Really Idiotic Question 2024
Zeeter reply :
I went out on Saturday with a member of the bass club I am applying for. He caught three or four, including a 4#er. I was skunked.
Here's the thing. I'm used to feeling a tug on the line, giving it a second, and then setting the hook. Well, I had one on that was probably a really good fish. Trouble was that I thought I was snagged as I didn't feel him take the bait. So I reached up to pull the snag out which is when I realized it was a fish. I tried to reel up so I could set the hook, but he was coming my way and I never got a chance to do a proper hook set so he got off. Had a similar, but less dramatic incident about a half hour later. It basically felt like I pulled the bait out of the fish's mouth.
Which brings me to my issue. Maybe it is just a learned experience, but outside of the normal tug or actually feeling the fish run off with it, what is a good indicator of when the fish takes the bait? Is it just something I'm going to have to feel over time? I've caught plenty of fish on jigs in the past, and I know that with them it is more that they inhale the jig rather than tugging on it. I honestly can't say I remember feeling them inhale it; rather that I could feel the fish on the line.
Not sure if it matters, but I was using a 5" senko with a 1/8 oz bullet weight.
WRB reply :
Bass don't have hands, set the hook anytime you feel anything different and wait, swings are free. Best strike indicator is any slight line movement or added weight when using Senko's.
Tom
roadwarrior reply :
More generally the bite on a soft plastic is tap-tap.
And here's my tip: Loose the weight, the action of
a Senko is best when fished weightless.
Bassin' Brad reply :
I'm not a pro or anything but I do like to throw a senko and I fished a pond last Saturday and was throwing a 5" senko with a 1/8th oz bullet weight and the ones I did catch you knew it when they hit, but like you said I just gave it to them for a sec then set the hook. But I've had days with a senko where it was very subtle hits so I think some times it just depends on the fish and what mood they are in. And If I haven't fished in awhile it seems like I miss the 1st few before I get the hang of it again.
Zeeter reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 1:23 AM, roadwarrior said:More generally the bite on a soft plastic is tap-tap.
And here's my tip: Loose the weight, the action of
a Senko is best when fished weightless.
I normally like to go weightless, but it was too windy when we were out. Maybe someday I'll be able to deal with it better.
shovelmouth83 reply :
if i am fishing in a current i will use just enough weight to get it down. other than that weightless is best for a senko. better twitch response too
Zeeter reply :
It could also have to do with the fact that I was on a large body of water where there was more wave and weather action. Typically I would go out on a nice summer day to a relatively small lake. Hard to miss the bite there. Yet with the boat rocking back and forth and the wind maybe I was just having trouble adjusting.
N Florida Mike reply :
I fish a senko a lot,but usually weightless.
After I cast,I watch the line.,sometimes youll see the twitch and the line may slightly tighten as the fish moves.
After waiting maybe 10-20 seconds, I pick up and feel gently.If a fish is on youll probably feel a peck or slight surge to let you know there's a fish on.You will almost always see motion as the fish will move once he takes the bait.
I have missed more fish by setting the hook too early than too late.The exception to this would be if you see the line heading into an area you have a good chance of losing the fish in ( docks,weeds,pilings etc.) In that situation I set the hook immediately.
So when I feel the tap or see the movement I swing the boat if needed,get myself in position,see which way the fish is going,and I may even pull on the drag to make sure its just right.THEN I set the hook.I usually sweep set horizontally to the water and will usually hook any fish except sometimes not dinks.
The way I tell the difference between a fish and weeds is feeling the peck or seeing the movement.
If it dont peck or move it aint a fish!!!
12poundbass reply :
Like WRB said swings are free so swing away!
roadwarrior reply :
Well, here's another suggestion: If you think you need a weight fish the Rage Tail Cut-R (rigged tail down).
