How To Detect Strikes On A Slack Line? 2024

mathnerdm reply :

So I just recently have been getting into soft plastics, and one of the first questions I've had is, how do you detect strikes with a slack line? When I fish spinnerbait or crankbait for example, it's fairly obvious most of the time when you hook up with something, how can I tell when fishing a soft plastic like a senko? I just picked up a pack of GY Senkos and did what most agree on as the best way to fish them, T-rigged and just let them sink on a slack line after casting it. But as I sat there, I started thinking, how the heck do I know if something takes it? Do I just have to be a line watcher? Or can you feel it even if it's on a slack line? Also how do you line watch if the sun reflecting off the water is hurting the view of your line? I'm sure this has been asked countless times, so please by all means reference me where to go. I remember watching a bassresourcevideo on what a bite feels like, but I don't think that was intended to be on a slack line. Thanks!

Brian Needham reply :

On 5/17/2014 at 7:15 AM, mathnerdm said:
. I remember watching a bassresource video on what a bite feels like, but I don't think that was intended to be on a slack line. Thanks!

that is exactly what it feels like on a slack line, a nice thump.......or tick.

you can watch you line sometimes you will see it.....sometimes you will feel it...... other times you just "know"

Alonerankin2 reply :

Use a clear blue fluorescent line... With a semi slack line.... You may not feel a pick up...

The line will start to become straight, with tension

Or it may move to the left, right or come straight at you... It's kinda hard to explain ... I learned in the late 70's I haven't had to think about it much

Hang with it.... You will get bit... And each time will be a little different ... It's a fun learning process! Enjoy you're self! Happy fishing!!

Scott F reply :

You have to watch the line. I use braid that floats. It is tougher when the sun or wind makes it hard to see the line but when a fish picks up the bait, the floating line will "twitch". As long as you don't have too much slack in the line setting the hook is easy. I fish rivers with senkos and I watch the line as the bait drifts down stream. Seeing the line twitch is about the only way to detect the bite.

nascar2428 reply :

I'm a line watcher 100% of the time when throwing weightless Senkos. I switched to yellow braid this year for that very reason. Often times the fish will just open its mouth and suck the bait in without you feeling anything, but the line will jump or start moving.

Smokinal reply :

All above is good info. Are you using a spinning setup or baitcaster? If you use baitcasters, try holding the rod so the line can run over your index finger. I use braid and even on semi-slack line, you can still feel the tick when the bait is inhaled. And speaking of semi-slack, this typically works better than a full slack line. And the line-over-the-finger trick is quite difficult with a spinning rod.

Grizzn N Bassin reply :

Line watch for tics or tension in the line either left or right. A lot on my wacky rigs , jigs when I'm fishing deep water and Texas rigged worms. At night it's hard but I'm always hand lining at night

5fishlimit reply :

Like others have stated.... watch the line.

You may at times feel the tick, but more times than not it's almost unnoticeable.

Good luck. Its not the most exciting way to fish, but it works.

The senko is to bass what a candy bar is to people.

michang5 reply :

Watch the line. Getting high-viz yellow braid makes it easier. You might feel the tick/thump or might not, but you will usually see your line do something it's not supposed to.

aavery2 reply :

For me it is as simple as using a good quality FC line. FC line will transmit vibration on slack line, and as others have mentioned watch your line, it is another good means of determining if a fish grabbed your bait on the fall.

SirSnookalot reply :

I don't watch line, can't see it in the dark and when it's light out my eyes are always panning the water for my next cast. I find it beneficial not to watch my lure too much, keeps me from setting the hook too early.

I do my best not to be in a crosswind, I keep my rod low to the water and out of the wind as much as possible. I may add some weight or a heavier jig to help keep the line straighter.

Catt reply :

The art of feeling a worm bite is a fine combination of watching your line & feeling for unnatural sensations of what your lure shouldn't feel like. Some times you will feel that ckassic "tap", some times you'll only see line movement, some times your line will simply go slack, but some times there will only be a feeling of heaviness that is almost like your lure will not move

Feeling a worm or jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but to the worm/jig angler it makes total sense.

WRB reply :

Watching you line is only a part of the puzzle to knowing exactly what is going on with under soft plastics or jigs. Detecting strikes from slow moving lures that you can't see on slack line that you can't feel and hoping to see the line move makes for a lot of missing strikes.

