How often do you have a false hookset? 2024
Sword of the Lord reply :
I don't know the exact ratio, but more than a few of my hooksets are false. No fish. Whether it be weeds or whatever. Sometimes weeds will make my rod feel like there's a tap or make my line look like it ran. More than a few lures have swung back my way! My wife and son and a fishing buddy laugh, but what I always say is, hooksets are free, you can always cast back out, but you might only have one shot at the fish.
The Bassman reply :
I set the hook into a pound and a half wad of grass just today. It was solidly hooked. Wish I could say the same for all the bass I've lost. It never hurts to presume that any odd resistance is a fish.
Russ E reply :
depends on the situation.
if I am a fishing Chatterbait around weeds, up to 50 percent are false.
with a chatterbait often times fish grab it from behind, and all you feel is the blade stop thumping.
if the blade stops thumping I set the hook. if there is no fish I just keep reeling.
often times after the false hookset a fish will grab the bait.
Kidflex reply :
Hook sets are free! I used to question fish or cover and sometimes have half ass hook sets which resulted in lost fish due to poor hook penetration. Now i swing for the fences. Some of my best hook sets have been in logs. Sometimes the lures comes flying back at me. But when I do hook a fish it's sticks.
Sam reply :
When the salt water breaches up into the Historic James River and the Chickahominy River the crabs can drive you nuts with their nibbling on plastic baits.
They love Senkos, too.
So you may look like a fool trying to set the hook when a crab takes your bait but as said above and to quote Hank Parker, "hooksets are free."
Otherwise, when concentrating and feeling for anything on the bottom, false hooksets come with the territory.
Better to look silly setting the hook with nothing on your line then to miss your personal best because she did not hit your bait hard.
Catt reply :
Anyone who says they don't is a liar & the truth aint in em!
A Bassmaster University video titled “Denny Brauer on flipping and pitching”, in it Denny answers viewer questions and one question was “what does a jig bite feel like?” Denny’s answer was “I don’t know but I know what it doesn’t feel like!”, he went on to say he felt 100% confident that not a single bass wrapped it’s lips around his lure and he didn’t take a shot at it.
His next commit was “observers in my boat might think I’m a complete idiot because I set hook 20 times but only landed 5 bass so the other 15 times I didn’t have a clue want was going on and they may be right but one thing for sure the other 15 times were not bass.
When in doubt, drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook!
Scarborough817 reply :
considering i just started fishing jigs and cranks a lot more i'm setting the hook whenever i notice something different or abnormal and i would say 50% of the time there is no fish but it's helping me learn
Smokinal reply :
Something not touched upon here is the fact that you may have gotten bit, paused too long and had the fish spit it before you stuck him. Empty hooksets aren't always just grass, twigs etc... If you feel it was a bite but then empty hookset, try a product like Megastrike to help make the fish hold the bait longer.
MichaelCopeland reply :
Here lately I haven't had to really set the hook much. That's with the chatter bait mainly. The only way they seem to be wanting that is by me casting it out and burning it back. They attack it so hard that they literally set the hook themselves...lol. But like everyone else if it feels like a bite or something different happens with my line I drop my rod tip, reel the slack and cross it's eyes. Most of the time it's not a fish, but when it is a fish it gets hooked. I still miss occasionally but not near as much as I used to. Usually when I miss it's because I get that bump or tug when least expecting it and don't have enough reaction time to set the hook.
Russ E reply :
On 9/9/2017 at 11:17 PM, MichaelCopeland said:Here lately I haven't had to really set the hook much. That's with the chatter bait mainly. The only way they seem to be wanting that is by me casting it out and burning it back. They attack it so hard that they literally set the hook themselves...lol. But like everyone else if it feels like a bite or something different happens with my line I drop my rod tip, reel the slack and cross it's eyes. Most of the time it's not a fish, but when it is a fish it gets hooked. I still miss occasionally but not near as much as I used to. Usually when I miss it's because I get that bump or tug when least expecting it and don't have enough reaction time to set the hook.
I agree. if you are burning the chatterbait they will hook themselves.
I have had a lot of success lately in the middle of a hot summer day slow rolling them along deep weed lines.
I have not felt most of the big fish bite. the blade just stopped vibrating.