The Cut-R looks like a Senko with a tail This bait works best for me slow rolled just off the bottom. I use
a tungsten bullet weight, 1/4 or 3/8 oz.
sully420 reply :
When fishing a jig you really need to focus and watch your like and feel for any change in the feel of the bait. I mean any change at all line moves set the hook, can't feel the jig set the hook. Try to feel your line as the jig descends, use your thumb on the spool lightly as the jig falls help you feel a bite. Also try sent like jj's magic bass seem to hold on longer. Most of all just have the mindset that a bass could have your bait right when it hits the water and be ready. Good luck
Bassin' Brad reply :
I do think it's harder to tell the bite on a rocking boat with waves and the wind trying to blow your line as opposed to a calm day where you can see and feel anything that happens.
roadwarrior reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 1:31 AM, N Florida Mike said:I fish a senko a lot,but usually weightless.
After I cast,I watch the line.,sometimes youll see the twitch and the line may slightly tighten as the fish moves.
After waiting maybe 10-20 seconds, I pick up and feel gently.If a fish is on youll probably feel a peck or slight surge to let you know there's a fish on.You will almost always see motion as the fish will move once he takes the bait.
I have missed more fish by setting the hook too early than too late.The exception to this would be if you see the line heading into an area you have a good chance of losing the fish in ( docks,weeds,pilings etc.) In that situation I set the hook immediately.
So when I feel the tap or see the movement I swing the boat if needed,get myself in position,see which way the fish is going,and I may even pull on the drag to make sure its just right.THEN I set the hook.I usually sweep set horizontally to the water and will usually hook any fish except sometimes not dinks.
The way I tell the difference between a fish and weeds is feeling the peck or seeing the movement.
If it dont peck or move it aint a fish!!!
Hmm...
Your method seems quite unique to me...and VERY dangerous for the fish.
riverbasser reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 1:46 AM, roadwarrior said:
Hmm...
Your method seems quite unique to me...and VERY dangerous for the fish.
I agree, probably a lot of gut hooked fish, especially with a senko. they swallow those things pretty quick
blckshirt98 reply :
Hooksets are free, don't be shy about giving the rod a yank if you feel anything weird!
The big fish are the ones that at times won't kick their tail and attack the bait, they'll just kind of slowly swim up to it and suck the bait into their mouth - you'll never "feel a bite" but when you lift your rod it'll feel heavy like you snagged something underwater. There's been times when I never felt a bite and thought I got hung up on something, given the rod a couple of yanks to try to free the hook, then the line just started to swim away.
Also if you feel a bite, set the hook, because if you feel a bite and wait for a second bite, the second bite is usually the fish spitting your bait out.
A5BLASTER reply :
The type of bite you just described is the same kind of bite I have been getting on the caffine shad swim bait the last few days.
Never feel a hit are tap line just gets heavy and if you keep reeling you can feel the fish trying to swim in a diffrent direction.
Best bet when you feel weight like your in a grass ball, set the hook.
And don't wait a long time because you take the risk of killing the fish because it swallows your hook are you hook it in the gills.
Zeeter reply :
Why was this moved to fishing tackle? This is a general fishing question.
WRB reply :
Don't wait with a Senko unless you want gut hooked bass or using circle hooks.
You may also be targeting bed bass that don't eat your soft plastic, they strike to kill it and may pick it up to move it then spit it quickly. Regardless set the hook instantly, no reason to give bass time to reject soft plastics.
I watch where my line enter the water creating V as it sinks, if the line stops or jumps slightly set the hook. You will get your timing dailed in after more time on the water, don't hesitate!
Tom
Zeeter reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 1:50 AM, blckshirt98 said:There's been times when I never felt a bite and thought I got hung up on something, given the rod a couple of yanks to try to free the hook, then the line just started to swim away.
This is exactly what happened to me. Unfortunately, when I realized there was a fish on there I was all the way back and not in a position to set the hook. I didn't yank the rod because we'd been snagging all day and I'd already lost several rigs. So when I pulled up to pull the rod out of the snag it was more gentle.
Hez reply :
You have to learn to be a "Line Watcher".
This happened to me yesterday. I pitched a worm near the grass line...barely felt something (felt like my lure hit a piece of grass on the way down) and then my line started swimming off. I set the hook...and BOOM.
