For those of you that use braid on jigs and plastics, can you tell me how you set the hook. I'm used to crossing their eyes with mono or fluoro and I know that's not the way with braid but trying to get some opinions.. reel set? Sweep? Etc. ? Thanks...

I set the hook hard, but, it doesn't take a huge swing of the rod. It's just a firm, short, hook set. Because I don't have to move the rod tip very far I am seldom out of position where I can't get a good hook set. I can't explain more than it's just something I got a feel for from having used braid for so long. Obviously, those huge swinging hook sets would rip baits from the fish. I've never had that problem even though I don't use a leader for shock. Best advice I can give is to go out and catch a bunch of fish to develop your own feel for what works for you.

you dont have to swing for the fences like with mono really any jerk big or small will set the hook unless you use dull hooks....i dont set the hook very hard and dont miss fish often and my friend rips lips and doesnt miss fish very often lol 

 

if you use braid only for a while and try mono youll know why you need a huge hook set for mono lol you can feel every single bit of stretch it has over braid

I still lay the wood to them with braid but I use a softer rod to compensate

 Its interesting. I miss a hook set here and there, but i never miss a stump, rock, or tree limb.

even when i used mono i didnt set up to rip lips so braid is perfect for me...really most of the time when they grab it on the run you dont have to set up at all....even most of my snook hook themselves 

 

just remember sharp hook 

SNAP-SET

 

When you detect a bite, lower the tip of your rod and reel the slack line up QUICKLY.

Snap you wrist upwards without moving the position of your hands or arms relative

to your body. All the energy sould then be transferred to your rod tip. This is all the

force required.

 Its interesting. I miss a hook set here and there, but i never miss a stump, rock, or tree limb.

At least with 50 lb braid + you can sometimes bring the stump, tree limb..etc out or straighten the hook out with a snag.

Thanks for the responses. I'm really liking the feel of braid, this will help. Going to try the quick but short snap and see how it goes. Thanks again.

i still rip their heads off, and i set with slack in the line so there is more impact on the hook.

 

bo

I also set hard with braid, I haven't encountered any "hookup" problems. The times I have missed fish on the set I've noticed I've been using a hook that wasn't quite big enough. What I mean is the hook is the "correct" size to fit the bait but it still isn't optimal. Say for example most guys use a 4/0 straight shank for 420 Beavers, this hook fits the bait correctly but I sometimes miss a set here or there. Now if I just go up one size to a 5/0 I never seem to have any trouble.  

 

Take this opinion with a grain of salt though because this could just be me and not the actual way of the world so to speak.

im afraid when I use braid if I set it into a stump and I start pulling hard enough that bait will come back at me like a rocket. Makes me nervous. I only use braid for my frog fishing, but I try to set it pretty tough

Like Scott said, you'll soon develop the feel of the hook set. I set my drag a bit loose on braid to the point I hear a little bit of drag going every time I set the hook.

I cross their eyes, but I usually have a six foot flouro leader attached.

The rod has a lot to do with it, much easier to get a good hookset on beefier rod.  I don't set the hook very hard and using a fairly short leader there isn't much shock to it.  Usually the fish I miss are the ones I don't want anyway, too small, and some of the bigger ones may not have had the hook in their mouth, they just let go.

Snook (some call them saltwater LMB) are different, they are not nearly as aggressive and don't hit as hard as a bass, but once they have the lure they turn on the power and just lifting the rod to get a taunt line is all that's needed.

Personally i think it really depends on the rod.  When using a 6'6'' medium rod, i will set hard.  when flippin with a medium/heavy fast action rod it doesnt take nearly as much to get a solid hook set.

 Its interesting. I miss a hook set here and there, but i never miss a stump, rock, or tree limb.

 Oh my god this hahaha. Nothing more true has been said