All The Sudden Cant Hook Fish With Big Worms 2025

Catch and Grease reply :

Well guys this week has sucked, I lost my trolling motor and have been skunked for the third day in a row now...

But this day was different I tried everything but figured out they wanted 12 inch worms so I started throwing ole monsters and berkly power worms, I got 5 good bites and missed every fish, I would set the hook and feel them for a split second and then they would spit the hook!

I've never had problems hooking bass on my 12 inch setups untill now, you think it was just bad luck

I'm using a 7'0 ft MH Fast action shimano zeles rod with a 7.3 tatula, spooled with 50lb braid and a 14lb flouro leader with brand new 6/0 cutting edge eagle claw EWG hooks.

I'll go through my process and maybe y'all can point out something I'm doing wrong,

First I feel the first ticks of the bite then I reel up all slack until I can barely feel some of the fishes weight and then I set the hook which is 1-3 seconds after they take the bait.... I'm putting all my force into it due to the thick wire hook and thick bait. Does that sound right? One of the bass I set the hook on complety took my worm, like I pulled it up and it was just a bare hook....

Catch and Grease reply :

Oh and one more thing, im setting the hook straight over my head.

Man it just sucks because those fish felt like a rock when I set the hook and had to be 4lbs, which is big for me because my PB is just shy of 5lbs

Fishes in trees reply :

Me, I set the hook asap. The instant I think I've gotten bit I set the hook.

Last time I checked, hook sets are free. Not a really big deal - you just went 0 for 5. If you are really paranoid, you can use that as evidence that god has a grudge against you for some perceived character flaw.

Alonerankin2 reply :

Sounds like maybe mentally you're not in the game, being how you opened up you're post... Believe me, things can and do impact our fishing at times.... That hook? Have you used it with success ? I might even consider ditching the leader? Truthfully it's just a fishing occurrence ... I use owner cutting points in 7/0 (On big worms) don't ever feel the need to much to use EWG ... That's just my preference . Hang tuff!

Catch and Grease reply :

Yes its the only hook I use for my 10-12 inch worms... Yeah I was getting frustrated after the second missed bass maybe I need to take a day or two break lol

EmersonFish reply :

If you were doing everything you usually do, and it usually works, I wouldn't over think it. It could have been something the fish were doing. A 12" worm is a big bait. Maybe they were striking it short for some reason? If a fish pulls a bait off of a hook, they probably never had the hook in their mouth in the first place. They were gripping the tail when you set the hook, and you basically ripped the worm off.

Catch and Grease reply :

On 7/10/2014 at 12:41 AM, Daniel Emerson said:
If you were doing everything you usually do, and it usually works, I wouldn't over think it. It could have been something the fish were doing. A 12" worm is a big bait. Maybe they were striking it short for some reason? If a fish pulls a bait off of a hook, they probably never had the hook in their mouth in the first place. They were gripping the tail when you set the hook, and you basically ripped the worm off.

That's what I was thinking so I switched colors and it didn't work, at first I was thinking it was gar but their wasn't any teeth marks in my worms and my line had no frays so that not the problem

Elkaholic247 reply :

I fished for about 5 hours on Sunday and only got two fish to the boat. I must have lost or just flat out missed 15 fish. It was early and I didnt have my coffee, so Im just gonna blame it on that....It happens, I wouldnt worry about it. Just continue to fish with confidence. I went out this morning and didnt lose a single fish.

BassinLou reply :

Or the possibility maybe that its a small bass and they may just be grabbing the tail. I have seen them do it.

WRB reply :

With a T-rig worm your hook set % should be better snap setting into slight line slack before you feel any fish pressure for 2 reasons; 1 the bass doesn't feel you and 2) the snap set forces are very high driving the hook through the worm and basses mouth tissues. I am not a fan of off set EWG hooks with big worms, better off using a hook similar to Owner 5103 or Gamakatsu 484 straight shank size 5/0 skin hooked.

Tom

Catch and Grease reply :

Guys I know this an old thread but I'm still having problems hooking up when using big worms, I followed some advice you guys had by ditching the leader and EWG's.

It seems like if I let them hold onto it too long I don't get a good set but if I set it to fast it just rips it out if their mouth... I'm catching bass with them but I'm missing more hook sets than I should..

I've been setting the hook as soon as I can reel the slack up because that's what I've always done

einscodek reply :

For most lures I usually set the hook asap.. except for big worms.

There I calm myself down and tell myself to feel for the steady pressure then set hard.. its not easy when you condition yerself to set the hook fast and then have to slow down.

Did you use enough attractant? They are important for the big worms

They will buy you the split second you often need to set the hook

Problem with 12" worms is that even the big gals will take a few gulps to eat it cause its so long and most likely the first bite will have it chewing at the tail end.

Catch and Grease reply :

Yes I use JJ's magic scent/dye.

einscodek reply :

Well dont be afraid to change it up cause if somethings not workin its just a waste of time to keep repeatin it

ie.. if they are not hookin up on lightning hooksets then wait a few seconds and feel for the weight

on days where you are losing them on a pressure-feel hookset, set immediately

but like I said the bigger worms usually need some patience for the fish to gulp them down

Catch and Grease reply :

Okay thanks for you input maybe im just over thinking it...