You need to concentrate on everything and a good way to learn is fish at night. You can't see your line well so you must feel your line for movement and any slight change in pressure on the line. The classic tick doesn't always occur, a change in the resistance the lure creates going through the water does occur. If you are keeping in contact with you lure all the time you can detect strikes when you feel the lure getting heavier, lighter, can't feel anything, like it was cut off, is called weighing the lure. These changes is weight or pressure on the line happen when you go through grass, up and over obstacles like branches or rocks and when bass engulf you lure. How to know the difference can only be learned by time on the water and setting the hook; swings are free, so when in doubt set the hook.

Keep this thought in mind, we are all learning and will continue to experience missed strikes, they get fewer with practice.

Tom

Catt reply :

When asked what a bite felt like Denny Brauer replied "I don't know but I know what it doesn't fell like!".

When in doubt, drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook!

mathnerdm reply :

On 5/18/2014 at 1:20 AM, WRB said:

Watching you line is only a part of the puzzle to knowing exactly what is going on with under soft plastics or jigs. Detecting strikes from slow moving lures that you can't see on slack line that you can't feel and hoping to see the line move makes for a lot of missing strikes.

You need to concentrate on everything and a good way to learn is fish at night. You can't see your line well so you must feel your line for movement and any slight change in pressure on the line. The classic tick doesn't always occur, a change in the resistance the lure creates going through the water does occur. If you are keeping in contact with you lure all the time you can detect strikes when you feel the lure getting heavier, lighter, can't feel anything, like it was cut off, is called weighing the lure. These changes is weight or pressure on the line happen when you go through grass, up and over obstacles like branches or rocks and when bass engulf you lure. How to know the difference can only be learned by time on the water and setting the hook; swings are free, so when in doubt set the hook.

Keep this thought in mind, we are all learning and will continue to experience missed strikes, they get fewer with practice.

Tom

Thanks for the info, but does that apply to senkos? Typically the way I fish them is cast them out then just let em sink on slack line then just lift it off the bottom a few times then re cast. When I'm doing that I won't feel any different tension unless the fish is actually swimming away with it will I? So then all I can do is watch the line and feel for the different ticks and such?

mathnerdm reply :

On 5/18/2014 at 1:20 AM, WRB said:

Watching you line is only a part of the puzzle to knowing exactly what is going on with under soft plastics or jigs. Detecting strikes from slow moving lures that you can't see on slack line that you can't feel and hoping to see the line move makes for a lot of missing strikes.

You need to concentrate on everything and a good way to learn is fish at night. You can't see your line well so you must feel your line for movement and any slight change in pressure on the line. The classic tick doesn't always occur, a change in the resistance the lure creates going through the water does occur. If you are keeping in contact with you lure all the time you can detect strikes when you feel the lure getting heavier, lighter, can't feel anything, like it was cut off, is called weighing the lure. These changes is weight or pressure on the line happen when you go through grass, up and over obstacles like branches or rocks and when bass engulf you lure. How to know the difference can only be learned by time on the water and setting the hook; swings are free, so when in doubt set the hook.

Keep this thought in mind, we are all learning and will continue to experience missed strikes, they get fewer with practice.

Tom

WRB reply :

Controlling the fall rate means knowing how long it takes for a Senko or another soft plastic and jigs to reach bottom. If you can't determine when your lure hits bottom, you need to learn that, otherwise bass may engulf and swallow the lure or split it out after striking it and you will not know it, unless the bass swims away with the lure in it's mouth. When you make the cast don't add extra slack into the line. The difference between controlled slack and uncontrolled slack is you can feel light tension or see the line sinking as it cuts a V in the water, the V is your strike indicator and tells you when the lure stopped sinking by the controlled bow in the line between your rod tip and where the line enters the water. When the lure stops sinking the tension on the line decreases instantly and with practice you can feel the slight pressure change and if the water fairly flat with little wind you can see the bow in the in jump slack. If you know how deep your are fishing and know how long it normally takes to fall that depth, you will have a good ideal it's the bottom or a bass has the lure in it's mouth....set the hook!

My hook setting technique for casting jigs or worms long distance is cranking the reel fast while pointing the rod tip at the spot I am watching the line (V) enter the water, I feel the tension change instantly, the line loads up, the hook point sticks the basses mouth and then my firm rod sweep sets the hook. If no bass was there, I don't sweep the rod back and continue the retrieve still in control of the line slack and jig or worm. If the casting distance is short, I just snap set the hook with my rod.