I actually learned this from a post here from Bluebasser86, on bladed jigs.
It improved my catch rate drastically.
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 1:35 AM, Weedwhacker said:I agree. if you are burning the chatterbait they will hook themselves.
I have had a lot of success lately in the middle of a hot summer day slow rolling them along deep weed lines.
I have not felt most of the big fish bite. the blade just stopped vibrating.
I actually learned this from a post here from Bluebasser86, on bladed jigs.
It improved my catch rate drastically.
Gonna have to try the slow rolling along the weedlines move with the chatter bait. I have burned them back along the weedlines and caught some usually dinks or a tad bigger. No big uns that way though. Definitely will try slow rolling them next time out.
Russ E reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 1:55 AM, MichaelCopeland said:Gonna have to try the slow rolling along the weedlines move with the chatter bait. I have burned them back along the weedlines and caught some usually dinks or a tad bigger. No big uns that way though. Definitely will try slow rolling them next time out.
I used to do the same thing. after reading BlueBassers' post, I slowed down and have caught some really nice bass this year.
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 1:58 AM, Weedwhacker said:I used to do the same thing. after reading BlueBassers' post, I slowed down and have caught some really nice bass this year.
Where can I find his post? I'd really like to read it.
Jar11591 reply :
I'm usually good for 1 or 2 an outing, and if the bite is slow I'll start swinging away.
Russ E reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 2:00 AM, MichaelCopeland said:Where can I find his post? I'd really like to read it.
wish I could remember. I think it was a response to another post.
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 2:07 AM, Weedwhacker said:wish I could remember. I think it was a response to another post.
@Bluebasser86 can you give me a link to this post about slow rolling chatter baits around weedlines? I'd like to read it.
Russ E reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 2:00 AM, MichaelCopeland said:Where can I find his post? I'd really like to read it.
here is one of the posts he talks about it. there are others. if you watch his videos he is pretty successful with bladed jigs
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 9:56 AM, Weedwhacker said:here is one of the posts he talks about it. there are others. if you watch his videos he is pretty successful with bladed jigs
I'll have to check out the videos when I have a little more time. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.
scaleface reply :
I'm much quicker to pull the trigger in open water than in a brush pile . If it feels funny in a brush pile I'll "weigh" the line for a second .
deep reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 2:00 AM, MichaelCopeland said:Where can I find his post? I'd really like to read it.
Hey man, short version of what works for me. First, chatterbaits are for over or around weeds/ grass. Second, fish as slow as you can so long you can still feel the thump. The idea is to let it get (almost) caught in the weeds, and then rip it out. Go back to slow reeling. If the thumping stops, set the hook. It's either weeds or a fish.
P.S. I used to really like the ZMan Project Z until I found the Evergreen jackhammer. 3/8 oz or up. Lake fork magic shads and the GYCB Zako for trailers. (I learnt of the Zako fairly recently.)
MichaelCopeland reply :
On 9/10/2017 at 11:10 AM, deep said:
Hey man, short version of what works for me. First, chatterbaits are for over or around weeds/ grass. Second, fish as slow as you can so long you can still feel the thump. The idea is to let it get (almost) caught in the weeds, and then rip it out. Go back to slow reeling. If the thumping stops, set the hook. It's either weeds or a fish.
P.S. I used to really like the ZMan Project Z until I found the Evergreen jackhammer. 3/8 oz or up. Lake fork magic shads and the GYCB Zako for trailers. (I learnt of the Zako fairly recently.)
Definitely gonna give that a try next time out. Thanks for the advice. Haven't heard of the Evergreen jackhammer. I'll have to look into them. Not sure they're in stores around here but will check. I really wanna try a Siebert Outdoors bladed jig.
Ratherbfishing reply :
If I'm using a curly tail worm (especially one with a red or yellow tail) OR a Gulp worm and the bluegill are driving me insane, I'll usually wait a little longer (or "weigh" the bite) before I set the hook. I probably could/should attempt more hook sets BUT I can't catch a fish if the lure isn't in the water (or is zipping right past them) either. It's kind of a case of six or one half a dozen or the other).
fishwizzard reply :
Every time I get a more sensitive rod I set my hook about every third cast until I get a few hours on it and calm down.
Senko lover reply :
I set the hook all the freaking time! Especially jig fishing. I'd rather get hung up and lose a jig than lose a pig.
