On a crankbait like you do with a t-rig? They throw these square bills often when they jump. 😑

I don't. 

Definitely not a "hookset" like you're plowing a 4/0 through a piece of plastic.  I sweep my rod nearly parallel to the water to the left or right.  Maybe one or two turns of the handle depending on what direction the fish is already headed.  If it's running at the boat then you've got to work that reel like a mixer in cake batter but otherwise I let them decide where they are going for a few seconds after the sweep and hold and then adjust accordingly.  I use my TM to my advantage also.  

 

If they are heading for the surface I drop the rod tip fast and take a step or two away from the fish.  If it jumps I try to pull it flat so it can't get a good headshake and keep tension to get it back in the water.  I much prefer when they just dig and dig until they're tired.  Sharp hooks are your best friend.  Keep the rod tip bent.  Make sure your drag is adjusted properly.  Don't horse them, it's not a tug-of-war.  If they move, you move with them while you direct them toward your boat or shore.   

A firm sweep gets me a pretty high landing ratio.

If you are loosing fish after you set the hook, your line and rod choice has a lot to do with it. Often times,  the hook will penetrate on its own.  The important part is keeping the fish pinned.  A moderate or moderate fast rod helps but for line fluorocarbon or mono works best. Braid is a no go for me on crankbaits. 

I set the hook on crankbaits. I set the hook moderately hard. That said, I almost always fish crankbaits on mono and on a medium moderate rod.

 

I have a m/m rod that is more a LM/M that I use for smaller crankbaits and general just light stuff. I give more of a hookset normally with that, because the power of the rod is so low.

 

The heavier power the rod, the more energy is transmitted to your hookset.

I strictly do a sweep set. When I was in my 20’s, I got to ride from the ramp at Havasu to the ER with a Wiggle Wart embedded in my forehead. This represented the end of my hard hooksets.

30 minutes ago, ElGuapo928 said:

I strictly do a sweep set. When I was in my 20’s, I got to ride from the ramp at Havasu to the ER with a Wiggle Wart embedded in my forehead. This represented the end of my hard hooksets.

Noted

 

reel/sweep set. but I do that for just about everything now