6 lber was on.
roadwarrior reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 1:52 AM, Zeeter said:Why was this moved to fishing tackle? This is a general fishing question.
Because it is a discussion about fishing soft plastics.
-Kent
Zeeter reply :
So what I'm getting here is, if I ever feel anything different on my line I should set the hook.
That's great advice. Unfortunately I need more experience to sense what that something different actually is. Also knowing the water helps, too. Is it grass? Is it rocky? What type of rocks? Pebbles? I know my regular fishing lakes and can tell when something is unusual. Fishing a new body of water takes some getting used to. I imagine that over time I'll get to learn these things more quickly.
2tall79 reply :
You have to become a line watcher. After 40 years in construction, I have lost a lot of feeling in my forearms and have nothing but callouses on my hands. I can no longer feel strikes like I use to. By leaving a little slack in your line you will be able to see any strike before you would be able to feel it. You will have to experiment on which lines provide you the best visibility and work best for your style.
Fishin' Fool reply :
When I fish a weightless senko I let it fall on slack line. I'll wait 5-10 seconds and slowly reel up the slack. If you feel weight that is moving set the hook. It's just an acquired feel to tell the difference between hung in the weeds and a fish has it. Even the most experienced of us will set the hook on weeds now and then.
Zeeter reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 2:08 AM, 2tall79 said:You have to become a line watcher. After 40 years in construction, I have lost a lot of feeling in my forearms and have nothing but callouses on my hands. I can no longer feel strikes like I use to. By leaving a little slack in your line you will be able to see any strike before you would be able to feel it. You will have to experiment on which lines provide you the best visibility and work best for your style.
Leave slack, huh? If I do that I won't feel the jig or worm on the bottom so much. Not saying you're wrong, and that makes sense.
I was using fluorocarbon 12#.
Hez reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 2:08 AM, Fishin' Fool said:Even the most experienced of us will set the hook on weeds now and then.
I am not ashamed to set the hook on a piece of grass...a stick...a wave...or even thin air!!!
I say it all the time! Hook sets are free!
2tall79 reply :
OK maybe slack isn't the right word. I am saying you have to be able to see the line move. You won't be able to see it on a tight line.
A-Jay reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 12:56 AM, Zeeter said:I went out on Saturday with a member of the bass club I am applying for. He caught three or four, including a 4#er. I was skunked.
Here's the thing. I'm used to feeling a tug on the line, giving it a second, and then setting the hook. Well, I had one on that was probably a really good fish. Trouble was that I thought I was snagged as I didn't feel him take the bait. So I reached up to pull the snag out which is when I realized it was a fish. I tried to reel up so I could set the hook, but he was coming my way and I never got a chance to do a proper hook set so he got off. Had a similar, but less dramatic incident about a half hour later. It basically felt like I pulled the bait out of the fish's mouth.
Which brings me to my issue. Maybe it is just a learned experience, but outside of the normal tug or actually feeling the fish run off with it, what is a good indicator of when the fish takes the bait? Is it just something I'm going to have to feel over time? I've caught plenty of fish on jigs in the past, and I know that with them it is more that they inhale the jig rather than tugging on it. I honestly can't say I remember feeling them inhale it; rather that I could feel the fish on the line.
Not sure if it matters, but I was using a 5" senko with a 1/8 oz bullet weight.
On 3/28/2017 at 1:26 AM, Zeeter said:
I normally like to go weightless, but it was too windy when we were out. Maybe someday I'll be able to deal with it better.
On 3/28/2017 at 1:29 AM, Zeeter said:It could also have to do with the fact that I was on a large body of water where there was more wave and weather action. Typically I would go out on a nice summer day to a relatively small lake. Hard to miss the bite there. Yet with the boat rocking back and forth and the wind maybe I was just having trouble adjusting.
On 3/28/2017 at 1:58 AM, Zeeter said:
This is exactly what happened to me. Unfortunately, when I realized there was a fish on there I was all the way back and not in a position to set the hook. I didn't yank the rod because we'd been snagging all day and I'd already lost several rigs. So when I pulled up to pull the rod out of the snag it was more gentle.
