OldDog

Thank you both for your wisdom! I will use a smaller bobber, as I had not considered that I was also fighting the resistance of the bobber. I will also try keeping the line taut and reeling in rather than a traditional hookset.

Thanks for the tip!!

Thanks! I've never tried these before, but will check them out!

Thank you all for your feedback! I will get some light wire hooks and make sure they are very sharp. I am primarily looking for panfish like bluegill, but if a bass or catfish bites my hook, I won't complain. I think my hooksets might be a bit premature at times too, and too forceful.

Hi All, I've been having trouble with hook sets on my ultralight pole. I'm using 6# test, the pole itself is 6', and it's a spinning reel. I'm rearing back and really setting the hook using a traditional hookset but almost never landing the fish. My drag is set pretty tight. I'm typically fishing about 1-2 feet deep with a bobber, and using night crawlers. I give the fish plenty of time to take the bait. I don't have these issues using my 7', medium bass pole.

Another thing I probably need to work on is my knots. I've noticed these fish are tending to break off the line right at the hook (with one exception where it broke off past the bobber). I've been using a blood knot, but if anyone has knots that they use that work well, particularly around weeds with a Texas rigged plastic nightcrawler, I'm definitely open to suggestions!

Thank you all!

Hi all, I'm pretty new to fishing. My daughter has a lite rod/reel that's not recommended to exceed 6 lb test line. I'd bought some 10 lb braid before thinking about this. She's got 4 lb test on it but bass and catfish keep snapping the line. My question is, is it stupid to exceeded recommended lb test line? Also, will braided line screw up the fishing pole? Thanks