|
|
| Curious what people think about these. I am of the impression that a hook set doesn't matter. That keeping slack out of the line, the fish hooks itself when it opens it mouth to release the bait. I do not think we move the bait in a fish's mouth with a hook set. That being said I still set the hook and hard, cannot help it. I just remember really laying into a hook set on a low 40ish fish with about 10 feet of line out with a quick strike rig. As I basically jumped and set the hook numerous times, the fishes head did not really move. It leads me to believe with lures that we are hooking them when the let go of the bait to get away. I think this shown through people who have caught fish that were never hooked, but where justing holding the bait....like to hear your thoughts....Ben |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I use lighter wire hooks. I don't have to do those bone jarring hooksets with them. I think the hook and it's sharpness has alot to do with it. I really noticed this when I troll. My hookups are for crap with a 4x hook compared to the same bait that has a short shank mustad or eagle claw round point. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | Watch the new Muskies on the Shield video with Dick Pearson. I didn't see anything remotely resembling a Hammerin' Hookset........
When I switched to EC Lazers my hookup percentage increased significantly............. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 224
Location: Madison | RAZE1 - 2/10/2005 7:32 PM
Watch the new Muskies on the Shield video with Dick Pearson. I didn't see anything remotely resembling a Hammerin' Hookset........
Absolutely right. I thought the same thing when watching the video.
I will say I lost my biggest fish on a half-ass hookset - had been catching hammerhandles all day, and I wasn't prepared when she hit. It was like someone tied the suick to an outboard and started it up - I'd never felt anything like that power before. I was mostly stunned, gave the rod a half-sweep, and the fish laughed and spit the bait back at me. Nearly ruined my whole trip.
Now, it's possible the fish had that suick in a way that nothing I could have done would have driven those hooks home, but I still blame myself.
I have heard guys say if you take the hooks off a bait, and give your rod/reel to a buddy, you will be amazed how easy it is to hold onto the lure even with superline. So if that's true, I think every little bit you can get with the hookset can only help.
-d |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I set the hook. HARD. It's all in the rod blank, not muscle. Most folks put out less than 2 pounds on the set. One needs to strive for much more. Ask Shep about the proper hook set...
If you want to lose fish, don't set the hook.
Technique is everything. Someone who knows how to load up a rod blank will appear to only snap the rod upwards a bit, but they will be setting the hook much harder than those who whip their arms and the rod around alot. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4266
| I don't know what I do, that's too much to think about. I set hard.......even have made a few people almost lose their balance......but I believe that the combo of longer rods with softer tips and "superlines" has made my hooksets better. Longer rod, more tip movement, more speed, better hook penetration.
I also agree with the Eagle Claw Laser Sharps. My hook of choice.
Beav |
|
| |
|
| I believe in full body hook sets to ensure the fish is hooked properly, but that is just me.  If your hooks are correctly sharpened, then you will have no problem hammering home the hooks even if you let the fish hook itself. I use VMCs and Eagle Claw Lazer Sharps and its like a knife thru butter! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Beav,
My friend, you SET THE HOOK!!! Hard. I've seen it! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 617
Location: Clintonville, WI | I believe you set hard, but via a combo of things.
Kind of like Worrall says, use the equipment and let it do most of the work (right, pgaschulz?). I also think there is some element of force though, too. Bring it strong or don't bring it at all, with strong not necessarily meaning arms flailing. I happen to have physics on my side.....force = mass x acceleration....I think you all can guess what I bring to the table (hint: it ain't acceleration  )
Note to self: Check and see if you got that formula right so you can edit if need be before you look stupid.
With the quality of rods and super braids/line, when casting we can "feel" if a strike and the hooking is solid. If not, hit 'em again. Perhaps obviously, I've especially been noticing this during fall sucker fishing with quick strikes. Many times I have felt the need to set the hook twice if not three times based on feel of the original hookset. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | I have in the past however, set the hook so hard, I turned the fish 90deg only to have them spit the lure in my face....
I totally agree with the notion that, a muskie can grab a bait in a manner that, you won't move it without busting out a bunch of teeth. I've had them grab a Grandma with a headshot and get the lip just right in the craw, whereas it just wasn't going to move under any circumstance.....
