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Posts: 12
| This question has been on my mind for the last couple weeks after missing a few fish on top raiders. A few years ago before I got into muskies I read an article somewhere on top water for pike and musky. The author believed unlike top water for bass where you should wait to feel the fish to set the hook for muskies you should set the hook immediately after seeing or hearing the fish hit. The reasoning behind this is that musky are able to distinguish that the bait is a bait in fact and not actual food and can drop the bait before you feel it.
What are some of your opinions set it right away or wait to feel the fish?
Thanks and good luck out there |
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Posts: 32895
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | My experience has been wait until you feel the fish. Video of what happens if you don't to follow in a few minutes... |
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Posts: 265
Location: Manitowish Waters WI | Wait!!! If you don't feel them they defiantly don't have hooks.
Edited by esox1980 8/3/2013 9:45 PM
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | I will look away after the cast I hear the bait coming when it get close ill look just so I can see the follow I have missed fish when I watch. I will wait till I feel the fish works the best for me |
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Posts: 32895
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Ooops. From last night.
VIDEO
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Posts: 1279
Location: E. Tenn | Most definitely wait until you feel the fish.. Throwing topwaters one night had one blowup with a big ol' "BAWOOSH" four times before it loaded up.. Good thing it was pitch dark out!! |
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Posts: 2024
| Bummer Steve, but did you ever find out when Shelly talked to Cole and Katey? |
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Posts: 32895
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Yep, did. Should have been paying more attention.... |
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Posts: 55
| I agree with everyone you have to feel the fish. It's one of those you want to see it and you don't want to see it!! |
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Posts: 173
Location: Green Bay, Titletown, WI | Super sharp hooks, and just keep reeling at the same pace, works for me. |
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Posts: 1023
| That was funny |
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Posts: 1220
| I'm not a real top-water expert, so I use the tried and true method....don't watch! Sure, it's exciting and enjoyable to see it all go down, but if you are not above a little "buck fever," just look at the trees and when the fish is there, IT'S THERE! |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I watch the bait come in. Have caught plenty by speeding up the retrieve when they wake up on it. I wouldn't want to miss any of that.
Anyway: feel the weight, set to the side. Net fish! |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | curleytail - 8/5/2013 7:58 AM
I watch the bait come in. Have caught plenty by speeding up the retrieve when they wake up on it. I wouldn't want to miss any of that.
Anyway: feel the weight, set to the side. Net fish!
Agreed, topwater strikes are one of the best parts of muskie fishing. Just wait til you feel the fish and set the hook. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | sworrall - 8/3/2013 10:13 PM
Ooops. From last night. VIDEO
See what happens when you don't watch the bait!  They are good at hitting the moment you are distracted. It's hard for me to not do the 1/2 set when I hear the splash, just like in the video if they catch me off guard. |
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Location: On the O | black_dawg - 8/4/2013 1:53 PM
Super sharp hooks, and just keep reeling at the same pace, works for me.
Me too! |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | A couple good examples are on the DVD Livin Lac Seul, with Linda Rice catching a couple on Topraiders. The fish hits and sometimes there's a splash and commotion, her rod loads up and she just kind of takes a half step back or so and the fight is on. There is no definite hook set, and it looks like she's caught off guard and almost like she doesn't know what she's doing but it's actually just about perfect, other than as suggested above I'd go to the side with the rod rather than upward. |
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Posts: 5874
| I Love fishing topwaters. I love it when fish follow and then hit the bait. I hate it when I'm quicker than the fish! I look away quite abit when fishing topwaters. I just can't help setting the hook when I'm seeing the fish open it's mouth. Hookups are a much higher percentage when not "paying" attention. |
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Posts: 8793
| sworrall - 8/3/2013 10:13 PM
Ooops. From last night. VIDEO
Nice! I never do that.
Edited by esoxaddict 8/5/2013 6:12 PM
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Posts: 104
Location: Grantsburg, Wisc | ARmuskyaddict - 8/4/2013 12:40 AM
Bummer Steve, but did you ever find out when Shelly talked to Cole and Katey?
Bwaaaaaaahahahahahahahaha |
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Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | Wait to feel the weight.....seems to be a pattern developing....wait and weight..hmmm lol
Once you feel it send it home! You don't wanna jump the gun
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Posts: 32895
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | ski junkie - 8/5/2013 6:22 PM
ARmuskyaddict - 8/4/2013 12:40 AM
Bummer Steve, but did you ever find out when Shelly talked to Cole and Katey?
Bwaaaaaaahahahahahahahaha
Actually, that isn't a funny subject. Not real funny, anyhow.
Well, maybe a little. |
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| sworrall - 8/3/2013 10:13 PM
Ooops. From last night. VIDEO
do you have ever caught some fish minutes after they get almost hooked and have feel the hooks? |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Felt hooks, yes. But hooked up for more than a second or two, pretty rare to have them eat again right away |
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Location: MN | Yes wait. Much easier said than done though. If it makes you feel better I have missed several with the pre-mature hookset even when I know I need to wait. Top waters are a blast. |
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Posts: 32895
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | jano,
What Propster said. |
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Posts: 8793
| In my experience, once you actually have the fish on (even if it's just for a second) that fish is gone. If they don't touch the lure they'll blow up on it again and again. My theory is that they are trying to scare the sh-t out of it before they eat it. Tastes better that way! |
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Location: Contrarian Island | i actually think a superman hookset even when you do 'think' you feel the fish will make you miss more than you catch. a simple steady sweep of the rod, fairly slow, and just keep reeling is better imo than superman stuff.... Lee Tauchen taught me to simply keep reeling when one hits, when you do feel it pivot body to left or right and sweep nice and steady....biggest thing of course is not doing anything when you see or hear it....
Edited by BNelson 8/6/2013 4:12 PM
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Top water hook set