Tight line whenever I can 

I try to get the line tight but I've got a hair trigger on hook sets and tend to swing as soon as I feel a bite, especially with a jig, and sometimes I just don't have time to get the line all the way tight. 

Let’s not forget techniques like a dropshot.  With a #1 hook, I set the hook with what I call a flick set.  Almost like just reeling a circle hook.  Just enough pressure to get that small hook to penetrate but not hard enough to rip it through the mouth tissue.  

Yes, the dropshot/splitshot hook set is different:

 

 

slack line hooksets are setting yourself up for issues as it introduces a lot of shock to the system.  Not to say i never slack line hookset but generally I am reeling up slack then setting the hook. 

 On a Texas rig or a jig I just kind of , I dont know , I just stick em .

Nobody has their rod in the “perfect” hooksetting position at all times. You do what you have to do.

Most times I reel down and set it hard.  Sometimes i leave a little slack and set.  It really depends on how the bite feels to me.

Darn it . Now the next time I go fishing I'm going to overthink my hooksets .

Im not that good so I dont honestly know. i dont pay attention a whole lot or remember what i did as long as I catch the fish. Moving baits obviously tight line but for everything else im not the best at detecting a bite so it's random.

little of both.....reel in the slack and go.......then pray.....

to be honest I mostly just reel down and set the hook, although I should be waiting longer on bigger baits for them to eat it longer like ribbon tails. I need to learn to give em a few seconds. same for topwaters, have lost quite a few fish setting the hook immediately. Its more about bait size and timing than how much slack is in your line I think.

I don’t do a true slack line set, but if I’m slow fishing plastics, I do leave just a hair of slack, not more than two feet

Either tight, or mostly tight. Sometimes a little slack can be beneficial, but if you can learn to do it with tight line then that's going to be better every time.

This made me think and I lime many are in the middle.

I do a lot of light wire techniques and for those I am a tight liner.

 

For big TRigs and jigs I am reeling and setting for the fence. In the back of my mind pulling the weight through the lips to get hook penetration is something I struggled with early on.  The fact that I am transitioning from mostly braid to FC is also is playing a role. 

 

Rod position is key for me and if I take a cast "off", I can easily be out of position 

It would depend on the technique I am using. I am the in between guy.

 

Tight line for sure, had a period of a few days where I was missing fish and when I thought about each one they were all on a slack line. Doubled down on making sure the line is tight especially with EWG hooks and been having more success.