Thread: Hook set practice

Got to keep the line tight when they are swimming and when they are flying or they will spit it out. I seen a guy last year bass fishing in the BFL set the hook with a 1/2 oz jig two different times. Both times had 11 or 12 inch fish fly all the way over the boat and both still hooked good enough to reel them in.

Originally Posted by Jigging15

I am sure Bugman will agree with me on this because I have seen him in action. 10 ft rod you can not set the hook hard enough. If a 9 inch fish doesn't come out of the water from 10ft down set the hook harder the next time.

Dont ya know it true !!!!:D

Originally Posted by Joedog

Isn't it true that the timing of the hookset is also important in certain instances? Otherwise, what's the "tic tic tugg" all about? I thought that there are some patterns where patience prevails.

We're not talking about Nojoes:D we mean fish brother!!!

i don't know iv'e heard it both way's...i have read a TON of article's from all the different pro's that say you can't set the hook hard enough. they claim in their article's they have never lost a crappie cuz of too hard of a hookset. i'm like bug's i set the hook like it was a bass, but that being said that is when they are thumping it...sometime's it's more of a finesse fishing and sometime's it's what i call full contact crappie fishing i just adapt to the bite, however they want it, however i can get the hook set in their mouth, that's what i work with and that's why i'm the CRAPPIESLAYER:rolleyes::D now if you will excuse me i gotta go deflate my head

I Got Into A Couple Of Deals Last Friday At Bucksaw That Drove Me Nuts! Wife Had The Same Thing Happen To Her With A Minnow On. It Seemed The Crappie Were Bringing My Jigs Up As I Was Dropping Them Down. Wife And I Also Had It Happen On Minnow Poles. We Had Them Setting Down On The Boat And The Next Thing We Knew There Was Slack In The Line, Sometimes As Much As 2 Foot.

What Should I Do In A Case Like This? We Caught The Fish Each Time And They Were Good Fish. I Guess What I Am Asking When A Fish Is Bringing Your Bait Up What Is That A Sign Of?

Originally Posted by DMW1960

I Got Into A Couple Of Deals Last Friday At Bucksaw That Drove Me Nuts! Wife Had The Same Thing Happen To Her With A Minnow On. It Seemed The Crappie Were Bringing My Jigs Up As I Was Dropping Them Down. Wife And I Also Had It Happen On Minnow Poles. We Had Them Setting Down On The Boat And The Next Thing We Knew There Was Slack In The Line, Sometimes As Much As 2 Foot.

What Should I Do In A Case Like This? We Caught The Fish Each Time And They Were Good Fish. I Guess What I Am Asking When A Fish Is Bringing Your Bait Up What Is That A Sign Of?

Thats a sign that the fish has it in its mouth!
SET THE HOOK!!
Hook sets are free. I have learned bass fishing and it seems to be the same with crappie fishing if you have any sudden slack in your line, or your jig is dropping and it stops falling, set the hook.

Originally Posted by DMW1960

I Guess What I Am Asking When A Fish Is Bringing Your Bait Up What Is That A Sign Of?

Don't know for sure.....Could be spoiled bait....
Or maybe he just wants to talk....
Or could be in a trance from Beagle's singing...:D:D

DMW,
I catch quite a few crappie when the bite is soft like this by letting out a bunch of line (7-8') at a time and letting it spool on top of the water... then my single split shot with a minnow veeeerrrry slowly pull the line down with them - and if it stops after (for example) about 8', and I know I'm in 40' of water, I know its either in a fish's mouth OR my rig is sitting on top of some cover. Either way, I'll quickly take up the extra slack and give a little hook-set after feeling for tension.

Usually only works well when it isn't too breezy.

I've also fished with a slip bobber and seen it start to move ever-so-slowly to one side or the other but NOT bobbing downward. Symptomatic of the same thing. Take up the slack and give a hook set.