Any studies on a muskie's clamp strength psi's? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | I believe a strong hooset to be important but keeping a tight line with ZERO slack way more important. That's why I work with a lose drag to avoid any slack whatsoever. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4266
| Yup Steve, I've been known to stretch fish from sub-legal to legal size just from my hook set.
Fish that hit my lures get a spinal alignment.
I remember setting into a pike in "Yapping Dog Bay" on Pelican with you, and you lost your balance. It takes power to move a 20' Tuffy by setting into a 30" pike
Beav |
|
| |
|
Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | I once snapped a rod into 3 pieces on a hookset w/live bait (herbie rig) with the fish directly beneath me/boat. Successful hookset???? NOT!!! Sucker came swimming back to the surface looking like it went through a meat grinder. As I was retrieving the rod pieces which had slid down my line I see Mr Muskie coming back for the sucker, stilll on the herbie rig. Not 5' from the boat, at the surface, Mr Muskie again takes the bait. All i really have is rod handle w/reel in one hand, and the top 4 1/2 feet of my rod in the other. I momentarily hit the freespool button, dropped the top end to slide down the line and basically exectued a hookset similar to that when using a tip up. Fish going away.....drill em. Spun back the drag big time as I had no rod to play the fish. Landed a nice 40"er. I feel the problem came in that I was setting the hook vertically or into the roof of the fish's mouth a hard enough task combined with surely a solid grip by the muskie on a nice soft piece of bait. I dont think I actually moved the bait much if at all (since the sucker was still rubberbanded to the herbie rig)and if so, right to one of the hardest spots in the mouth to set a hook. I know it's a quick set rig But I would argue to some point to allow the fish to be headed away from you even at the slightest angle before dropping the hammer. Any thoughts??? Anyone???Beuhler??? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | Needless to say the hookset mentioned above was quite the heave. I think I read in an article that its not how far you pull or sweep your rod but how strongly/quickly you get the hooks/bait moving. Generate the speed and if done effectively you wont need the monsterous sweeping hookset. I have since adapted this school of thought with noticable increase in sollid hookups. |
|
| |
|
| Trolling I pretty much let the 3200# boat and motor set the hooks, by the time I get that rod out of the holder either she's on or she's not. I set my drag so it can be pulled by hand firmly and will slip when I hit something hard or break out of the speed I'm running (tuning to travel with the wind or on a sharp corner). Casting I winch it down and try to shatter the rod. I set the hook once no mater what I'm fishing for. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 228
Location: Downers Grove, IL | I believe it all depends on the circumstances. In my opinion, many folks say that they're monster setters - but not all circumstances will allow us to show off our machismo.
Sure, we'd all love the chance to reel down and cross the fish's eyes. And sometimes the opportunity dictates a monster set, ex: - a live bait rig with the fish running. You've got the time and know the direction the fish is heading, with the fish clamped down on the bait and not letting go - put the wood to it.
But how about a strike when you're burning a bucktail? You don't have slack line, the momentum of the bait is doing a great deal of the work, coupled with the fact that most fish will hit a bait and run the other way, further tightening the line.
I also watched Dick Pearson's video (awesome) and noticed the same thing. He's not exactly throwing people in the boat off balance with his hooksets. Rather, he's depending on sharp hooks, the bait's momentum and the fish's inclination to strike and turn - and a smooth, but not violent, sweep of the rod over his shoulder.
I just don't think you can paint someone as a monster hook setter with a broad brush. All depends on the circumstances - mostly, what kind of bait you're working.
My $.02!
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 814
| I believe in a SOLID hookset? especially if your hooks are dull!!! I use vmc cone cut and ec laser sharps only! A Musky's mouth is much more solid and bony when they are older and heavier there jaw does not tear like on smaller northern's and small musky under 40 IMO. Therefore I always try to set the hook as hard as I can. |
|
| |
|
| I always try to set harder when I'm using wood than I do when working hard plastic or bucktail. Teeth slip on plastic not wood - I broke 3 teeth off of a 48"er that were still imbedded in the wood bait - Had to cut hooks out of her jaw they were so deep.I use Kevlar rods for sucker fishing - will not shatter even on the coldest day and the hardest hookset. |
|
| |
