Missing a lot of bites

Couple things come to mind.
1) If your missing too many bites, try setting the hook to one side or the other. Instead of lifting straight up set the hook to your left side or your right side. Depends on where you have clearance.
2) Twist the hook off-center. In other words bend it to one side or the other of the eye. Offsetting the hook can help with more hook-ups.

im game to try something new. Do sickle hooks fit in a standard jig mold that holds 575 hooks?

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Originally Posted by NightShift

I fish mostly at night with a 1/16oz marabou jig. The retrieve is painfully slow. I catch probably 50% of the bites I get. What can I do to improve this percentage? I basically let the fish hook themselves. It seems like every time I raise up to do any kind of a hook set, I will definitely miss him. The ones I do get in have ate the bait very good. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

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What exactly do you mean by "every time I raise up to do any kind of a hook set" :scratchhead

Are you saying that you are seated, then stand up to set the hook whenever you get a hit ?? If so ... that's your problem !! You're giving them too much time to spit the bait out.

If you're using a jig ... watch your line, and at the first sign of any jump in the line, or instant slack (& you know the jig cannot be on bottom) ... SET THE HOOK, FAST !! And don't be waiting to "feel" the fish, the weight of the fish, or for the fish to swim off. And don't just "lift" the rod ... jerk it upwards like you're trying to snatch the jig away from the fish.

If you're already doing that (& I misunderstood you) ... then I can only assume that the bites you miss are small fish or fish just pecking at the marabou tail. Only thing I can suggest, in that case, is to cut the marabou tail back ... about halfway between the hook bend and the end of the tail. I've been known to do this on marabou Roadrunners, and increased my catch rate by over 30%.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NightShift

I fish mostly at night with a 1/16oz marabou jig. The retrieve is painfully slow. I catch probably 50% of the bites I get. What can I do to improve this percentage? I basically let the fish hook themselves. It seems like every time I raise up to do any kind of a hook set, I will definitely miss him. The ones I do get in have ate the bait very good. Any advice is greatly appreciated!👍

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I maybe didn't understand the original post , but I am with the previous post .....any sign of a bite equals fast hook setting .....I seen some gentle lifts and such before and lots of times fish feel the resistance and poof they are gone

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

I maybe didn't understand the original post , but I am with the previous post .....any sign of a bite equals fast hook setting .....I seen some gentle lifts and such before and lots of times fish feel the resistance and poof they are gone

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No...I am seated when I lift the rod. It is more of the gentle lift you are describing. What I am saying is when I snatch the rod at the first sign of a bite...I will miss him every time.

I've just come to expect missing a lot of fish. Always have always will. When they are biting just right you won't miss any, but that is rarely the case. There are days I miss several for everyone I stick and still catch loads. Other days every bite counts. I've tried all the tiips and tricks and am not a fan of bending the hook out some. Great way to lose fish. If you want a wider gap get a bigger hook. Right now most of the fish are not even pecking it. You just notice weight or a little slack and jerk.

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use a 1/8 oz jig with a #4 or #6 red sickle hook and bend the tip out just a hair and your problems will be over unless you are getting brim bites or dink crappie, although you will still hook most dink crappie :biggrin

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Originally Posted by ibmack

use a 1/8 oz jig with a #4 or #6 red sickle hook and bend the tip out just a hair and your problems will be over unless you are getting brim bites or dink crappie, although you will still hook most dink crappie :biggrin

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I purchased some sickle hooks last night. I am hoping this will help!😎

When I have bad luck hooking fish, I adorn myself with genuine Marie Laveau chicken neck bone trinkets. Adjustments work.

Try cussing them