On 3/28/2017 at 2:05 AM, Zeeter said:So what I'm getting here is, if I ever feel anything different on my line I should set the hook.
That's great advice. Unfortunately I need more experience to sense what that something different actually is. Also knowing the water helps, too. Is it grass? Is it rocky? What type of rocks? Pebbles? I know my regular fishing lakes and can tell when something is unusual. Fishing a new body of water takes some getting used to. I imagine that over time I'll get to learn these things more quickly.
On 3/28/2017 at 2:10 AM, Zeeter said:
Leave slack, huh? If I do that I won't feel the jig or worm on the bottom so much. Not saying you're wrong, and that makes sense.
I was using fluorocarbon 12#.
Detecting bites & strikes while using different techniques & presentations is part if the process of learning how to effectively fish. So simply choosing a bait, tying it on and casting it out there is only part of the process. Fishing it properly to illicit a strike & then actually detecting it, are both something that takes some time for each angler. Some longer than others.
I would not call this process of learning “unfortunate” by any means – more like at least half the fun. Don’t rush it – just go fishing and pay attention. The BR members who are kind enough to offer you advice here, many of which have decades of experience & knowledge, have all gone through the same thing at one time or another and manage to somehow put it all together and catch bass. You will too. There's no secret or special 'way', just what works for each basshead.
Like KVD always says “It’s all about attitude”.
A-Jay
J Francho reply :
There is that obvious tap, thump, tick, or your line running off in another direction, but I find it easier to focus on what it's supposed to feel when you aren't getting bit. Something feels off, set the hook. Those are the bites people miss.
WRB reply :
To be a good worm or jig bass angler you need to visualize what your lure is doing underwater from the time it hits the surface, falls down through the water column and hits bottom.
Keeping in contact mentally and physical contact by feeling and watching your line tied to the lure.
Every strike a bass makes is the same, they engulf your lure and close their mouth, it's inside for a limited time unless the bass decides to swallow it or spit it back out instantly. You must be able to detect the strike or you will miss it or gut hook the bass.
Maintaining controlled slack so you feel and see the line movements or change in pressure takes learned skill and practice, no short cuts.
Tom
npl_texas reply :
I throw a weightless senko almost every time I fish. Like many others have said you have to watch the line, you will lose fish if you don't. If you don't actually feel the tap-tap, watch for your line to jump (or tic) or for it to swim off.
If you feel the tap or see the line move set the hook immediately, every time.
There are those off days where I'm fishing and you may have to wait a second or two longer to make sure they have it but you'll just have to feel it out.
I know I'm not adding much to the discussion, I'm just reinforcing what others have said.
scaleface reply :
Every last one of us has missed lots of strikes . I've set the hook multiple times with the fish swimming toward me and still come up empty . LOL.
Often the fish has the lure and there is no indication. Its hard to explain but I weigh the line without putting pressure on the fish . If it feels weird I set the hook .
RoLo reply :
When your lure is sinking thru dense cover, I would hesitate to say that 'hook-sets are free',
especially in a stump-field. I don't swing at everything I 'think' is a strike,
but only when I really believe it's a strike. That's a lot easier than it sounds,
because the difference between thinking it's a hit and knowing it's a hit is extremely minute.
In fact, it's not enough reason for me to revamp my hook-set mode.
When working in weedbeds (as we always are) my lure may stop sinking a half-dozen times
on the way to the bottom. I have to keep nudging the lure along so it continues on its way to
the bottom. If I swung every time my lure stalled on its way down, I'd look like a wind-up doll.
On the other hand, when you feel any tick, tap or jab, you don't 'think' it's a strike, you 'know' it's a strike.
When your line jumps in any direction, you don't 'think' it's a strike, you 'know' it's a strike.
Just as soon as you detect a strike, it's time to set the hook.
Roger
fishwizzard reply :
I wouldn like everyone who has posted some variation of "hook sets are free" to please send me five dollars to help replace one of the half dozen or so jigs I lost over this winter trying to teach myself how to fish them.
