How long should I wait before i set the hook on a t rig? I usually wait around like 5 seconds to see if the fish has it fully in its mouth but sometimes they drop it after a while. Should I set the hook after I feel a tap? or wait a few seconds.

Depends

When using a frog or a vertical presentation I’ll “weigh” it first and set. 
 

When using a single hook horizontal presentation I set the instant I feel anything. 
 

For treble hooked horizontal hits I just kinda lean into it 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

When you feel a tap the worm is in the basses mouth so set the hook before it gets rejected. Timing is a factor that changes with worm size and bass activity....Largemouth vs Spotted bass and Smallmouth but sooner is almost always then later.

Tom

Hooksets are free ~ I Don't wait.

Most anytime my bait 'feels different', I'm coming tight on it.

And different can be a few things; heavier, lighter, weightless, mushy and of course,

that exciting feeling that something alive is on the other end. 

The more I fished, the better I got at it.

But I still get 'surprised' on occasion.

A-Jay

I’ve got some weird opinions on this one so here goes. Most often that “tap tap tap” feel is a small bass or bluegill for me. That is not always the case. And most often a larger fish I will feel a variety of things including but not limited to a feeling of weightlessness, sudden tension, line swimming off, a single “tonk”, etc. Again, this is not always the case. Regardless, the larger fish seem to most always take the bait quickly. 
 

To best ensure that I catch those larger fish, I will sometimes just go right into the hookset even if all I’m feeling is that “tap tap tap”. If I miss, I most often write it off as bluegill or small bass trying to engulf the bait. 
 

If it’s not the “tap tap tap” that I feel, then of course I have a hunch it could be a better size fish.

 

Bottom line is if I’m not trying to catch smaller fish, I go straight into hookset regardless of what I feel.

 

Edit: I try my to do my best Catt hookset. So hookset means drop rod, reel slack, set hook.
 

 

15 minutes ago, washedkevin said:

How long should I wait before i set the hook on a t rig? I usually wait around like 5 seconds to see if the fish has it fully in its mouth but sometimes they drop it after a while. Should I set the hook after I feel a tap? or wait a few seconds.

No waiting, reel in slack point rod at fish and set all in one smooth motion.

I don't wait. I jack them right away.

I hit 'em as soon as I feel 'em generally. Circumstantial though. Yesterday, I had one pick up my trig beside a laydown and charge the boat. By the time I could catch up and get tight, it was a nearly vertical hookset and boat flip all in one motion.

i dont wait..for sure not 5 seconds.  my slowass reaction time is plenty enough.  i dont think i jam it home like it owes me money tho..i just bring the rod back and lean into it.  

I wouldn't wait, it's not worth waiting for a fewdink to fit it in its mouth if a 4+ blows it out.

Three Tap Theory as explained to me by Shaw Grigsby 

 

The first tap the bass has inhaled your lure

 

The second tap the bass has expelled your lure

 

The third tap is me tapping you on the shoulder asking way you didn't set hook!

Around here, if you set the hook on a tap-tap-tap, you'll lose the worm to a bluegill.

I set the hook when the line moves which is almost always the case with bigger fish.

I feel something, I set the hook...no waiting.

I feel a bite, I'm swinging. 

 

NOW!

43 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Depends

When using a frog or a vertical presentation I’ll “weigh” it first and set. 
 

When using a single hook horizontal presentation I set the instant I feel anything. 
 

For treble hooked horizontal hits I just kinda lean into it 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

you do a lot of frog and treble hook t-rigs? 
 

to the op, 5 seconds is way too long. If I feel the fish or see my line swimming off, I set. 

7 minutes ago, Bird said:

Around here, if you set the hook on a tap-tap-tap, you'll lose the worm to a bluegill.

I set the hook when the line moves which is almost always the case with bigger fish.

Thank you. 
 

Yes, most often that is the case with me too, but on the off chance it ain’t a bluegill, I am setting hook anyways.

 

 

59 minutes ago, washedkevin said:

How long should I wait before i set the hook on a t rig?

Never longer than a second for me, and that would be long. I'd rather lose my PB 10 times in a row than gut hook it. You're just asking for that waiting 5 seconds, IMO.

12 minutes ago, Cbump said:

you do a lot of frog and treble hook t-rigs? 
 

to the op, 5 seconds is way too long. If I feel the fish or see my line swimming off, I set. 

Of course not 

I just saw hook set and everything went through my mind without realizing it wasn’t exactly what he asked. 
 

Sorry OP, at least I had good intentions 

?

 

 

Mike

Mike.  i've seen frogs swimmng along the bottom before.  i know a bass has to have hit a swimming frog swimming underwater.  hahah.

3 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Mike.  i've seen frogs swimmng along the bottom before.  i know a bass has to have hit a swimming frog swimming underwater.  hahah.

Yep

You’re right!!

 

I need to take a nap!!

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

Just now, Mike L said:

Yep

You’re right!!

 

I need to take a nap!!

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

however, the treble hook frog was crazy-talk.  haha:)

Did I just see NAP?   Me TOO!!

Just long enough to reel in any slack and maybe a millisecond to see if the line is moving then swing away!

Hit em pretty quick , especially if fishing heavy cover . Letting a bass run through a cedar tree for  five seconds before setting a hook and there is almost a 100 per cent chance that fish isnt coming out .