Sinking the steel 2024

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

This year, it seemed many of the people I got to fish with all had 1 thing in common as far as what was holding them from progressing to that next level.

Hooksets

Upon observation, I notice that many people on the newer side to bass fishing tend to "UNDER do it" when it comes to setting the hook.

You want a quick, snapping, hook driving hookset. Visualize your hook impaling the roof of a bony mouth.

Too many fish are lost with a "Don't hurt 'em" hookset.

I threw together a quick video of examples below.

HOOKSETS

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Also want to bring up this:

Watch how LBH reels up his slack line as he dropping the rod before the hook set. If you just drop your rod and set .... you are really aren't packing much of a punch.

senile1 reply :

Also, another important note to make . . . . notice that LBH doesn't fall backwards out of the boat when setting the hook.

tipptruck1 reply :

I don't think I have ever set the hook light. Accroding to my buddy my hook sets never look soft. I don't think I have ever lost a fish due to a hook set. Wait I guess there was one time I lost a fish. I had a over run pitching a spinner and made a long cast to fix it. Well I was realing in and felt what I thought was a patch of weeds. So I jerked and my rod went limp. So I conutied to reel back to the boat and saw a 2 pound smallie on the spinner. Just as i told my buddy to get the net the fish got off. By the way the link dosn't work/.

Fishing Doug reply :

LBH,

I fall in the category that 'under-sets' the hook. From years of crappie fishing, I am used to a soft hookset in order to not rip it out of their lip. As this season progressed, I began putting a little more behind my hookset and I am confident that is a big reason for my better hookup ratio.

Also, maybe it is just me, but I noticed it was even more important to set the hook very solid on finesse type baits-senko, fluke, brush hog, etc. it seemed that I had better hook ups on cranks and spinners from the beginning.

Fishing Doug

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

When you set the hook on baits like cranks or hard jerks, etc, baits with trebles or baits that are hit on the retrieve, you don't so much 'Stick it" quick and hard as much as just absorb the collision and maintain a steady pressure afterwards. This results in more of a "sweeping" or "side-arm" hookset, if any.

flechero reply :

Quote
Also, another important note to make . . . . notice that LBH doesn't fall backwards out of the boat when setting the hook.

Yes, a good hookset is a balanced, athletic move. Just like a good golf swing or punch thrown by a boxer.

When you hit a dink in shallow water and then have to duck... you are doing it right. I'm only 1/2 kidding.

It is my opinion that the hookset is often the most important moment of the fight. In heavy cover if you don't turn the fish on the hookset, many times that is all they need to cut you off. Most of my ramblings pertain to soft plastics and single hooked baits, obviously.

link is ok here

Siebert Outdoors reply :

I found out that I was just the opposite of this. I was setting the hook too hard and ripping it out of the fishes mouth. I have switched over to the snap set like LBH is talking about from the advice of Roadwarrior and know I am boating even more fish.

I use to think that if you weren't making huge waves from the boat rocking you werent setting the hook hard enough. But I have fixed the problem and increased the hookup ratio

roadwarrior reply :

I think Rolo calls it a "quick set," I call it a "snap set." Lower the rod and reel down QUICKLY. Without moving the position of the butt of the rod, snap the tip to drive the hook home. With a SHARP hook, you will penetrate the fish's mouth 100% of the time.

LBH, that is a VERY instructive video. This is THE hook set for single hooks. As Russ mentioned, I don't think that is required with treble hooks, in fact I think a hook set loses more fish because you generally pull the lure away from the fish and out of their mouth. Firm, steady pressure is more important with crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater.

Laggyman reply :

Ooo... Let me check my hooksets...

Light!!! Time to review everything I do on the water... I guess I'm just too darned worried about the 5lb line.... Next time I'll practice with my baitcaster with 12lb so I don't have to worry about the line and concentrate on solid hooksets.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Laggy- When you match the gear appropriately, the line size shouldn't matter.

