Setting the hook?

[KLN2]

While jig or linde-rig fishing, do you set the hook right away or wait until the fish "has it" to set the hook? My fishing buddy and another well-respected fisherman, Nik, would wait until they were dragging the fish before setting the hook. I beleive that if you feel anything "set the hook". Anyone else drag them around before setting the hook?

[mcdee]

Thats a tough one! When I Feel a tap I wait 2 seconds and then Wham ! set the hook. If in doubt set the hook. Chances are the fish will drop or spit out the bait if you wait to long.:shame:

[Smitty]

When jigging I generally set the hook when I feel something, but when Lindy rigging I normally wait until I feel pretty constant pressure. No idea if it's the right way, but that's my approach.

[Smitty]

When jigging I generally set the hook when I feel something, but when Lindy rigging I normally wait until I feel pretty constant pressure. No idea if it's the right way, but that's my approach.

[uzzi]

When jigging, if I feel the tap-tap (sometimes dont even feel that, just some "pressure" on the line when picking the jig off the bottom).....I'll make sure I've got no slack on the line and can feel the weight of the fish on the rod, then I'll set the hook, likely a couple sec between knowing something is there, to making sure its still there with feeling the "pressure", to setting the hook.

When lindy rigging or pulling snells/spinners with lindy weights, as soon as I feel a hit, I'll immediately let line out, count to 5, close the bail, and do a nice sweep-set of the hook. When letting line out, I make sure to point my rod tip in the direction the line is going out, which makes for the nice sweep-set. I fish with the bail open, just holding the line in my fingers. I seem to land more with this method compared to bail closed/no line out on a strike. I think its because when rigging, usually using some type of live bait, worms, leeches, that the walleye want to take and run away with and snack on, instead of just inhaling it as soon as they get it.

Just the methods that seem to work best for me.

[uzzi]

When jigging, if I feel the tap-tap (sometimes dont even feel that, just some "pressure" on the line when picking the jig off the bottom).....I'll make sure I've got no slack on the line and can feel the weight of the fish on the rod, then I'll set the hook, likely a couple sec between knowing something is there, to making sure its still there with feeling the "pressure", to setting the hook.

When lindy rigging or pulling snells/spinners with lindy weights, as soon as I feel a hit, I'll immediately let line out, count to 5, close the bail, and do a nice sweep-set of the hook. When letting line out, I make sure to point my rod tip in the direction the line is going out, which makes for the nice sweep-set. I fish with the bail open, just holding the line in my fingers. I seem to land more with this method compared to bail closed/no line out on a strike. I think its because when rigging, usually using some type of live bait, worms, leeches, that the walleye want to take and run away with and snack on, instead of just inhaling it as soon as they get it.

Just the methods that seem to work best for me.

[Capn Hooker]

What uzzi said. 100% right.

[San Chan]

>While jig or linde-rig fishing, do you set the hook right
>away or wait until the fish "has it" to set the hook? My
>fishing buddy and another well-respected fisherman, Nik, would
>wait until they were dragging the fish before setting the
>hook. I beleive that if you feel anything "set the hook".
>Anyone else drag them around before setting the hook?


Went to Bass University last year and all the Speakers told us "Set the Hook when it Feel different". Denny Brauer stated very clearly that........"Guys only ask you how many fish you caught, never how many fish you missed"


But, Bass and Walleye fishing might be different.:duh:

[KLN2]

I agree, you need to set the hook as soon as you feel the fish. With that said, it's hard to watch someone wait to set the hook, knowing the hook is in the fish's mouth.

I spent a bunch of time fishing walleyes after cutting off the end of the hooks to see what the walleye would do with the jig or linde rig without setting the hook(this was tough to do!). One of the problems with waiting is they hold onto the bait different depending on the mood of the day. During a starving hunger bite, they will kill and move off a distance to eat, hanging on a long time. On the tough bite days, they might only kill it and spit it out , with the bait in their mouth only for a short period of time. As hard as I try, I feel like I'm still late some of the time, on the kill bite. If you miss a fish while setting the hook, will they bite again(another post)? Jig fishing for walleye is much like smallmouth bass fishing.

[San Chan]

>If you miss
>a fish while setting the hook, will they bite again(another
>post)? Jig fishing for walleye is much like smallmouth bass
>fishing.
>

I have got the same fish after 2 Missed Hook-Set. How did I know? I was fishing Lake Simcoe Canada. On a calm day, you can see 15ft or more down. However, will it happen to all Bass/Walleye? No Idea :confused:

[mjs]

Sometimes you know he has it, and a set right away is fine, but most times on my home waters if you wait a second and lift the fish you almost never miss one(vertical with pretty loose hold on the rod). It's kind of intuitive, so hard to describe, but if I start missing too many I try the other end of the spectrum.

[Speedy]

Set the hook even if you don't feel anything if you want, this isn't golf,swings are free, they don't count against you!!

[kevlar unlogged]

The fish will let you know after a couple swings. The best way, if the fish are agressive, is to drop the rod tip to the water and then set. This helps you avoid a swallowed hook. If you miss em drop right back. don't reel in for a little bit . Sometimes they will really clobber it. If they are short striking, you have to let em have it longer.