|
|
Posts: 983
| Not sure if this is something related to heavy Rod or if its just bad hook up rates with big rubber but I have missed 2 fish the last 2 weeks both On my biggest stick...ITs a 9'6" XH predator first fish missed on possidion bait tore to hell and back rips on both sides belly and head no hook up lost fish...second was Sunday this Time Shadzilla JR I know this small bait for this Rod but it fishs the bait great but same story didnt get hooked up on Hit...The Shad Jr I was doing strait retrieve Felt smash Tried Set Hook hard initially was ok first set...then tried reel up slack line but it just kept coming almost like he exploded on bait and was coming right at me and couldnt get hooks in him before he gone...One on Possidion I was ripping bait second rip he was there set hard was there for about 10 seconds then gone...Any advice? Id this just part of game with big rubber or is hook set different on this rod compared to like a 2-6oz 8ft mojo musky??
Just hard to believe you dont get any hooks in them when your bait comes back shredded from head to tail and belly and no Hooks...very Frustrating |
|
| |
|
Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | That's just the nature of the beast. A 9'6 XH should be a perfect big rubber rod |
|
| |
|
Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | I don't have much experience with this type of thing but here is my theory. Specifically the big rubber baits give the fish something to clamp down on and if they have a firm hold on the body of the bait and you set the hook all you are really doing is pulling the bait with the fish locked on it. Hope that makes sense but think about it like this; if you hold a shad rap or other small hard bait (even bucktail) in your hand as tight as you can and someone sets the hook the hooks are going into your hand much easier than if you were holding a big pounder bulldawg, shadzilla, or other large rubber bait because you are able to grip them better. (And musky have teeth to help them grip rubber where their teeth are ineffective on hard baits and bucktails). When you get a effective hook set you are moving the bait on the fishes mouth and that is harder to do with rubber. Like I said this is my theory but it sounds like good reasoning to me. If I'm wrong someone let me know. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2333
Location: Chisholm, MN | Sometimes a softer rod will hold a fish on better, but you need a big rod for specific baits. Drive it home, and keep tension. I have the same rod and hardly lose a fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | Musky_Mo16 - 5/16/2017 9:12 AM
I don't have much experience with this type of thing but here is my theory. Specifically the big rubber baits give the fish something to clamp down on and if they have a firm hold on the body of the bait and you set the hook all you are really doing is pulling the bait with the fish locked on it. Hope that makes sense but think about it like this; if you hold a shad rap or other small hard bait (even bucktail) in your hand as tight as you can and someone sets the hook the hooks are going into your hand much easier than if you were holding a big pounder bulldawg, shadzilla, or other large rubber bait because you are able to grip them better. (And musky have teeth to help them grip rubber where their teeth are ineffective on hard baits and bucktails). When you get a effective hook set you are moving the bait on the fishes mouth and that is harder to do with rubber. Like I said this is my theory but it sounds like good reasoning to me. If I'm wrong someone let me know.
I've heard this many times from many guys, and I think that is a big part of it. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 983
| Kirby Budrow - 5/16/2017 9:20 AM
Sometimes a softer rod will hold a fish on better, but you need a big rod for specific baits. Drive it home, and keep tension. I have the same rod and hardly lose a fish.
I have had no issue with my lighter rods but like you stated this rod is needed for big rubber and fishes much smaller baits without a problem..another member gave me some good info on PM...Maybe setting hooks a second time right after the first hook set isnt needed and Maybe I should have stuck her good once with a hook set and just reeled hard to keep pressure..Thinking back this might have worked on first fish second fish was like it was coming at me like a missle and I just couldnt catch up even with the Revo Rocket |
|
| |
|
Posts: 7049
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Welcome to what happens with locked down drags, super heavy rods and no stretch super line. We have killed the idea/reality of fighting fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1100
| I would consider it more of a fight with tight drag, vs, "playing" the fish on the light set up. :P
Anyway, one god hook-set and just keep pressure on it, worked the beast for me. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20227
Location: oswego, il | Sometimes it can nust be the way the fish bit the bait and coincidences. It is two fish, two different baits so there isnt a real trend that could be realized over a bunch of fish.
I do agree with slamr. I dont horse fish either. Too much pressure and your asking for something to give and if the hooks are not in a good place based on the strike, fish lost. Fish missed and hooked outside the head, quite common, you will most likely lose it horseing it for example. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 983
| ToddM - 5/16/2017 10:36 AM
Sometimes it can nust be the way the fish bit the bait and coincidences. It is two fish, two different baits so there isnt a real trend that could be realized over a bunch of fish.
