I was so excited to try this top water bait, and the fact that there were many positive reviews reassured my purchase. Today, I used a white SS with a brand new 4/0 weighted Gamakatsu EWG hook at a local lake. I had two solid hits, set the hook accordingly, but I missed both times. What did I do wrong, experts? As you know, the bait is chunky/fat, but the hook is exposed albeit it is hidden. I used 7'2" MH glass Expride rod with a Shimano baitcaster spooled with 30 lb braid line with a mono leader. Perhaps I used a wrong hook? 

You used a glass rod?  I think that’s the issue. Those are generally reserved for crank baits and other treble hooked baits

Oh and go straight braid. Mono stretches

I don’t have experience with the salad spoon but with  top water toads I use an unweighted ewg hook

While it could be that maybe the fish just got off somehow, using the glass rod could possibly be the reason why your losing those fish. If you had him on for a couple of seconds and the hooked popped, its cuz of the moderate action not being able to drive the hook into the bass' mouth. You would really have to swing for the fences if that's the case. I had a customer a while back who told me he converted his top water rod to a glass rod because glass rods were suppose to "delay" hooksets due to him being impatient on waiting to set the hook. Saw him again after a season and he told me he lost twice as many fish on single hook or frog applications than his old combo. Based off that I would suggest not using a glass rod for topwater unless you are using it for treble baits like poppers, spooks, ploppers, and so on. 

34 minutes ago, paulmandude said:

You used a glass rod?  I think that’s the issue. Those are generally reserved for crank baits and other treble hooked baits

Oh and go straight braid. Mono stretches

I don’t have experience with the salad spoon but with  top water toads I use an unweighted ewg hook

I used a glass rod, thinking that since it's MH that would be stiff enough and at the same time "delay" the hook set for a better percentage of catching fish. I guess I'm wrong...once again.

 

Why do you use unweighted EWG hook? 

18 minutes ago, torm said:

While it could be that maybe the fish just got off somehow, using the glass rod could possibly be the reason why your losing those fish. If you had him on for a couple of seconds and the hooked popped, its cuz of the moderate action not being able to drive the hook into the bass' mouth. You would really have to swing for the fences if that's the case. I had a customer a while back who told me he converted his top water rod to a glass rod because glass rods were suppose to "delay" hooksets due to him being impatient on waiting to set the hook. Saw him again after a season and he told me he lost twice as many fish on single hook or frog applications than his old combo. Based off that I would suggest not using a glass rod for topwater unless you are using it for treble baits like poppers, spooks, ploppers, and so on. 

Very interesting story, and it makes a lot of sense. I appreciate that. Do you recommend straight braid as well? 

17 hours ago, Eddie101 said:

Very interesting story, and it makes a lot of sense. I appreciate that. Do you recommend straight braid as well? 

Braid works extremely well for many topwater applications however when it comes to treble baits its a gray area. I've had times where no issues occur and times where I do yank a hook out out of a mouth. Doesn't happen often though. As for glass rod delaying a hookset, if I'm right, if you move a bait with a glass rod or a graphite rod its gonna move the same if you get me. A glass rod is less sensitive than a graphite so when a fish bites a crankbait you don't feel it until it eats it good which is why they call that a delay. The issue is the backbone being a lot softer and a bait being topwater. Even if you wait and set hook, on either rods you get the same reaction only difference is a glass rod has less hook power. The glass does not benefit your top water bait like it does a crankbait due to the fact that you delay your bites regardless of rod. And even if you do set hook right away with either rod, it is still gonna pull your bait away roughly the same. You just gotta swing harder now with the glass. That's assuming your using a frog or single hook baits. So because of that you could be putting yourself at a disadvantage using a glass rod for topwater. 

Don’t try to hook set using a rod swing alone, doesn’t apply enough force to the hook set.

Next time out instead of swinging the rod upwards, crank your reel fast and sweep the rod back hard against tight line.

Tom

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Don’t try to hook set using a rod swing alone, doesn’t apply enough force to the hook set.

Next time out instead of swinging the rod upwards, crank your reel fast and sweep the rod back hard against tight line.

Tom

^^^this^^^

 

What Tom said.  If you watch the pros on TV fishing something like this bait you'll see them reel down first and take a giant step back as they yank for all they are worth.  And I would lose that mono leader.  IMHO 

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Don’t try to hook set using a rod swing alone, doesn’t apply enough force to the hook set.

Next time out instead of swinging the rod upwards, crank your reel fast and sweep the rod back hard against tight line.

Tom

Do you always set the hook in that fashion? Do you suggest weighted hook or without for topwater frog baits? Thank you, Tom!

Unweighted hook keeps the bait on top of the water

Try some zoom horny toads or another type of kicking toad 

On 7/10/2022 at 6:53 PM, Eddie101 said:

Do you always set the hook in that fashion? Do you suggest weighted hook or without for topwater frog baits? Thank you, Tom!

Any time the lure is cast more then 50’ horizontal I use the reel and rod sweep hook set.d

The Salad Spoon is gumball of soft plastic in the basses mouth, you need to move the hook forward and a rod jerk isn’t going to work until the line is tight.

Tom