Many of those fish in the video were on 6lb test line.(the ones where I'm using the silver spidershaft rod). That's why you'll hear drag occasionally. I match the line with the power of the rod for the intended application, set the drag accordingly

and let her rip.

RiskKid. reply :

Thanks LBH, this is certainly my weakness, this is very helpful.

Laggyman reply :

Oh, yeah so I guess that's why the drag is supposed to slip right?? Mo' power to the drag 8-)

Im going tomorrow so Ill see if I can get a good hookset. No wonder I lose fish on jigs... :-/

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Jigs can be slightly different, depending on how they are hitting it. Subtler bites get more of a "pop" set. Like a snap set but with a "check" swing. When they are tagging it, it's just tough to miss no matter what you do,lol.

Siebert Outdoors reply :

Quote
This is THE hook set for single hooks. As Russ mentioned, I don't think that is required with treble hooks, in fact I think a hook set loses more fish because you generally pull the lure away from the fish and out of their mouth. Firm, steady pressure is more important with crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater.

I agree with that RW on the treble hooks. If I set the hook on them like a jig I dont think I would ever catch a fish on a treble. Another thing I have noticed is when I set the hook if I pull strait up I tend to catch more then pulling to the side. The pulling to the side hookset I believe pulls the lure out of the fishes mouth.

paparock reply :

I still have a bunch of my heavy saltwater jigs if anyone wants one to practice with, say about 8 ounces. You can have one for free, to practice those deep hooksets with, as long as they last but you must pay the postage. Those babies are heavy! ;D

Hawgin reply :

Hey LBH, you wouldn't have to set the hook so hard if you mixed in a cheeseburger or a steak once in a while. When you had your shirt off in that video you looked like the skeleton my wife had hanging on the door for halloween. If the camera was filming you from the front we wouldn't be able to see you hiding behind your Spidershaft.

Seriously though, good video.

nboucher reply :

One thing I commented to LBH about while fishing with him once is how he almost wedges the butt of his rod under his right armpit or between his upper arm and his torso. Keeping the butt high like this gives him a higher fulcrum, so that when he cranks down to set the hook, he can get a longer and more powerful arc. I noticed that I tended to keep my rod butt lower, which I think gave me a weaker hookset.

Top reply :

VERY VERY cool video but I have a question... what are y'alls views on double hooksets? I hear its a big no no yet I see lots of folks do it...

Laggyman reply :

Oh I forgot..... A big thank you for the video!!!! Much easier to understand than words

Schaefer reply :

Im guessing they say double hook sets are a big no no because it may rip the hook out of the fishes mouth, correct me if im wrong. When im salmon/steelhead fishing i tend to do double hook sets, they fight so hard that you have to make sure they arent gunna pop off the hook.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Quote
Hey LBH, you wouldn't have to set the hook so hard if you mixed in a cheeseburger or a steak once in a while. When you had your shirt off in that video you looked like the skeleton my wife had hanging on the door for halloween. If the camera was filming you from the front we wouldn't be able to see you hiding behind your Spidershaft.
Seriously though, good video.

I'm built for speed, not comfort.

Quote
VERY VERY cool video but I have a question... what are y'alls views on double hooksets? I hear its a big no no yet I see lots of folks do it...
AL

Well, the only time I'll use a double hookset in freshwater is if I feel the initial one didn't sink the hook. There are a few in this video, I should probably take them out but those are from pulling fish from deeper grass. Misleading, I know. Sorry.

Quote
Im guessing they say double hook sets are a big no no because it may rip the hook out of the fishes mouth, correct me if im wrong. When im salmon/steelhead fishing i tend to do double hook sets, they fight so hard that you have to make sure they arent gunna pop off the hook.