I start getting frustrated after like 5 missed bites and I cant be consistent with my hooksets.

Alonerankin2 reply :

What rod are you using?

Catch and Grease reply :

7'0 MH/F shimano zeles and 50lb braid.

David P reply :

The leader is not your issue, fluorocarbon doesn't stretch much, and braid doesn't stretch at all. Your MH rod if truly a MH should be plenty. Eagle Claw hooks are not one of the better hooks and could be an issue...Are you leaving the hook point half way inside of the bait? Or pulling it through the top then lightly skin hooking it on the back?

Go to a large oversized worm hook... Owner makes an oversize worm hook in 7/0 and 11/0 , I'd try the 7/0.

Catch and Grease reply :

I skin hook my baits, I have been using the owner 7/0 oversize worm hooks. I ran out today and switched to some old worm hooks about the same size but from an unknown brand. I was still having issues with the owners though before I switched to the crappy hooks.

David P reply :

Maybe they're just not eating that large of a worm. Have you downsized to a 7" or 10" power worm? 2,3,4lb fish can certainly EAT a 12" worm, but could be eating half the bait, just the tail, who knows. Sounds like something's got to change whether it be color, or size.

Catch and Grease reply :

I'm trying to learn how to target big bass and that's why I'm throwing 10-12" worms, I know a lot of the bites I'm getting are dinks, bluegill, and pickerel/gar but I feel like I'm missing good quality bass...

David P reply :

Have you tried a jig? Awesome BIG FISH bait and much smaller profile, might help you still target those bigger fish but also help with hook up ratio.

Hope you get it figured out, missing bites ain't much fun!

Alonerankin2 reply :

The bigger jig trailer might work, but that lake you fish reminds me a lot of loochloossa except you got no big bass... Kidding, geez... Let you're big worm strikes run longer, 5 to 10 seconds.. Let them it eat it good... Another thing, try powerbait, they have 12" ribbon tales and 10" as well.. Just a suggestion, I hope you have better success.

Loop_Dad reply :

I've been using lots of big worms lately. I use ol monster, even magnum a little bit.

I use owner's twist lock light wire in size 6/0 for ol monster. Even if it is light wire, they change the size of wire accordingly, so with 6/0 I feel they are strong enough. I set hook depending on how the bite is. It is kinda hard to explain the timing of setting the hook, because it is case by case, but if I try to put it in words, If it is hard bites, like strong pull, I set hook immediately. If it is a very slight tick, I'll give just ~~a couple of~~ a few seconds of delay. My hook up ratio is pretty good, must be over 90%.

But if it was working before and suddenly missing, as other poster mentioned, there might be smaller fish nibbling. I would switch out to shorter bait and nail the fish to find out.

Catch and Grease reply :

On 9/14/2014 at 10:01 AM, Alonerankin2 said:
The bigger jig trailer might work, but that lake you fish reminds me a lot of loochloossa except you got no big bass... Kidding, geez... Let you're big worm strikes run longer, 5 to 10 seconds.. Let them it eat it good... Another thing, try powerbait, they have 12" ribbon tales and 10" as well.. Just a suggestion, I hope you have better success.

Yes I like power bait worms! 10 seconds seems a little long to me for hookset but Ill try it!

WRB reply :

Back in the day (70's) we would let bass eat the worms and move off with it before setting the hook. This works when bass are very aggressive, not when they aren't, set the immediately and adjust as needed.

Tom

Comfortably Numb reply :

Wait longer before hookset.

Use smaller worm or different bait. You may be eliminating more small bass with big worms but not gaining big ones.

Bluegiller reply :

Same thing happened to me both days this weekend. I was wondering what the heck I was doing wrong....and then as soon as the sun cleared the trees and hit the water this afternoon I saw something interesting. There were schools of smallish 1 pound bass, and I could see them just grabbing the end of the worm and swimming with it. It just starting getting cold in NJ here at night, wondered if this had anything to do with it. I also saw lots of really small pickeral, was a weird weekend of sightings for me.

David P reply :

Glad the jig paid off! Stick with it!

PersicoTrotaVA reply :

Man you guys use some big hooks! I use a 4/0 maybe a 5/0 with my zoom mag worms. If you are feeling a tick, more than likely they grabbed the tail. I notice when its a harder thump, they hit the hook. The tick hits, you wanna wait just a little longer before ripping back. I stopped using braid on my worm rods. I noticed that I would rip it out of their mouths more often than not. I have one rod spooled with 15 lb fluorocarbon and 1 I have my other one spooled with 20 lb fluorocarbon for thicker stuff, like grass and wood.

I started using weighted owner twist lock hooks. I guess it would be a rage rig? I love it. The weight drags and kicks stuff up and the fall of the worm is amazing.

8565

All The Sudden Cant Hook Fish With Big Worms 2025

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