How to determine if you had a strike and missed it 2024
BareHook reply :
My son BareHook Jr. made an interesting observation/discovery, a lot of times when fishing, we feel possible strikes that turn out to be from structure such as rocks or grass, but when a bass hits and doesn't get hooked it leaves behind evidence in the form of smell (trace slime on lure). When you reel in your lure it will smell like a bass, but structure and such it will not have the bass smell.
Ken
avidone1 reply :
Personally I have never observed the "trace slime on lure" phenomena that you describe.
But I can tell you that a rule I always follow
"when in doubt, set the hook"
00 mod reply :
Some lures you can see teeth marks. But as far as a smell goes, I doubt that.
Jeff
lmbfisherman reply :
I haven't noticed that neither. I have however found scales before on my hook tip. But that is rare.
bigbassin' reply :
I'll pay attention next time I think I've missed a hit to see if I get this slime trail. Obviously I never miss fish though, so it might be quite some time before I can report back...
scaleface reply :
Soft plastics , look for teeth marks . Zoom lizards , Guido Bugs and other smooth shiny lures will show the teeth marks well .
BillyBassMaster reply :
Whenever I think I have a hit it will reel up the slack and feel it but then let it sit and watch the line for my plastics.
Fish the Mitt reply :
I would be extremely hesitant to believe this for the sole fact that it'd be completely relative to the water you're fishing, the strike, the bass, and the lure. Essentially, too many variables to consider this an absolute method in determining missed strike or structure hit. I personally have never observed this but being honest, I've never checked. When I think I've had a missed strike, I ensure my next few casts are back to that area. If nothing comes of it, I chalk it up to structure. It helps my ego doing it that way too! 
the reel ess reply :
When using a soft plastic, I'll usually allow a second while I reel down to set the hook. If no movement, it was not a bite. If there's a surefire nibble so quick that I can't react, I chalk it up to bream like bluegill pecking at the bait and continue the retrieve. If you want to see that, put a worm loosely on a hook and toss it into a bluegill bedding area. They'll tear it to shreds like piranha-death of a thousand cuts.
Now, when the bait goes in a direction I'm not retrieving...well, I'm kinda thick, but even I can figure that one out. With experience (almost 40 years fishing) you just know.
The more scent a plastic has, the longer bass will hold. They'll fight you for a Chigger Craw. They won't let go even when you make a mistake.
Bass newb reply :
This is not even close to true. No traces of fish slime in a bony bass mouth.
BareHook reply :
Well something on the lure smells like bass after a strike, in particular a rattle trap.
CarolinaBoy4Life reply :
I've never experienced this. You can typically tell a strike or bite from structure unless just starting out fishing. If I am fishing a Texas rig or a drag and reel bait when I get to structure and feel weight on the rod tip I watch my line reel up slack and feel for any other movements. If a fish has it he is going to give off vibration up the line, movement of the line, movement of the rod tip, and in most cases multiple tugs on the rod. I've never smelled bass on a bait though. On my cloths after a catch yes but a bass does not have protective slime in its mouth like it does its scales and skin.
BareHook reply :
This isn't defining a methodology just an interesting observation. Generally bites or structure are pretty obvious anyway and swings are free
Ken
Master Bait'r reply :
If I missed it, automatic state record fish.
Catt reply :
Y'all must miss a lot of bites 
avidone1 reply :
On 4/20/2016 at 2:44 AM, BareHook said:Well something on the lure smells like bass after a strike.
Yes, your fingers from an earlier catch
On 4/19/2016 at 10:47 PM, scaleface said:Soft plastics , look for teeth marks . Zoom lizards , Guido Bugs and other smooth shiny lures will show the teeth marks well .
The bass I catch don't have teeth. Good thing too because lip landing the beast would be
very uncomfortable.
Mosster47 reply :
I'm going to respectfully disagree. I do know when I've missed a fish on plastics. I use straight shank hooks on almost everything and the bait slides down on a strike every time.
For anything else you really need to know your equipment to tell the difference. If you're swapping out rods every couple months you'd never know.
Outdoor Zack reply :
On 4/19/2016 at 9:55 PM, avidone1 said:Personally I have never observed the "trace slime on lure" phenomena that you describe.
But I can tell you that a rule I always follow
"when in doubt, set the hook"
Yep. And be willing to fight a stump or rock for your lure 
Bassguytom reply :
My lures always smel like garlic, megastrike also sometimes suntan lotion but I don't think they have ever smelt like fish. Sometimes my brother smells the fish he catches and I always ask him to smell their butt to see what they are eating. Lol. If I think I missed a fish I throw back with somthing diffrent. Hook sets are free and missing fish is part of the game!
bigbill reply :
On all my plastics I use weedless hooks with the spring. The spring is closed when I cast. When I get a strike and a missed hook set the weedless spring guard comes up open. If it's still closed it may have bumped something or a bass grabbed it's tail. A shot of scent and another cast will tell.
SDoolittle reply :
I've never sniffed a bait after a bite, but I'm quite certain that if I did the only thing I would smell is garlic.
scaleface reply :
On 4/20/2016 at 8:24 AM, avidone1 said:Yes, your fingers from an earlier catch
The bass I catch don't have teeth. Good thing too because lip landing the beast would be
very uncomfortable.
Youre right . Bass dont leave teeth marks . I made the whole thing up .
Scarborough817 reply :
fished my savage gear trout in a local lake on monday and apparently the pike are hitting it but i'm not feeling them everywhere from the tail, up to right behind the hook
Ratherbfishing reply :
When sniffing didn't work, I once licked the hook for said purpose and wound up with a pierced tongue. No regerts!
eyedabassman reply :
asleep at the REEL!
WRB reply :
Suggest you look at Bigmouth Forever bass vedio, visual proof that we all miss lots of strikes!
Smell a missed strike, sounds fishy to me.
Tom
J Francho reply :
All I smell is JJ's or Megastrike when I sniff my baits.
gardnerjigman reply :
Man... is it still winter or something? Some interesting threads lately.
Hog Basser reply :
I'm picturing all of you guys smelling your lures this weekend to see if this is true! Post pics if you do!
J Francho reply :
It's like the old, "smell this marker" trick!
avidone1 reply :
On 4/19/2016 at 11:00 PM, BillyBassMaster said:Whenever I think I have a hit it will reel up the slack and feel it but then let it sit and watch the line for my plastics.
I used to do that, but whenever I played the 'feeling game' with bass they always won
geo g reply :
Be a line watcher and you will see it jump before you can ever feel the line. Vegetation, stumps, laydowns, and rocks don't pull back when you hit them. They also will not make the line jump. Time on the water will fix all your problems with hook sets. You will get better and focus on the line.
N Florida Mike reply :
On 4/21/2016 at 2:17 AM, Ratherbfishing said:When sniffing didn't work, I once licked the hook for said purpose and wound up with a pierced tongue. No regerts!
Lol!
WPCfishing reply :
On 4/19/2016 at 10:44 PM, bigbassin' said:I'll pay attention next time I think I've missed a hit to see if I get this slime trail. Obviously I never miss fish though, so it might be quite some time before I can report back...
Oh Yeah, Me Too.... lol
Josh Smith reply :
If I feel something I set the hook. If I get stuck or the lure comes back with twigs on it, then it wasn't a fish.
Josh
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