Hook Sets on the Mat - Question

[AJLures]

I am not happy with my hookup ratio when I am fishing on the top of weed mats.  I had a big bass smash a weedless mouse 3 times in a row the other day, and all I caught was weeds.  It felt like the hook was set, and then he got off under the weeds.  This has happened too many times lately, and I need some advice from the topwater pros.  Maybe I am waiting too long to set?  Watch the second fish in this video, and you will see what I mean!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3B8Z9tJryQ&feature=player_detailpage

John
 

[coldfront]

John,
sounds like you're losing 'solid' contact with the fish...i seem to hear your bail 'moving'...plus, retrieve ratios (amound of line/reel revolution) is usually quite a bit less than some of the high speed (7:1) baitcasters...

no pro...but that might be an area to consider...

Also, I've never seen a spinning rod with enough backbone to rival what I think is helpful in a baitcasting rod...

Having said that, lots of guys I fish with toss scumfrogs on spinning gear with braid...and do so successfully...but they also lose some fish...


good luck.  looks like a great place to chase them down this way!

[AJLures]

John,
sounds like you're losing 'solid' contact with the fish...i seem to hear your bail 'moving'...plus, retrieve ratios (amound of line/reel revolution) is usually quite a bit less than some of the high speed (7:1) baitcasters...

no pro...but that might be an area to consider...

Also, I've never seen a spinning rod with enough backbone to rival what I think is helpful in a baitcasting rod...

Having said that, lots of guys I fish with toss scumfrogs on spinning gear with braid...and do so successfully...but they also lose some fish...


good luck.  looks like a great place to chase them down this way!

good stuff, coldfront!   Thanks

I rarely lose them once I get them to open water.  The problem is the initial dive under the weeds.

[saint romain]

I'm just taking a stab at a possible problem...
I would maybe keep your rod tip straight up, not dropping it to get a few more turns in...when you fight a fish that took a lure under the mat, you are also fighting grass, and when you drop your rod tip the grass could pull your line back enough to give that fish enough slack to get rid of the hook...I fish a fair amount of mats and rarely lose fish after the hookset (I lose most of my fish trying to get a hookset, usually setting it too early/late)...I always keep the max amount of pressure on the fish, and never back down because if I'm fishing a mat, I have braid on. I usually use BC but I do throw a lot of weightless baits to mats with spinning gear as well.

[AJLures]

I'm just taking a stab at a possible problem...
I would maybe keep your rod tip straight up, not dropping it to get a few more turns in...when you fight a fish that took a lure under the mat, you are also fighting grass, and when you drop your rod tip the grass could pull your line back enough to give that fish enough slack to get rid of the hook...I fish a fair amount of mats and rarely lose fish after the hookset (I lose most of my fish trying to get a hookset, usually setting it too early/late)...I always keep the max amount of pressure on the fish, and never back down because if I'm fishing a mat, I have braid on. I usually use BC but I do throw a lot of weightless baits to mats with spinning gear as well.

That makes sense. My rod tip is already lower than normal becuase I'm kayak fishing. 

[coldfront]

...I fish a fair amount of mats and rarely lose fish after the hookset (I lose most of my fish trying to get a hookset, usually setting it too early/late)...

st romain:  this does get to preferences and technique...I'm not in the 'wait a couple counts and then set the hook' group...the hit  happens...I'm reeling on the hit and the minute my rod loads, is when I hit them...the whole 'timeline' from strike to set is almost non-existent for me...

I will say this however, if the rod doesn't load up I don't try to set the hook.  It happens very fast for me...to the point it's almost instinctive...


guess what I'm saying is...when the rod is in the right position to 'set'...the key is whether or not there's 'fish weight' on or not...  think that is the key...not 'counting' or 'giving a couple seconds'...

at least that's what works for me.