I do agree with slamr. I dont horse fish either. Too much pressure and your asking for something to give and if the hooks are not in a good place based on the strike, fish lost. Fish missed and hooked outside the head, quite common, you will most likely lose it horseing it for example.
kinda what I thought just frustrating loosing fish 2 outings in a row...I really wish the Shadzilla Jr had dual trebles seems plenty big for it to have had them not sure why they dont...I thought I read they re did them to be like Reg Shadzillla but guess not...
Just amazing to me a fish hammer a Possidion and tear the heck out of it head to tail deep cuts clear to the harness and no hooks get in |
|
| |
|
Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | Welcome to fishing!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 983
| I try not to Horse them in but also dont want to sit and fight them and get them too fatigued at take chance at killing fish from stress....Id rather loose the fish than stress kill it from a fight....guess you have to find happy medium here and dont horse but also dont let fish just do whatever it wants.....ohh well really just venting I think all I thought about all last week was the fish I lost and then try and redeem myself Sunday just to have it happen again and now 2 weeks of both these fish running through my head of something I could have done different and might just need to except it as part of the game..Just want to get better anyway I can and up hook percentage as much as possible..making sure I wasnt missing something on the XH Rods and what not only one I have had issue with but sample size still fairly small overall.. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20227
Location: oswego, il | When i say dont horse them, i an talking about a 2 maybe 3 minute fight if that vs 30 seconds. Muskies come pretty quick when they are not thrashing, i just dont force them when they do. That is when poorly hooked fish can come loose. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Its just 2 fish dont sweat it. You will lose many, many, many, many more lol...
Your getting eaten which is the challenge. Keep it up. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 841
Location: Southwest PA | JakeStCroixSkis - 5/16/2017 7:39 PM
Its just 2 fish dont sweat it. You will lose many, many, many, many more lol...
Your getting eaten which is the challenge. Keep it up.
Agreed, I'd gladly take that over the two follows I have on the board for the year. Big rubber is a s.o.b. to get the hooks to penetrate sometimes. I just shake it off when it takes place and realize it is going to happen. Perhaps keep the same color patterns with a lure that has a better hookup ratio and return to where the fish ate. Could be the ticket, but who knows with these dang fish half the time hehehe |
|
| |
|
Posts: 983
| Yea I totally understand the hook up rate and all...THis is part of Musky fishing and I get that as well...Just wanted opinions on heavier Rods with Big Rubber and got some great info....Other than that More Just Venting than anything we all know how lost fish just replay and replay time and time again in your head |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2333
Location: Chisholm, MN | 25homes - 5/17/2017 9:40 AM
Yea I totally understand the hook up rate and all...THis is part of Musky fishing and I get that as well...Just wanted opinions on heavier Rods with Big Rubber and got some great info....Other than that More Just Venting than anything we all know how lost fish just replay and replay time and time again in your head
I used to lose tons of fish. So many that I almost quit. Really big ones too! After you play the incident over and over again, you may figure out what you did wrong and fix it. It all comes with experience. Anything in musky fishing is this way. An example would be teaching someone how to figure 8. You can explain it all you want, but they will never figure it out until they get follows and many failed attempts. Then one day it just clicks and you can't keep the fish off your line! I wouldn't say you are overthinking it. Thinking hard about it is a good thing. Then you will be ready when you get the next bite.
Muskie fishing is all in the details. You won't figure out the details until you have enough experience. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 983
| Kirby Budrow - 5/17/2017 9:51 AM
25homes - 5/17/2017 9:40 AM
Yea I totally understand the hook up rate and all...THis is part of Musky fishing and I get that as well...Just wanted opinions on heavier Rods with Big Rubber and got some great info....Other than that More Just Venting than anything we all know how lost fish just replay and replay time and time again in your head
I used to lose tons of fish. So many that I almost quit. Really big ones too! After you play the incident over and over again, you may figure out what you did wrong and fix it. It all comes with experience. Anything in musky fishing is this way. An example would be teaching someone how to figure 8. You can explain it all you want, but they will never figure it out until they get follows and many failed attempts. Then one day it just clicks and you can't keep the fish off your line! I wouldn't say you are overthinking it. Thinking hard about it is a good thing. Then you will be ready when you get the next bite.
Muskie fishing is all in the details. You won't figure out the details until you have enough experience.
Yes I agree. must get the experience to learn and become better so take it as a lesson learned and move on..thanks my man appreciate the feedback |
|
| |