But, at the same time, I caught a few nice bass, much bigger than the ones I usually get, setting my hook into what I was pretty sure it was just another log. So I guess I can't complain too much about some of those five dollar hooksets. 
Learning to just set the dang hook was one of the hardest parts of fishing for me to learn. I wasted so much time first year or two being overly cautious and being obsessed with only fishing weedless presentations that I struggled to catch much of anything. Then I got into wade fishing in shallow streams, so I could just walk over and unsnag myself. So I started setting the hook every time I even suspected a fish might be there and my catch-rate and conference went up dramatically.
bigturtle reply :
If it bites, I sets.
Fish, frog, dog, seagull, human, all fair game.
Burke reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 2:08 AM, 2tall79 said:You have to become a line watcher.
Yup, I have become a line watcher...
My Wacky Senko set up
15 lbs white braid line with 6 feet FC leader. The reason I got white is that I need to watch the line to see if its being pulled, if so. Its time to bend your knees,chess up, do a little twist and extend your forearms to get a solid hook-set 
Choices of Three hooks depending on my mood
2/0 Trokar Hooks Weedless
2/0 Owner Weedless Wacky Hook
3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse Hook Weedless
frosty reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 6:22 AM, bigturtle said:If it bites, I sets.
Fish, frog, dog, seagull, human, all fair game.
Frogs are mean suckers, they will destroy a plastic frog!
Sometimes hooksets aren't free, we've all set the hook on a trophy stump or tree limb, I did several times the other day, but sometimes you will just feel something, and your brain will say "that's a fish" it's really awesome when it happens, it's almost like a mental thing.
Mosster47 reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 1:18 AM, WRB said:Bass don't have hands, set the hook anytime you feel anything different and wait, swings are free. Best strike indicator is any slight line movement or added weight when using Senko's.
Tom
Sage advice. I will add one thing; it's perfectly fine to swing and miss, and it can actually trigger the fish to strike again or get another fish in the area to bite.
Having said that know that you missed and stop right away. The fish or an object contacted that bait. In live creatures when they get knocked they make a quick move then get stunned. Go look at a boxing match that ended in a knock out, you will see what I mean.
Your hook set gave the crazy escaping motion, let it go after that. I can't tell you how many hundreds of fish I have picked up dead sticking after a bite. Depending on water temperature I will leave it there for over a minute sometimes without moving it.
gimruis reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 1:49 AM, riverbasser said:I agree, probably a lot of gut hooked fish, especially with a senko. they swallow those things pretty quick
I was just about to add this when I read the part about "waiting 10-20 seconds." This aint lindy rigging with for walleyes with live bait. Set the hook before they swallow it otherwise you'll kill em with hooking mortality even if your planning to release it.
Oklahoma Mike reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 2:14 AM, 2tall79 said:OK maybe slack isn't the right word. I am saying you have to be able to see the line move. You won't be able to see it on a tight line.
The word you're looking for is semi-slack. Too tight and you'll inhibit the action, too slack and you'll miss strikes. You need to allow the bait to fall at its natural rate while still maintaining contact with it. Probably easier to actually do than it is to articulate.
Fishin' Fool reply :
^^^^^ what he said!
lo n slo reply :
light weights and wind can be an exercise in futility. it is impossible to stay in contact with your bait at all times, not to mention the bottom. fish has it and you dont know it. my suggestion is to go a little heavier in the wind. good luck
scaleface reply :
To achieve the semi tight line , when the lure is sinking drop the rod tip at the same speed .
N Florida Mike reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 1:46 AM, roadwarrior said:
Hmm...
Your method seems quite unique to me...and VERY dangerous for the fish.
Unique ,but I rarely kill a bass unless Im culling some out.Ive caught hundreds of fish this way and cant remember 1 fish over 3 pounds that I didnt release healthy. If the fish is gut hooked I cut the line and back the hook out backwards so the barb isnt involved.
Im not talking about a long time here,just longer than most.I just lose a lot of fish setting too early.
