Need Recommendations
Skinny
Posted 10/19/2015 10:28 AM (#789214)
Subject: Need Recommendations




Posts: 12


I have run into some missed opportunities fishing jerkbaits lately. I don't know if I should chalk it up to bad luck or bad decision making. Anyone have insight to this situation? I had this happen 3 times now. I'm working a phantom and see a fish swiping and missing. As the lure gets closer to the boat I'm trying to get the fish to strike because I hate and have little success with a figure 8 and a jerkbait, so I give the lure a good sized twitch, let it kick out wide, then stall it. Three times now that has worked, I watch the fish open up and vacuum the lure in. The problem is, the fish just sits there. It doesn't swim away and it doesn't put any pressure on my rod. I, for a lack of a better word, panic and set the hook. All 3 times the lure shoots out without hooking up. Is it better to do nothing and let the fish eventually swim away then set the hook or do you set the hook when you see the lure in it's mouth.
14ledo81
Posted 10/19/2015 10:46 AM (#789216 - in reply to #789214)
Subject: RE: Need Recommendations





Posts: 4269


Location: Ashland WI
Skinny - 10/19/2015 10:28 AM

I have run into some missed opportunities fishing jerkbaits lately. I don't know if I should chalk it up to bad luck or bad decision making. Anyone have insight to this situation? I had this happen 3 times now. I'm working a phantom and see a fish swiping and missing. As the lure gets closer to the boat I'm trying to get the fish to strike because I hate and have little success with a figure 8 and a jerkbait, so I give the lure a good sized twitch, let it kick out wide, then stall it. Three times now that has worked, I watch the fish open up and vacuum the lure in. The problem is, the fish just sits there. It doesn't swim away and it doesn't put any pressure on my rod. I, for a lack of a better word, panic and set the hook. All 3 times the lure shoots out without hooking up. Is it better to do nothing and let the fish eventually swim away then set the hook or do you set the hook when you see the lure in it's mouth.


Not that I am any good at it (missed three this year that did something similar), but I have heard that you are supposed to set in the direction of the fishes tail.
Hatrackr
Posted 10/20/2015 10:25 AM (#789381 - in reply to #789214)
Subject: Re: Need Recommendations




Posts: 20


I am having the same problem! See my post "why can't I keep em hooked" One thing I noticed is if I fish the bait with erratic jerks that I had a lot of fish swiping and missing at the lure. I switched to more of a walk the dog motion and they seem to be connecting more now but am still not getting them to stay pinned. I switched to a larger hook, I think it was a 5/0 that it came with and I went to a 6/0 in hopes of getting the hooks in them better. Sunday was slow with 1 swipe and miss so I have not had the chance to test the difference yet. It sounds like it's a common problem with jerk baits but my soft tail walleye phantom has by far produce the most sightings/strikes of any bait I have so I'm sticking with it eventually I'll put one in the net! I'm heading to northern WI this weekend so hopefully I can report back if the larger hooks are making a difference.