Tom

fishva reply :

I let the line run over the index finger of my non-reel hand. You will notice very slight ticks (changes in pressure) that you may not feel through your rod or detect by watching your line.

Of course, watching your line is also important. Keep your eye on the spot where the line meets the water. Set your hook on any irregular movement.

Last, count down! If you cast a spot once and it takes 10 seconds to hit the bottom, then the next time it takes 5...you haven't hit the bottom, your bait is in the mouth of a sneaky little fish.

Balshy Fishing reply :

Well I went to my other good spot and the water was WAY up, it was crazy. A bunch of fish, assuming carp, were surfacing and making quite a splash

OK Bass Hunter reply :

I watch for anything out of the ordinary, whether it moving off in a different direction or a complete stop in the fall of the lure.

Pz3 reply :

Keep the line semi slack. Meaning its not tight but you will still feel the hits.

Its easier said then done but completely worth it.

5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :

Semi slack is the slackest I'll go. I can't do full slack. Even on drop shots and top water. Just feel better knowing I have some control. I watch the fish take the line only for a second or two then set the hook.

gallowaypt reply :

Based on advice gleaned here, I Always keep a finger on the line, whether fishing spinning gear or casting. I mainly fish weightless soft plastics, and my bite detection has improved tremendously since doing this. Oh, and florocarbon doesn't hurt either.

5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :

I've tried keeping a finger on the line when the lure is on or near the bottom too. What should I be looking for with that?

Pz3 reply :

With finger on the line you can feel much more. Sometimes fish pick them up and only move an inch. The bait is usually Fully in their mouth to. Sneaky fish sometimes.

5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :

Ok cool. So do you leave the reel engaged or locked? On rivermonsters he leaves it free. But then again he is getting humongous fish. :-)

WRB reply :

Learning to interpret what a strike looks and feels like with a variety of soft plastic presentations takes time because each technique is different.

Drop shot using a spinning outfit on light line is very different than using a bait caster with a sliding bullet sinker T-rig. The weight is blow the worm on a drop shot, it's difficult to run the line over your finger tip with a spinning reel, so with the drop shot/spinning reel your rod becomes very important because the bass feels the line tension before you can react to the change, a softer rod tip helps and becomes a strike indicator.

With a bait casting reel you can easily run the line under your thumb and over the finger index finger tip, both very sensitive to slight line pressure changes. You can feel the line slap when working a drop shot for example, if the line slaps or tightens slightly into slack line when you are not working the rod tip you just had a strike. Don't wait seconds to set the hook, bass don't have hands.

The T-rig on a spinning outfit is a similar problem to drop shot rig, difficult to feel the line, some folks can use their index finger effectively, I can't. The T-rig requires a firmer rod tip to get hook sets than drop shot and I prefer a baitcasting outfit for that reason, plus feeling the line is easy.

I mention fishing at night to quickly learn how to detect strikes by feel, try it.

Tom

Pz3 reply :

Usually I keep the rod off to my side so i can give the fish a couple feet to play with the bait if he decides to run. Slowly point strait and then set the hook.

Otherwise I reel in the slack carefully and set it.

Always engage your reel as soon as possible. If you are waiting for the bait to sink, while feeding line out for the depth.... be ready for a hook set. A lot of people miss the strikes on the fall for this reason.

WRB reply :

When you feel any indication the bass has you soft plastic set the hook instantly if not sooner!

Only 2 things can happen if you hesitate; 1, the bass spits out your lure, 2 the bass swallows your lure, both are bad.

The exceptions are smallmouth and spotted striking soft plastics that resemble crawdads with claws, both these bass like to bite the claws to remove them before engulfing the bug. A largemouth simply engulf everything and kill it by crushing it in the back of their mouth.

Missed strikes are common with underwater soft plastics and jigs due to not detecting the strike. It's been my experience that a top pro bass angler detects about 50% of the strikes and rarely misses getting hooks sets.

The top pro is batting about 500, excellent average. The good weekend or club angler is batting around 300, good average. The average recreational bass angler doesn't detect 75% of the strikes and hooks about 50% of the strikes detected for a 125 average.

Before you jump off the couch and start yelling at me that You are a better bass angler than 125 batting average, try buying into this and improve your strike detection techniques to improve your numbers for bass caught using underwater soft plastics and jigs.

