure with your thumb as the fish surges.


One of the smallies I lost was probably a much larger fish based on
the
fight.

***If you're like me Bob, it probably was! ;-)
--
Steve
OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com



--
Bob La Londe
Yuma, Az
http://www.YumaBassMan.com
Promote Your Fishing, Boating, or Guide Site for Free
Simply add it to our index page.
No reciprocal link required. (Requested, but not required)



--------------------------------
Bob, you can also try replacing the hooks that come on the
bait. Many times the hooks on the bait are to small, not very good etc.
I like the 4 barb hooks (Strike King Saber Point Super Quad hook).
I use these on my spooks, etc.
-Justin
--------------------------------

Replacing the hooks is an excellent idea. I was so impressed witht he
Excalibur Rotating hooks on my Spiitin' Image topwaters that I replaced the
front hooks on all my small poppers with them. I had a lot of fish get
hooked outside the mouth with that hook. You know the fish I mean. The
ones that just come up and kill the bait without opening their mouth. In
fact I caught a striper that way last night. I haven't replaced the back
hook because it has a nice hair and tinsel streamer. I suppose I should get
out my fli tieing vise and tie some of my own stramers on the rotating hooks
to make my own trailer hook for those. Since I had to use what seemed like
a much alrger hook as a replacement I think the action ont he smaller
poppers is slightly harder to impart properly. Perhaps increasing the size
of the rear hook too will make it sit more face up in the water.

Thanks Justin. You got me thinking again.


--
Bob La Londe
Yuma, Az
http://www.YumaBassMan.com
Promote Your Fishing, Boating, or Guide Site for Free
Simply add it to our index page.
No reciprocal link required. (Requested, but not required)

I find that thin wire hooks do a better job of hooking fish and ewg ("triple
grip") Trebles also seem to do very well.