WRB reply :
You miss hook sets on strikes from bass you can see like top water and bed fish. Bass can't see all you can do is feel or see the line move or stop, you better set the hook.
Sometimes you don't feel or see anything you just know it's time to set the hook. Strike detection is what separates catching bass and not catching, we miss more then we know! The thing that always fakes me out is snagging line, you set the hook and the lures slides on the line like a bass moving off...that usually gets a verbal response!
Tom
Rick Howard reply :
I couldn't say for certain but, I leave jigs in trees pretty often. I've hooked a few weeds also. What's really embarrassing is when you still think it might be a fish so you play it out for a few more seconds just to be sure. 
boostr reply :
Every time I go fishing.
StrikePrince reply :
I find that in the "bites" I'm doubtful of, it's usually weeds or a branch but I set anyways. When I get a real bite it's like I intuitively know.
It's weird how the memory of what a bite feels like seems to fade so quickly, like a dream, for some reason it's hard to remember exactly what it felt like.
.ghoti. reply :
In short, every time I fish. Hooksets are free.
SuperCorona reply :
I unknowingly set the hook on a 4.5 pounder Sunday that was sitting in some pads. I cast over the pads, worked my weightless t-rig trick worm to the back edge and tried to drag it on top. It appeared to be hung up so I gave it a good pop to free it from the snag. Next thing I know my line is running straight right and pulling drag. Fortunately I got it into the boat before the hook fell out of its mouth.
BassWhole! reply :
Without getting into the weeds of the math (pun intended), the ratio of hook sets on non-bites (all other variables =) is going to be dependent on the skill and experience of the angler (actual, not self perceived). An expert angler (again, actual, not self accessed) is going to fish without the thought process involved in the mechanics. If you are all like " I think that was a bite, I should set the hook, you're going to be at 20-40%ish.
Bankbeater reply :
I'll run the bait across the top of a thick patch of vegetation that is under the surface, and I won't feel any resistance at all. I set the hook, and nothing.
lo n slo reply :
a bunch
Bucky205 reply :
If I'm in doubt I set the hook. I was skipping tubes under docks Sunday and saw the line jump on the fall. I set it hard and the rod doubled over under a solid load, then nothing, those are the ones I hate.
GorillaBass reply :
this post seriously cracks me up..
Bro's...I set the hook at every absolute single opportunity I can, prob well over 50x in just a couple hours.
If my hook so much as bumps a rock on the bottom, its getting the business,
if it so much as gets throw some weeds? then i'm cutting the grass!!!
if it just ticks me off that im not gettin bites sometimes i just set the hook in open water and not give AF,
i miss a lot of fish, nothing ticks me off more than when they come off the hook..
which actually reminds me, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR HOOKS ARE SHARP !!
i reused the same shaky head for a long time, i lost 3 fish in one day, i felt the hook tip? DULL AF
scaleface reply :
Last time fishing I set the hook on an anchor rope with anchor attached . Landed that sucker too. 12 lb XL is good stuff .
bma3 reply :
All the time, especially with senkos for me because whenever I feel anything out of the ordinary I swing!
DINK WHISPERER reply :
At least one every trip out while flipping or punching.
geo g reply :
I seldom set the hook on anything other then a fish. I usually use a highly sensitive line, and expensive sharp hooks. I feel everything on the bottom as I fish a bait, and I am a devout line watcher. Weeds, structure, and wood don't pull back. If I feel any resistance, I will add a little pressure, until I feel a counter force. Then I slam the hook set home. I do this without thinking about it, its all automatic now, and within seconds of feeling the initial resistance.
When I first got into fishing it was not like this. There was way too much thinking, and not enough reactive response. In the beginning, I would slam and miss, on make believe fish, or wait too long feeling for the bite, and lose a fish. Time on the water, and thousands of bites put everything on autopilot. Weeds, structure, and wood never feel like a fish, and don't promote an unconscious, explosive, reaction.
Christianmcc reply :
I fish a pond with very little vegetation. So most of the time I set the hook it’s a fish. I would say 80 percent of the time it’s a fish.
I fish a pond with very little vegetation. So most of the time I set the hook it’s a fish. I would say 80 percent of the time it’s a fish.
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