If you believe you can catch as many bass as a top pro or top club angler using soft plastics and don't believe the pro can out fish you 5 to 1, then disregard improving strike detection.

Tom

Grant Schuen reply :

i know when a fish is on my bait when the line is being slowly pulled away and the slack line is picked up.

if you feel a series of rapid ticks it is usually a bluegill.

gallowaypt reply :

You should be feeling for any tics, change in pressure (i.e. more or less resistance or tension on the line), and anything that feels different in general!

Pz3 reply :

Blue gill and pickeral have very rapid ticks and small bass.

boostr reply :

One rapid tick from a pickeral...Tie on a new bait.

Fishes in trees reply :

If you've ever fished for trout using a sinking fly, you know what a strike indicator is. Using lightly colored braid (for spinning gear, my current preference is Fireline Crystal) functions more of less like a strike indicator. Off and on I play around with making/ using a floating strike indicator for my drop shot fishing. The best I can report right now is mixed results for that effort.

Violinguy reply :

On 5/19/2014 at 2:26 AM, gallowaypt said:
You should be feeling for any tics, change in pressure (i.e. more or less resistance or tension on the line), and anything that feels different in general!

Yep. This is what I go by. I know what it feels like to pull on the rod and feel the regular resistance of the lure, so anything that doesn't feel like that, I give it a hook set. As I've gotten more experienced, I can rule out weeds and other resistance as well, so I definitely know what's a fish and what's a rock, log, or weeds.

With the newer salty/scented plastics, fish hold on to the bait for a long time so when you reel in a little slack to move your bait, you will feel that "tap tap" that lets you know you got some action.

jhoffman reply :

On 5/20/2014 at 12:25 AM, Fishes in trees said:
If you've ever fished for trout using a sinking fly, you know what a strike indicator is. Using lightly colored braid (for spinning gear, my current preference is Fireline Crystal) functions more of less like a strike indicator. Off and on I play around with making/ using a floating strike indicator for my drop shot fishing. The best I can report right now is mixed results for that effort.

I think thats why I can feel it so well and it definitely DOES matter what rod is in your hand. I have a fly rod that almost gives me a sixth sense, I can lay it to them before an indicator would ever move. I still miss fish. A cheap rod you really cant feel it, ive proven it to myself multiple times over the years and im sure some will not agree however Ive seen catch rates increase tremendously from one rod to the next.

geo g reply :

Wow, tons of good information in those posts. You can tell there are a lot of good fishermen on this site. I will throw my two cents into the mix.

Great advice, be a line watcher! It doesn't mean you don't concentrate on feel too. I often throw plastics on a slack fall. I don't keep the line slack all the time but definitely on the fall. Especially when weightless, and I go weightless often, especially with senkos and trick worms. I want them to dance as they fall to the bottom. Weightless they will dance and dart as they fall. I let them sit on the bottom slack for quite some time. During the pause I will watch for any movement.

On the retrieve if you jerk and give slack immediately that senko will walk side to side even on the bottom. Just like walking a zara spook but slower. When I let it sit I give some slack, but go back to watching the line. The side to side action will knock them dead. Practice in a pool, where you can watch the action of the bait. Zoom Trick Worm walk great also. Don't forget to pause and let it sit still. Many of the bites occur while sitting there.

I use Trilene 100% Professional Floro. I can feel everything going on at the end of the line. I can feel what type of bottom, and type of veggies that are down there. Not all Floros are the same, find one you can handle. It took me a while, but now I have eliminated many of the problems with floro, and now love the stuff. It took a while.

Good luck, the more you do it, the better you'll get. Just keep doing it until you need glasses. Lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hatrix reply :

On 5/18/2014 at 12:53 AM, Catt said:

The art of feeling a worm bite is a fine combination of watching your line & feeling for unnatural sensations of what your lure shouldn't feel like. Some times you will feel that ckassic "tap", some times you'll only see line movement, some times your line will simply go slack, but some times there will only be a feeling of heaviness that is almost like your lure will not move

Feeling a worm or jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but to the worm/jig angler it makes total sense.

This^^

It's not knowing what a bite feels like. It's knowing what a fish feels like. Its some change in the way your line feels being heavy or slack. Everyone can feel when a fish actually ticks a lure or when your line starts swimming away.

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How To Detect Strikes On A Slack Line? 2024

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