Hook-Sets w/ PowerPro?

[MJB]

Power Pro suggests not setting the hook very hard when a fish strikes. I've heard from others who use power pro that set the hook as hard as possible. Which is it for Muskie? With the Abu Garcia 6500 c3, do you need mono backing?

Thanks,
MJB

[Steve @ G & S Guide Service]

I use PowerPro 50 lb. and 65 lb. all the time.

The reason that PowerPro suggests not setting the hook hard is that there's no stretch in the line and with most fish, you can rip through their mouth with a sharp hook, widening the hole and possibly losing the fish. These people are not used to fishing for muskies. :)

What I've been doing this season is cranking the drag down as tight as I can get it with my fingers. When a muskie hits, I'll set the hook as hard as I can, then as soon as I know I have the fish on, I'll back off the drag a couple of turns and play that muskie using my thumb when I need additional drag.

This system has worked very well for me and my clients this season. One muskie was only lightly hooked through the cheek with one barb and we managed to land it. If you don't back off the drag, you run the risk of losing the fish if it makes a boatside run, the hooks "MIGHT" tear loose or the hooks might bend straight.

The reason that mono backing is used with any superline is that this stuff is slippery when new. If you just tie it onto the spool like you normally would, the entire spool of line will slip and spin on the spool. The way that I correct this problem (I don't like to use backing) is to, after I tie the line onto the spool, I'll take an inch or so of electrical tape and tape the line to the spool. Then I'll crank on the rest of the line. Doing this insures that the line won't slip and I'll get a good hookset.

One other word of warning. Make sure that you spool this line on as TIGHTLY AS POSSIBLE. Otherwise, the line might cut down into the spool on a hookset or backlash.

If you follow these instructions, I'm sure that you'll love PowerPro as much as I do. After all, 138 muskies this season can't be wrong.

Steve @ G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods. http://www.herefishyfishy.com

[DR]

I too use NO backing, what I have found that works for me is to put on a strip of clear, thin, double backed tape on the spool(found at anywhere ofice supplies are sold), this stuff is ultra thin, super sticky on BOTH sides, which allows the line to stick to it as you reel on the line and slippage CANT happen. I put it on all my casters and spining spools.


DR

[Trophymuskie]

I use Powerpro as well and I set the hooks once and hard. Never broke the line on a hookset. There is some give on the fishes end of things as well.

Catch a big one this fall
Keep releasing them all
Richard Collin
http://www.trophymuskiecharters.com

[Bob Babcock]

These guys have it right on with the hook sets. Crank the drag down
and back it off after you have 'em hooked. Anyone who has
ever flyfished will find using your thumb easy. Most flyfishers
palm the reel as a substitute to using the drag.
I unlike the others do use a mono backing. Their way works just fine
but for cutting costs mono is the way to go. Most musky reels have a
very a very large line capacity. You can go through quite a bit of
thin superline if you spool the whole reel with the stuff. I use a
blood knot to connect the lines and then tape it too. Any good line toline knot will do.