Wasn't allowed to set the hook! 2025
Luna2406 reply :
While volunteering to help out veterans during a fishing tournament I had an interesting experience. During the tournament I was fishing from the back of the boat and trying to find a pattern and trying to find fish while the veteran was in the front also fishing. He had asked that if I got a bite not to set the hook so the fish could drop it then he could have a chance to catch it.
Well this happened 3 times. Once on a spinnerbait and twice on a shaky head. The length of time these fish swam with my bait floored me! I would just stand there and watch my line move for 20-25 seconds! I never realized how long they kept it in their mouths. Maybe it was because they were river fish and aren't as pressured as lake fish? It was just an overall interesting learning experience that I thought I would share with you guys.
Not being able to set the hook was the hardest thing I've ever done! Lol
A-Jay reply :
First off, good on you for volunteering.
Secondly, sounds like you had the right bait(s) around fish with the right attitude.
And as for not setting the hook, that's a tough one.
Don't know if I could have pulled that one off, and I'm a veteran !
j/k
A-Jay
Hez reply :
On 6/12/2017 at 4:05 PM, Luna2406 said:While volunteering to help out veterans during a fishing tournament I had an interesting experience. During the tournament I was fishing from the back of the boat and trying to find a pattern and trying to find fish while the veteran was in the front also fishing. He had asked that if I got a bite not to set the hook so the fish could drop it then he could have a chance to catch it.
Well this happened 3 times. Once on a spinnerbait and twice on a shaky head. The length of time these fish swam with my bait floored me! I would just stand there and watch my line move for 20-25 seconds! I never realized how long they kept it in their mouths. Maybe it was because they were river fish and aren't as pressured as lake fish? It was just an overall interesting learning experience that I thought I would share with you guys.
Not being able to set the hook was the hardest thing I've ever done! Lol
Agree with A-Jay...good on you for both aspects...
1. Volunteering
2. Being disciplined enough to not set the hook
Now...what an interesting observation. I am guilty sometimes of attempting to set the hook too fast...however, it's becoming easier to wait the more I fish. It's all about discipline. When I have a bite now...I physically say "There's a bite..." and then I reel down and set the hook.
Part of it is the fear that the fish will spit my lure back out before I have a chance to set the hook.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It just made me a better fisherman.
BassWhole! reply :
Thank you for volunteering with this worthy event. Yes, fish will hold most baits for much longer than most folks think. Of course there are times when they won't. On anything with exposed hooks, I just reel down to load the rod and then sweep. Another interesting related item that may not be obvious, if you stop pulling, the fish will stop pulling.
Team9nine reply :
I wrote about this in the blasphemy post, as I've intentionally spent entire days doing things like this, usually to learn and prove to myself just what you can get away with. If you think not setting the hook was a learning experience, wait until you try things like tying on baits and leaving 10" of tag line, spraying bug spray or sunscreen on your lures, or forcing yourself to change bait colors after every fish, never repeating the same one. So many wives tales and theories, so little time 
WIGuide reply :
Your results are definitely not uncommon. We tend to give fish too much credit for their intelligence. There's only so much that goes on in their brain that's the size of a pea.
GetBent reply :
Should have set the hook and handed him the rod. If he/she had a physical disability I could see wanting to do it themselves but that's an odd request. Awesome of you for helping and having the discipline not to rip the hook and helping veterans. They don't get enough help.
Catt reply :
When pre-fishing for a tournament it's a common practice to "shake" fish off. Y'all would amazed at how hard some fish are to shake off, some even set hook on themselves.
When Gene Larew first came out with their Hoodaddy creature bait my brother & I would reel the bass all the way to the boat before they would see the boat then drop the bait.
Scott F reply :
I fished with a guide several years ago who had a couple of baits with no hooks. He'd use one to throw up into the reeds to draw pike out into open water. You'd see the wakes created by the fish following his bait. When he got the bait and the fish to open water, I'd throw my bait to catch em'.
Yeajray231 reply :
I mean dude if it's like that, I'd just set the hook and hand him the rod?
Mike L reply :
On 6/12/2017 at 11:08 PM, Yeajray231 said:I mean dude if it's like that, I'd just set the hook and hand him the rod?
Agree...Who's to say that fish or any other fish, would've come right back and bite what he had?
Mike
everythingthatswims reply :
The spotted bass on the coosa river were something else. You could shake the same fish off 6-8 times in one cast but they would keep eating it all the way to the boat! Many times they would start shaking their head and you thought you hooked them on accident then they would spit it out and eat it again.