Oklahoma Mike reply :
On 3/28/2017 at 8:46 AM, N Florida Mike said:Unique ,but I rarely kill a bass unless Im culling some out.Ive caught hundreds of fish this way and cant remember 1 fish over 3 pounds that I didnt release healthy. If the fish is gut hooked I cut the line and back the hook out backwards so the barb isnt involved.
Im not talking about a long time here,just longer than most.I just lose a lot of fish setting too early.
Not to hijack the thread, but I just read a very interesting article posted in the general fishing section that you might be interested in.
Catt reply :
Three Tap Theory as explained to me by Shaw Grigsby
The first tap the bass has inhaled your lure
The second tap the bass has expelled your lure
The third tap is me tapping you on the shoulder asking way you didn't set hook!
When asked what a jig bite feels like Denny Brauer answered, " I don't know but I know what it doesn't feel like!". He when on to say he sets hook on everything, stumps, logs, branches, twigs, grass, everything!
sully420 reply :
Don't fish a weightless senko in conditions that you can't feel a bite maybe it's just me but bites on senkos and worm are pretty obvious. A jig is a bit tougher and there are many lessons learned. I think Denny has the right idea, know what a bite doesn't feel like I don't think anyone can say what a jig bite feels like. Every jig bite feels different, one day they bite on the drop and you only feel the lack of the weight of the jig. The next day they take it off the bottom and it feels like a tap. Next day they want it on the hop or swim and it feels like weight or the bass is swimming towards you, that's why you just need to pay attention and fish fish fish.
Edited by sully420Spelling
d-camarena reply :
Whatever you do, do not wait 10 or 20 seconds to set the hook like previously stated
jimf reply :
I wish I had a dime for every time I set the hook thinking "No way" and finding out "Yes way", that whatever it was I thought I might have maybe sort of kind of felt was actually a fish. But if I had a dime every time I set the hook thinking "No way" and was right, I'd probably even be richer.
If in doubt, set the hook. Once you start catching fish like that it will haunt you thinking about all of those fish that were clamped down on your lure that you decided weren't worth a hook set.
Tmmytomato reply :
You won't always feel a bump or a tick but sometimes just s different pressure, and it's really tough when you feel nothing because maybe the bass picked it up and moved toward you. That's the most difficult bite to detect in my opinion. I have a friend who is extremely good at slowly dragging his bait or dead sticking it and suddenly there is no feeling whatsoever - he sets on it and catches a good number of fish with that negative feeling as if somoeone just cut your line without you knowing it and there is no sensation of anything. I have caught my fair share doing that as well over my 70 years. No matter how much time you spend on the water you'll never be perfect but it's a little more fun when you have more positives than negatives.
scaleface reply :
If you want the best in feel hold the rod in front of the reel and run the line through your index finger and thumb . If you feel a tic while the lure is sinking , thats a fish. This is not a good technique if your using braid because braid will slice you if you dont let go .
N Florida Mike reply :
On 3/29/2017 at 3:08 AM, d-camarena said:Whatever you do, do not wait 10 or 20 seconds to set the hook like previously stated
I think yall are confused about what I meant.I dont take that long to set the hook.I mean I let the bait SIT that long before I start working it back in. I do probably take longer than most but never 20 seconds,!
dsqui reply :
I'll add to this...don't over think or annalize it. It's fishing use your instincts if ur mind is tellin u something do it period hook sets are free just as previously stated. Don't know how many deer I've missed because of this same thing seeing it guessing yardage then second guessing myself it's a bad habbit same for fishing if u think a fish is there pull the trigger
Fisher-O-men reply :
On 3/29/2017 at 5:17 PM, dsqui said:if u think a fish is there pull the trigger
And, BAM, you have a tree! Swings are not always free!
dsqui reply :
On 3/30/2017 at 12:44 AM, Fisher-O-men said:And, BAM, you have a tree! Swings are not always free!
BAM u gotta fish where the fish are if ur afraid of losing a lure or two and need to save money cause it's to expensive to lose one once in awhile u picked the wrong sport. Buy a lure retriever if ur fishing heavy wood that's what they are for
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