I was recently trolling with rapalas for smallies. I had great success but I would have brought in alot more fish if the fish hadn't let go of the lure. I don't get it I set the hook and checked the hooks over and over they were all sharp. I don't understand how the bass could get the rapala in its mouth and not get hooked. Anyone have any suggestions?

I am probably not the best person to give advice for bass fishing as I haven't been at it too long. I know when I fish saltwater I never use the hooks that came with the lure. Change out the trebs with some seriously sharp ones and see how that does. I may be way off here, but usually the hooks that come on lures aren't the best out there.

You don't need to change the hooks on a Rapala.

The problem, most likely, was simply pulling the lure away from the fish. With crankbaits in general, you don't need to "set the hook." Allow the fish to hook itself by sweeping your rod and CONSTANTLY maintaining pressure.  ANY slack is a no-no!

RW pretty much covered it. Also, they can sometimes nudge at a bait and not get caught up on the trebles. It happened to me three times and I saw it all three times. Don't ask me how but I witnessed a trout peck in the middle of my rapala DT inbetween the bottom and rear treble. I felt the bump. It smacked quickly and did a 180 and never touched a treble. A smallie did the exact same thing to me at another lake and and largie too. They didn't open there mouths. They just pecked it. It seem more of a defensive move or curiosity verses an agreesive "I'm going to suck it down" mode.

Dumbfounded, but it happened.  Also rapala baits in one type I don't worry about the stock hooks. They are excellent from the get go.

yes rapala uses premium VMC hooks. theyre practically the best out there. dont worry about the hooks. just like roadwarrior said, dont set the hook. let the fish do it. and they keep the pressure on, cuz they can use the long hard lure (lets not be immature :) to get leverage when they shake and that can cause hooks to come out. so my guess is your jerking the bait away from the fish if you set the hook, just let the fish gobble down on it and when your sure its on, just sweep the rod up and begin the battle of pressure.

Ok thanks guys

I caught a 18lb smallmouth buffalo fish trolling with rapala ;D

Sometimes the fish is trying to stun your bait and then come back and eat it head first.  I got to see this happen with my jointed shad rapala.  The bass T-boned it at full spead just befor gettign to the boat.  He got a hook in the forehead and side.

Tanner

I've heard that some dedicated crankbaiters feel a graphite rod is too sensitive for this method and they have started using fiberglass instead.  Apparently the sensitivity of graphite causes them to react too quickly to strikes and the small difference in reaction time doesn't give the bass enough time to hook up.

Can't vouch for this personally, I'm just not that sophisticated with fishing......yet.