Choporoz reply :
On 6/12/2017 at 4:05 PM, Luna2406 said:While volunteering to help out veterans during a fishing tournament I had an interesting experience. During the tournament I was fishing from the back of the boat and trying to find a pattern and trying to find fish while the veteran was in the front also fishing. He had asked that if I got a bite not to set the hook so the fish could drop it then he could have a chance to catch it.
On 6/12/2017 at 9:59 PM, GetBent said:Should have set the hook and handed him the rod. If he/she had a physical disability I could see wanting to do it themselves but that's an odd request.
On 6/12/2017 at 11:08 PM, Yeajray231 said:I mean dude if it's like that, I'd just set the hook and hand him the rod?
On 6/12/2017 at 11:28 PM, Mike L said:Agree...Who's to say that fish or any other fish, would've come right back and bite what he had?
Maybe I misread the OP, but I bolded a few words that might explain to you guys why I think he was doing the right thing....absolutely doing the right thing. Why do you folks think that he should ignore the guy he's devoting his day to helping????
Thanks for voluteering, @Luna2406
Mike L reply :
Then I was the one who misread and misunderstood what he was saying.
I ABSOLUTELY did not intend to imply in any way shape or form that he should ignore anyone's request for help.
I respect and admire anyone who takes the time to help anyone do anything! Period
If you knew me you would know that!
OP
If you took what I posted to imply you should ignore his wish or undermine your efforts in any way, then I truly apologize.
That cetainly wasn't my intention.
Mike
Yeajray231 reply :
@Choporoz he still would be helping him ? And he'd catch more fish for sure that way ?
I think the goal was to help the veteran catch fish ? And if he wasn't able to hook them himself then handing him the rod after you do so would surely lead to him catching more fish..
If I feel a bass pick up my senko, and I don't set the hook then it could end up being gut hooked , and if it spits my bait that doesn't mean it will take yours !. It sounded like he just wanted to catch fish. I don't see anything wrong with setting the hook and handing them the rod. I do it for my nephew's and cousins and girlfriend all the time.
The goal is for the veteran to catch fish. He would still be able to fight the fish and release it..
The bottom line is more fish would be boated and caught by the veteran if he set the hook and passed him the rod. And that's whats absolute.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
It wouldn't be so much fun if all I do is reeling in the fish. The fight only take place less than a minute all the fun is when you feel the fish and set hook. I salute you @Luna2406for all the hard work you do for those people.
Choporoz reply :
On 6/13/2017 at 3:07 AM, Yeajray231 said:@Choporoz he still would be helping him ? And he'd catch more fish for sure that way ?
I think the goal was to help the veteran catch fish ? And if he wasn't able to hook them himself then handing him the rod after you do so would surely lead to him catching more fish..
If I feel a bass pick up my senko, and I don't set the hook then it could end up being gut hooked , and if it spits my bait that doesn't mean it will take yours !. It sounded like he just wanted to catch fish. I don't see anything wrong with setting the hook and handing them the rod. I do it for my nephew's and cousins and girlfriend all the time.
The goal is for the veteran to catch fish. He would still be able to fight the fish and release it..
The bottom line is more fish would be boated and caught by the veteran if he set the hook and passed him the rod. And that's whats absolute.
Sorry...you clearly know much more about the tournament than I do...I only applaud the OP for helping and trying to do as the vet requested.
Yeajray231 reply :
@Choporoz
Right.. ok...
Hez reply :
On 6/12/2017 at 11:08 PM, Yeajray231 said:I mean dude if it's like that, I'd just set the hook and hand him the rod?
IDK...setting the hook is one of the greatest parts of catching a fish (IMO)
Yeajray231 reply :
On 6/13/2017 at 4:46 AM, Hez said:
IDK...setting the hook is one of the greatest parts of catching a fish (IMO)
Lol right.. it's all great.. the cast to the right spot, the right lure selection and retrieval, the hookset, the battle and the release ! Totally agree !
What I'm saying is tho , you're not going to get all the fish that shake loose right then and there.. especially a healthy mature bass.. you might be able to get some.. but it's fish lost for sure.. and possibly gut hooked fish.. love the idea of helping someone catch fish but not so sure shaking loose with your rod and them casting to it will yield very many impressive bass..
