Dock Talk -- Set the Hook or Not




A new bass fishing angler asks the age-old question when fishing a plastic worm; should he set the hook immediately when he feels a bump or wait a second before setting the hook.

My learning curve in fishing plastic worms was distinguishing a nibbling bass from a grabby piece of underwater structure. Fishing cover calls for different reactions. In moderate to heavy cover, which is where Texas rigged plastics do some of their best work, there can be occasions where having a bass take a bait can 'feel' similar to having the bait slightly hung up in cover, especially if there's not that discernible Tap-Tap.
However, our new angler has been able to distinguish between structure and a bass.

“If I feel a bump, or what I detect as a bite, I take the time to calmly reel down and set the hook.” He’s watched fishing shows where the pro angler takes a second or two before setting the hook. “I’m trying to understand why such a long time from detection to hook set. What are they feeling for in that period of time; is there no concern about the bass spitting the bait? This is my second year taking bass fishing seriously, and I am starting to detect bites and catch fish that I realized I missed last year. So, this has me thinking, what am I not doing/feeling for that these pros are?”

Shaw Grigsby, a well-known fishing professional, explains his Three Tap Theory. “The first tap the bass has inhaled your lure. The second tap the bass has expelled your lure. The third tap is me tapping you on the shoulder asking way you didn't set hook!”

Other angler theories are regarding when and when not to set the hook.

“I tend to wait and feel for a second tug, or see if my line moves before setting the hook. That pause lets me feel the fish out. If I feel one tap the fish could have picked it up and dropped it real quick, in which case I want to be able to impart more action to the bait and try to get them to bite again. If I set the hook after that initial tap, but the bait is already out of the fish’s mouth, then I've lost a fish and likely spooked it from biting again.”

The two-or-three seconds rule: I think a lot of the missed fish are when they hit the tail of the worm. We feel that and set the hook. Would they have stopped and engulfed the entire worm, who knows?”

That’s too long a wait: “I'm a firm believer that often times the second thump you feel is the fish spitting it out. If I set the hook and miss, I still work it and often the bass comes and takes it again.”

Costs sometime come into play: “Setting hooks in brush are not free with a two-dollar tungsten weight, one-dollar hook and a fifty cent-worm,” adds another angler. “If I am in heavy brush and feel a tap, at times I will weigh the line momentarily too see if there is something there, or if I’m playing tug of war with underwater brush limb. They will usually hit again if not spooked. A more sensitive, rod can make a world of difference in having a better idea of what you're feeling.”

What about if you feel the strike and the fish swims away. “It probably isn't going directly away from you, but the fish is probably putting a bend in the line that you have to overcome to get a hookset. I'll usually just lower my rod and try to get the slack out, then set it. But on a C-rig (Carolina), you yank the line through the sinker. So, there's some weight for you to set the hook against.”

Like every other phase of bass fishing, there's reallyno fixed answer regarding ideal hook-set timing. When I feel a bump, I raise my rod tip to see if something pulls back. It takes me about one full-second to prepare for a hookset. How long do you wait to set the hook; please share your comments.

 




Tell us what you think!

Lake Texoma Email Updates


 

Visit our Lake Texoma Sponsors!

Lake Texoma on Social Media

 
       

Lake Texoma Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Texoma Weather Forecast

Saturday

Rain Showers

Hi: 73

Saturday Night

Severe Tstms

Lo: 64

Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Hi: 71

Sunday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 53

Monday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 75

Monday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 57

Tuesday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 80

Tuesday Night

Rain Showers Likely

Lo: 64


Lake Texoma Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 4/19: 615.60 (-1.40)



Lake Texoma

Fishing Report from TPWD (Apr. 16)

FAIR. Water stained; 62 degrees; 1.34 feet below pool. Striper fishing is hit-and-miss with the weather and winds. Watch for the gusts at the end of this week and plan your trip accordingly. Texoma gets big swells and there are several marinas to launch from on the southern edge of the lake especially as the stripers move up the Red River and Washita River with inflow. Live bait on flats and ledges in 30-45 feet of water is producing limits of box fish. Look for bigger fish to be shallow near the rivers on points and humps. Crappie are scattered in the creeks as they spawn and wrap up spawning. A few fish being caught around docks and brush in 8-12 feet of water on jigs. Look at creeks and shallow water with the warm days and rain! Bass fishing will improve with the stained water and rise in lake levels. Fish will be near rocks and gravel as the shad spawn is kicking off, as well as on docks early in the mornings. Starting to see blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish showing up. Stumps and brush on points hold flathead this time of year, blue catfish are in deeper water suspended as the shad move higher in the water column. Channels will be along the rocks on punch baits and prepared baits. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Texoma, Guaranteed Guide Service. Striped bass are hit-and-miss under the birds. Nice clear days are tougher, but fish are actively feeding on cloudy days with wind. Cast swimbaits to structure allowing the lure to sink then slowly roll back to the boat. Shad are spawning along the banks indicating a topwater bite will begin soon. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.

More Fishing Reports