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.

Sharpen your hooks.

Based only on the information you provided I'm going to assume that the fish don't actually have the point of the hook in their mouths when you set the hook. Bluegill and other panfish typically have very small mouths and will pick at the hanging bits of the night crawler instead of engulfing the whole thing. What I do when fishing this style is this. When I get a bite I don't set the hook. Instead I very slowly begin to reel in my line. This is when the fish usually get more aggressive since they think the bait is going away. They will then usually hook themselves trying to get the bait before it flees. My hook up ratio this way isn't perfect, but it's much better than setting the hook on every bite like you would when bass fishing with a plastic worm. 

If you don’t have light wire hooks get some.

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Sharpen your hooks.

 

54 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

If you don’t have light wire hooks get some.

These two posts go hand in hand, thinner lighter hooks razor sharp. My post would be make sure you use the right hook size for fish you are after. Since we are in other fish species section I don't know if you are after crappie, perch, bluegill, walleye, or something I'm not thinking of. 

47 minutes ago, Tatsu Dave said:

 

These two posts go hand in hand, thinner lighter hooks razor sharp. My post would be make sure you use the right hook size for fish you are after. Since we are in other fish species section I don't know if you are after crappie, perch, bluegill, walleye, or something I'm not thinking of. 

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.

1 hour ago, OldDog said:

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.

try these hooks and gulp minnows, gills love them

19 minutes ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

try these hooks and gulp minnows, gills love them

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

6 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

try these hooks and gulp minnows, gills love them

Last time I use this ^^^ I got them gills pretty good. I used it Dropshoting with #8 hook but should be good under cork both with jig hook or split shot. As far as setting hook, I don’t really set hook just a quick jerk or reel in fast. It might be different since I never use earthworm only lures.

Thanks for the tip!!

Make sure the bobber isn't too large also. You're having to fight the resistance of the bobber through the water as well as driving the hook with a very light rod. The bigger the bobber, the harder this is going to be to accomplish.

16 hours ago, OldDog said:

too forceful.

in my idea it is, why don't you try to lean back only and retrive your line fast only, not actual hooks, also I know the light hooks with hooks like that will rip their lips very easy.

I use same hooks I told you with my drop shot hooklets, number 4 mosquito light wire hook and I never set the hook like that. Only retrieve faster and keep the line tight. I hope I could be help.

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.

Make sure to use very sharp hooks.

On 10/14/2020 at 2:06 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

try these hooks and gulp minnows, gills love them

Those little gulp minnows are the jam.

I use #4 or #6 Eagle Claw Aberdeen hooks. I have landed a 3 pound smallie with out bending out these hooks. Couldn't horse him in but I did land him using drag and the rod to help tire him out. The longer hook shank helps me get the hook out easier as well.

 

Something I don't see mentioned is how you put your nightcrawler on the hook. I try and thread the nightcrawler on the hook. Basically pierce the worm and run the hook through it all the way up the hook and then bring it out just a little at the end. This dramatically helps hook up ratios over the old piercing the worm a couple of times and wrapping it around the hook. Bluegills can't grab and pull your worm off as easily with the method I described.

Keep a tight line after the sweep set