Brayberry reply :
On 6/12/2017 at 8:49 PM, Team9nine said:I wrote about this in the blasphemy post, as I've intentionally spent entire days doing things like this, usually to learn and prove to myself just what you can get away with. If you think not setting the hook was a learning experience, wait until you try things like tying on baits and leaving 10" of tag line, spraying bug spray or sunscreen on your lures, or forcing yourself to change bait colors after every fish, never repeating the same one. So many wives tales and theories, so little time
Where is this posted? I'd love to read it
j bab reply :
On 6/13/2017 at 5:12 AM, Brayberry said:
Where is this posted? I'd love to read it
type "blasphemy" in the search bar, make sure it's set to "all content," you'll have no problem finding it 
Hez reply :
On 6/13/2017 at 5:03 AM, Yeajray231 said:Lol right.. it's all great.. the cast to the right spot, the right lure selection and retrieval, the hookset, the battle and the release ! Totally agree !
What I'm saying is tho , you're not going to get all the fish that shake loose right then and there.. especially a healthy mature bass.. you might be able to get some.. but it's fish lost for sure.. and possibly gut hooked fish.. love the idea of helping someone catch fish but not so sure shaking loose with your rod and them casting to it will yield very many impressive bass..
Totally agree - sorry...wasn't picking apart your post haha...
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 6/13/2017 at 5:12 AM, Brayberry said:
Where is this posted? I'd love to read it
Here's a couple links to articles he wrote about a few myths (extra long tag ends, if different shallow cranks really matter, color) he's tested and disproved. Some interesting stuff that makes you wonder what else we overcomplicate. http://www.bigindianabass.com/big_indiana_bass/2012/06/breaking-the-rules-tag-ends.html http://www.bigindianabass.com/big_indiana_bass/2012/06/choosing-a-crankbait.html http://www.bigindianabass.com/big_indiana_bass/2011/03/which-is-more-important-color-or-action.html
TOXIC reply :
Being a Guide, I only hand off the rod to children, to a fisherman it's kind of an insult to hook the fish and hand them the rod (disability aside). Nonetheless, I have had Bass latch on to a Senko and I've brought them all the way to the boat and belly landed them without ever putting a hook in their lip.
Luna2406 reply :
Sorry for the late response guys but here is the reason I couldn't just set the hook and hand him the rod.
This is a tournament for them in which they win angling points and money. We are not allowed to fish for them. We are there for anything they might need help with. It's called Paraylzed Veterans Association and they go all over the country on their bass tour. If it's near you I would highly encourage you helping out. If you have a boat you can take a disabled angler out, if you don't have a boat (my case) they pair you up with a disabled angler who has a boat.
I've done it the last 3 years and its been amazing! I've met some real heroes that just happen to love this country and fishing, what better people are there? Lol this was my last year doing it since the Air Force needs me to go do some fishing in Alaska for 3 years 
Mike L reply :
Understand.
My son in law is a salt water guide down here who also belongs to the PVA and of course caters to thier members. I went along on a few charters when some extra help was needed, and I can tell you there is no better feeling in the world.
I commend you Sir!
Mike
RPreeb reply :
On 6/13/2017 at 3:51 AM, JustJames said:It wouldn't be so much fun if all I do is reeling in the fish. The fight only take place less than a minute all the fun is when you feel the fish and set hook. I salute you @Luna2406for all the hard work you do for those people.
If I'm going "fishing" then I want it all. Feeling the bite, setting the hook, landing the fish - it's all necessary for most fishermen to get what they want from the sport. Trying different baits and different retrieves and methods is part of the overall experience too.
I can see handing the rod with a hooked fish to a kid, because they usually get bored easily if there is none of what they perceive as "action". For most adults, the suspense of the search for a bite is part of the action. For me, just knowing that the fish are there is a spur to try harder to find what they will take, but I want to get them to bite on my own, and it sounds like that vet was mostly in the same mode.
lonnie g reply :
my congrats to you on your giving of your time. SET THE HOOK! then you could show him what he is going to be catching.
onetime reply :
On 6/13/2017 at 9:31 PM, Luna2406 said:Sorry for the late response guys but here is the reason I couldn't just set the hook and hand him the rod.
This is a tournament for them in which they win angling points and money. We are not allowed to fish for them. We are there for anything they might need help with. It's called Paraylzed Veterans Association and they go all over the country on their bass tour. If it's near you I would highly encourage you helping out. If you have a boat you can take a disabled angler out, if you don't have a boat (my case) they pair you up with a disabled angler who has a boat.
I've done it the last 3 years and its been amazing! I've met some real heroes that just happen to love this country and fishing, what better people are there? Lol this was my last year doing it since the Air Force needs me to go do some fishing in Alaska for 3 years
So if you catch a fish, can it be used at weigh in for both of you? If so, I think it's a very odd request.
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