Setting the hook

[Dug]

Guys,

  I have been playing with different types of hooksets the last few times I have been out.   For braid, I find that a sweeping side set works best.  For mono I have been trying a new hookset and it seems to help me quite a bit. A much better percentage than
just pulling the rod back.   When I feel the hit or bite, instead of jerking the rod back, as I have done for years, here is how I will now
be setting the hook on mono and perhaps on braid if I have a looser drag or a long distance cast to set on.

  When setting the hook, pull back on the rod as usual, but instead of using both hands to pull back,  With your reeling hand, before
starting the reel, at the same time as you pull back on the rod, give the bottom of your handle a push towards the fish.  This puts the tip of the rod back much faster than you can yank it back. 

Some of you may have been doing this for years... However I just read of it in Homer Circle's book and it just works great.
give it a try if you haven't.  Warning, it's just too fast and hard a hook set for braid and you may pull the hook straight through the lips of the hawg your trying to catch.


Dug

[Baron49]

I still try to cross their eyes no matter what I am using.....old habits are hard to break and the new braids are even harder to break

[Creel Limit Zero]

I have not had as much success with the sweeping side set with braid as others may have.  I find if you do not have to take it around a dock, stump, or any other piece of structure by sweeping it to the side, that I have a much better hook up ratio by hooking straight back as I normally do.  I'm specifically talking about with any type of single hook, not with trebles.  I do not use braid for set ups that have treble hooks.

[Pike_Master]

hmm next time ill try that rod tip down fast type hook set

[Kickin Bass]

  The way I figure it when I set the hook and the fish next to him  crosses his eyes then I have a good hookset.

[WRBass]

Try this, pull off about 50 to 75 feet of line tied to your favorite 3/0 worm hook. Find a board of wood or wooden post and gently push the hook point into the wood just enough to keep the hook in place. You can have a friend hold a piece of wood if you want to. Now go back the 50 to 75 feet with your rod in the position you normally hold it and reel in the slack line unit it just begins to tighten and set that hook as you normally do. Set the rod down and go check to see how far that hook penetrated that piece of wood.
You will be surprised to see that the hook hasn't moved much if at all.
Now repeat the hook set by reel setting. You may not want to have a friend hold the wood this time. Point the rod toward the hooked board and reel in the slack line and just as it gets snug, crank the handle 3 times and sweep the rod back. If your friend is holding the wood, duck! Go check the hook and if you haven't broken it off, the hook will be berried into the wood up to the barb. Reel setting any lure that has been cast 50 to 75 feet is much more affective than rod setting.
WRB