Low hook up percentages on the vertical hookset ... try a different hookset angle

In my experience, practically everything in fishing can be quantified, and hook-setting mechanics under the float are no exception. A recent discussion in the media raised the possibility that altering the angle of your hookset ... moving away from the traditional upright motion toward a sidearm approach, can significantly impact hookup efficiency. i have experienced similar results immediately just months ago while creating videos.

Historically, my hookup percentages have been consistently in my mind inefficient sometimes at near 60% using a standard vertical hookset. However, after experimenting with a sidearm technique, I observed a noticeable improvement in consistency, particularly when fishing with circle hooks. Over time, I refined this adjustment and now favor a controlled 45° angled hookset, which has delivered hookup rates approaching 90% or better under a variety of conditions.

This adjustment has now become an integral part of my approach and continues to produce highly reliable results on the water.

so yes everyone is different as well as their setups, this has been a real game changer for me. i never have low hook-up percentages micro jigging with a vertical hookset, but slip floating this seems to improve the numbers greatly

i hate that feeling... setting the hook into nothing but air. minor adjustments slip floating resulting in greater productivity was greatly appreciated



anybody else disappointed in hook-up percentages, and then do some experimenting with rod angle?

Pretty ironic that you brought this topic up because I've had to change how I've been fishing lately. I was a bass guy, exclusively, for about 30 years before I started crappie fishing seriously, and of course, had to adjust to more of a "wrist snap" when jig fishing. However, because the bite has been so finicky lately, I've been using live minnows under a slip cork. After missing about 4 or 5 fish a few weeks ago, I remembered what our crappie guide at Living the Dream told me and my boys when were there a couple of years ago (he is also a professional bass fisherman). We started the day off catching white bass on small spoons, and we had to really have a hard hook set to catch them, but when we switched to dropping down live minnows to crappie over deep brush piles, he told us to totally forget what we just did. He said with crappie and live minnows, once you felt the tap, just slowly and steadily reel it up....do NOT try to set the hook because you would pull it away from them. So what I've been doing lately with minnows is watch my cork go down and give them 2-3 seconds before I just start reeling with a sideways, sweeping motion, and I've had MUCH better success that way.

similar to what i do when fly fishing surface flies i set the hook sideways instead of up, much better hook ups

Set to the left or right at 45 degrees? :)

I can't see angle of hook set helping much . I like to bend my J hooks point out a few degrees to help . :twocents All I use is jigs . never hesitate to set the hook as the thump you feel is them inhaling the jig .:fish

I'm with Nimrod, I've never really noticed a certain hook set angle being better or worse. Being a former strictly bass guy, I had to learn not to rip their lips off. lol I also bend my hooks out a little to grab a little better.

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

I can't see angle of hook set helping much . I like to bend my J hooks point out a few degrees to help . :twocents All I use is jigs . never hesitate to set the hook as the thump you feel is them inhaling the jig .:fish

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yep i agree my crappie and panfish jig bites are already near 100%:ThumbsUp no matter what i do...however minnow under the float specifically for crappie ... ive missed a few let me tell ya

I can see the logic behind this since most of my fishing is moving (whether spider rigging, long line, or pitching/casting) and haven't done as my vertical fishing lately, so my hook sets are at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees.

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Originally Posted by jjue1979

I can see the logic behind this since most of my fishing is moving (whether spider rigging, long line, or pitching/casting) and haven't done as my vertical fishing lately, so my hook sets are at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees.

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so you dont notice any difference in your methods commonly used but dont slip float?
i think it is more logical in my case since it is the "method of slip floating"... which was in the topic post. i am pretty much 100% hookup-ratio-ed with microjig method and just a bit lower with the dropshot that angle does not matter

I haven’t really used a float (fixed or slip) in about 10 years (before 360 and Livescope), although it was casting out to a shallow area with an ultralight because the boat would scare the fish away. In a way, my hookset would still be at an angle because of the distance, although it would initially be closer to vertical and increase in angle as I remove the slack in the line. I haven’t tried drop shot rigging for crappie.

Okay .... I'll be the Huckleberry :biggrin

As I see it, a vertical sweep of the rod is slightly limited in how much slack is recovered versus a horizontal sweep of the rod.
In a vertical sweep you generally start with the rod out in front of you at various angles, and your rod tip generally only goes to slightly overhead on the hookset. So, say the rod tip travels around 7ft. in that half second hookset.

Now consider how much farther the rod tip can travel if you do a horizontal sweep of the rod (say maybe 9-10ft) ... therefore taking up a foot or two more slack line than your vertical sweep, simply because you can move the rod past you farther with the twisting of your body than simply sweeping it above your head.

I won't get into the geometry of this explanation (because I can't), but if you think about it you might see my point.

Another factor may be the use of circle hooks, which are more likely to connect with the fish with the horizontal sweep (more of a "pulling" action) vs the horizontal sweep of the rod, which is more of a "jerking" action.

I'm just hypothesizing ... as I have no experience with circle hooks, and very rarely use a float. :)

I just use Tru Turn hooks under my slip bobber. Doesn't matter what angle you set the hook. Slack in your line has a much larger effect on successful hook ups. No More "swing and a miss!"

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Originally Posted by Opie1

I just use Tru Turn hooks under my slip bobber. Doesn't matter what angle you set the hook. Slack in your line has a much larger effect on successful hookups. No More "swing and a miss!"

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thank you for the response...so... you have a hook suggestion.... angle doesnt matter...

most fisherman have a set pattern or habit in their hook-set style and angle... what is yours?.... is it already at a low angle to the water?...

yeah no slack here... i monitor only one line during the hot summer periods and i keep my waxie moving... in my spots during the summer under the float is about a 30% crappie 70% bluegill mix using the same bait gulp waxie... that is always a nice mix in the bucket when i harvest

Seems like everybody just wants to sell me a hook! ��


Really, I was just trying to start a poll on hook-set angle.


all answers are good but with no real singular right answer, what works for one might not work for another. i am still learning everyday... social media is great but no better teacher than being out on the water trying and observing.


I’ve tried plenty of hook styles, and honestly, they all perform about the same for me. For years, I avoided circle hooks because of the “just reel it in” style you always hear about in the so-called Circle Hook Manual. But I’ve got to say ,they’re excellent for kids panfishing from the boat or dock. Fewer injuries, and all they have to do is reel ’em in. For me personally, I’m actually getting a better hookup percentage with circles, regardless of hook-set angle. The biggest standout: I rarely ever have to deal with a deep-set hooks anymore. That alone is a huge win. in one case, i actually tugged one out of the gut, unscathing the fish with a live release.


That said, no matter the hook, I do notice hookup percentages improve when I go with a lower-angle snap hook-set instead of straight up. I catch plenty of bluegill and crappie on the slip float + waxie setup, but I’ve noticed the crappie hookups especially improve late afternoon into dusk, and even more if it overlaps with a minor or major lunar period.


When I’m targeting crappie in cold water, I’ll use the same slip float setup (have not tried the circle hook) on a longer rod with live minnows. Cold water periods helps dodge the nonstop bluegill nibbles and taps. The lower hook-set actually came to me by accident. I was losing fish fighting them high-rod, so I dropped the rod tip down and instantly saw better results.This is well known in fishing circles. Keeping it low just stuck after that. (micro jigging does not matter and i use high-rod mainly)


One thing that really stands out to me: fishermen in general (myself included, maybe worst of all) can be stubborn. But I’ve learned to soak in as much as I can from social media, forums, and good sources like this one. Then it’s all about weighing, sifting, and testing it on the water. End of the day, the proof’s in the bucket… or on the scales. ��