It also widens the hole made by the hook, giving the fish an opportunity should he get the slack he needs.

flechero reply :

Quote
VERY VERY cool video but I have a question... what are y'alls views on double hooksets? I hear its a big no no yet I see lots of folks do it...
AL

My view is ONLY if you get caught off gaurd and have a puny hookset or accidentally have a slack line. I believe that 8 or 9 times out of 10 a second hookset only creates a tear or hole (where the hook was already set through) which makes it very easy to have the hook thrown.

senile1 reply :

I agree with Flechero. I'll use a second hookset if I'm caught off guard or in the wrong position and my first one was shabby. Otherwise, I would never set the hook twice.

BucketmouthAngler13 reply :

good video LBH.

Hook sets are one of my weaknesses. When i first started fishing i used poppers and rattletraps. When a fish hit, it almost always hooked itself on the double trebbles. So i didn't set the hook, i thought i didn't need too. Result is i lost alot of fish on jumps and got a habit of not setting the hook.

Nowdays i usualy remember, but once in a while i'll give a weak pull instead of a set, kinda like i start fighting in the fish.

What should you do if you have a weak/bad hookset, but the fish apears to be hooked fine? should you risk making the hole bigger or risk losing the fish?

Matt

Chug Bug reply :

Pure art LBH. Excellent video that will be helpful to many. Out of those ten or so scenes, I only noted one baitcaster. You need to up that ratio, as well as your caloric intake to calorie burned ratio as someone else mentioned ;D I also believe that the term "hookset" should not come into play when using trebles. Keep the pressure on and they will hook themselves up. GREAT VIDEO once again.

Catt reply :

Excellent video and information

Now how about those idiot things you did in your youth that later come back the haunt you? :-[

Because of physical reason I tend to keep my rod closer to my chest, less wrist, and more upper body strength. 8-)

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Nice video, LBH. This is one time when a mistake doesnt apply to me, Yeah!!!!

I have never been accused of not setting the hook. Trust me, the boat is making waves...however, definitely a good point to remember to always drive that hook home!

Keithscatch reply :

Hey you do own a baitcaster

Matt Fly reply :

I see more double hooksets with people c-rigging or using spinning gear.

With a baitcaster, I rip some lips the first time.

Matt.

Top reply :

thanks for the replies y'all... I was HONESTLY wanting to know... I got "yelled at" this year for a double hookset during a tournament this year.. and like you I just did it because I didn't feel like i had set the hook very well... you guys are my mentors and the masters so I definatley defer to your judgement... now I have also been told that when you are drop shotting or using an octopus hook that you don't set the hook at all.. you just kind of sweep the rod and apply steady pressure... this I THINK is true... I just got into drop shotting and I hooked a couple of NICE smallies...it seemed that when I would try and cross either eyes I wouldn't boat the fish... but when I just swept the rod to the side quickly and started reeling nice and steady I always had a fish in the boat...

thanks for everyone's input... it makes us ALL better anglers

roadwarrior reply :

I fish live shiners with Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks #6 on a split shot rig. When using circle hooks, NEVER set the hook. These hooks slide up the throat or gullet and impale themselves in the fish's mouth, 95% of the time in the side of the jaw. Constant, steady pressure is what is required. Smallmouth almost always jump, but they rarely (never) throw a circle hook.

Fish Chris reply :

that their have been more than 30 posts for this thread, yet nobody has mentioned the single most critical factor in hook setting !!!

"THE LINE" !!!!!!!!

Sure, if your using stretcho-filament, you had better swing your arse off, because much of that energy will just be absorbed by your line anyway, and this will produce WAY less pressure at the hook point, especially if you get hit farther away from the boat.

With braided line, on the other hand, not only is a hard hook set not needed, but if a guy can't control his swings (and run a lighter drag), he is actually much more likely to rip out hooks, straighten hooks, break the line, break the rod, etc. It's just a matter of physics. Something has to give.

BTW, I guess I would have to say that I have never been an outrageously hard hook setter (compared to many of my friends anyway), so switching to braid did not require too much of a change in my hook setting agressiveness. It did however, increase my number of hookups substantially.

Peace,

Fish

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Sinking the steel 2024

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