Thread: Rod Action/Power Rating effect on Hook setting

Spent yesterday fishing for blue gill/sunfish with a Daiwa Presso ST 53XUL-4 travel rod(slow action) and the Abu Garcia Carabus Nano CNA-602XULS MGS (faster than the Presso).

While fishing initially I seemed to be missing more hook ups on the Presso ST. I’ve gotten into the habit of just reeling fast on a bite. I missed several hits, and had a couple fish come off while reeling them to the boat with that technique. I tried to adapt by doing a sweeping motion to help with the hook set.
I’m thinking that the action of the rod is taking up at least some of the force that a faster action rod imparts to setting the hook. With a slow action rod, I’m wondering if a higher power rod (like an UL) would be able to hook up better than the XUL rod.
Thoughts, opinions and wild guesses Welcome.

A slower rod doesn’t hookup as good I think.

I believe that you’re on the right page. Recently, I chose the Pfenix 1-5lb blank over the Fenwick for the slightly stiffer middle and butt section. One of the guys at Mudhole had one of the Fenwick and said that he couldn’t set the hook with it. My reaction after a hit might cost me a fish now and then also, a snap of the wrist til I feel something on the other end. I also use braid so it doesn’t take much to give the hook point some authority. Mono or other lines with stretch change the effectiveness of that also. I use mono for spinners or constant retrieve baits, even some curl tails. The fish usually kinda set the hook themselves. I’ve also been known to put small fish that hit close to the surface on their first skiing lesson, some even airborne but I’m not that enthusiastic with the wrist action. Small hooks and largemouth are another story too. Even doing everything right I still lose some of those.

Line stretch is also a consideration. I mostly fish braid. When I switch to mono. I miss lots of fish. Get used to the hookset with mono and go back to braid. I am jacking some jaws. Turning some of them into flying fish

I was using Varivas Lemoni line so no stretch to the line. I'll have to keep in mind that when using the presso I need to actually be setting the hook, not just reeling faster with a little rod tip raising. Being a 5'3" rod is probably contributing some also, not taking up as much line when raising the rod tip.

Couple of things were most likely working againt me. 1) slower action rod than what I'm used to. 2) Shorter rod than what I've been using. 3) Wind was putting a bow in the line, so with a shorter rod I was taking up as much line when raising the tip.

Originally Posted by zekepa

I was using Varivas Lemoni line so no stretch to the line. I'll have to keep in mind that when using the presso I need to actually be setting the hook, not just reeling faster with a little rod tip raising. Being a 5'3" rod is probably contributing some also, not taking up as much line when raising the rod tip.

Couple of things were most likely working againt me. 1) slower action rod than what I'm used to. 2) Shorter rod than what I've been using. 3) Wind was putting a bow in the line, so with a shorter rod I was taking up as much line when raising the tip.

Sometimes I have days that leave me scratching my head trying to figure out why I missed so many fish or had more than usual get off about halfway in .
Those are the ones that get me .
You set the hook , you have a battle for several minutes, then all of a sudden , your line goes limp .
Can’t stand that !

I've never been one to cross their eyes when I set the hook so I guess I miss my share of hook sets. It doesn't help that I like shorter rods with a moderate action. I am hoping the very low stretch Twitchmaster helps me with that. My 4'6" Fenwick is the rod I miss with the most but I really like that rod. Most folks would consider it too whippy.

A longer rod would help with hook sets and help with the stretch of mono. Not a fan of short rods, my smallest is a 6' and standard rod for me is 7'-7.5' I like a fast action ultralight, have a 6.5' that has a moderate or slow action and don't care for it. Think my use of Braid for panfish is over and just stick with mono or fluorocarbon. Suggest a longer fast action rod.

Originally Posted by JUNGLEJIMJIGS

A longer rod would help with hook sets and help with the stretch of mono. Not a fan of short rods, my smallest is a 6' and standard rod for me is 7'-7.5' I like a fast action ultralight, have a 6.5' that has a moderate or slow action and don't care for it. Think my use of Braid for panfish is over and just stick with mono or fluorocarbon. Suggest a longer fast action rod.

I completely understand your preferences. But I do most of my fishing from a canoe. A shorter rod is much easier to handle. Even from the bank I like the easy handling particularly if there are a lot of trees and vegetation around.

And I don't really like the feel of a fast action rod. Stiff just doesn't feel good to me. I like my rod to load up nicely and do most of the work of casting for me. I cast pretty leisurely. Don't get the distance that would make most folks happy but I do okay.

I am happy to live with the limitations of my shorter more limber rods.


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Haven’t set a hook in years. It is a combination of rod, line, and jig heads. And I’m pretty sure the way I fish has something to do with it also. I use a constant twitch. During my retrieve I hold the rod tip almost straight up. I believe that method, along with the lines I use, and the extremely sharp jig heads are why I don’t need a hook set. Many of the rods I fish with are solid tips. While very soft in the first 10 inches of the rod they get fast real quick. In years past I used a nylon line that had way too much stretch and I’m sure it cost me hook ups. The Varivas Twitch Master VLS is the only nylon line I will use. I have several rods that are slow and I have no problems with them either. The Tict Rockin Drift is about as slow as they come and have never used a hook set with it. I just continue to reel and the fish is hooked. Another rod is the Slow Taper Special, no hook set. While those rods I named may be high end rods low end JDM rods perform the same. The Palms Egeria XUL is a very soft rod, no hook set. I have not had an issue with the Iprimi XXUL rod either. But it is rare I fish soft plastics with that rod. I own several Fine Tail stream rods that are short. Same with them, no hook set. As I said I think my twitch method has some to do with the hook up and of course the Saq Sas hooks on my jig heads and some lures. When fishing the D 2 jig for trout if you don’t set the hook you won’t catch many fish, but it is a completely different retrieve method, and to be honest to those of us used to JDM hooks the D2 hook is dull. No twitch, just pop it and let it fall. But I have to tell you I would love to see the D2 jig built on a Saq Sas hook. I really believe one might get away with no hook set using that hook. I am forever spoiled on sharp hooks and just will not settle for a jig head that is dull. I mean if you think about never setting the hook on KY bass, large mouth, Smallies, and you get hook penetration in the boney part of the mouth that’s pretty impressive.


Regards


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