Have never had a lot of luck fishing the Texas rig. I have been forcing myself to fish it and try to learn to do better. Yesterday I had two good bass strike and had the feeling I had set the hook, but each one threw the hook soon after. I have only light, medium light and medium rods and wondered if I just need more backbone in the rod to get a better hook set, since it seemed to happen most often with bass and the Texas rig. Not the same problem with other fish or other rigs.

So, this morning I went to Dick's and bought a cheap Lew's Medium Heavy Fast Action rod. Went to one of my local ponds and within 5 minutes got my PB largemouth. Had to be the rod, right?

No scale with me and I had to release it, but it measured 23.5".

Congrats! Hard to set a thick gauge worm hook with a flimsy pole. I use light wire jig heads for medium rod worm fishing (or light wire 1/0 or 2/0 for Tx rig)

Yes. Great fish.

Gorgeous fish! And yeah, I've found I need a rod with some solid backbone when plastic worm fishing

Great Job!!

It’s the whole combination of things!

Go get the rest of them!

Mike

Greetings, Happy Friday, @SJS , and others,

First off, CONGRATULATIONS! Bravo!

That is a nice one to make a moment special.

Yeah, go with what works for ya. There are so many aspects of science, physics, leverage, and such. Then there is the element of good fortune too! Perhaps, lottery ticket too?

Getting them pinned is one thing. Keeping them pinned brings other things to play. Many on the forum have shared thoughts and experiences on topics such as hook set approach. You bring up the amount of leverage based on rod action. All combined with the environmental factors can enhance or detract from success.

I've found the fundamentals apply for the most advantage. A good enough hook set. There have been many times where things were held together by a small membrane, where I was glad I didn't swing for the moon (can't do too much using UL fishing gear). Then keeping enough line tension throughout the struggle to successfully get the situation in hand!

We are collectively happy for your experience and photo! It is the weekend, time for more fun, right?

Be well, Cheers!

2 hours ago, SJS said:

No scale with me and I had to release it, but it measured 23.5".

🤜🏻🤛🏻

WHAT A BASS!!!

Great catch! I think everyone has their own formula and style for fishing a t-rig. Just go with what you’re most comfortable with and have the most confidence in. Best of luck!

That is a good looking bass.

I think T-rig fishing is one of the hardest ways to fish. I can land three in a row and then lose three in a row. Now, if I were willing to let a bass run with my bait, I'd land nearly every bass, but I'd kill some of those bass too because the longer I let them run, the deeper the lure goes down their gullets.

Yesterday, I had so many bass hit where I felt nothing. I only knew they were there by watching the line. However, when they are super aggressive, hooking them might be even harder as I have no time to think and then react.

59 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

.... if I were willing to let a bass run with my bait, I'd land nearly every bass, but I'd kill some of those bass too because the longer I let them run, the deeper the lure goes down their gullets.

I think this is the key. Timing of hookset. I would not necessarily put most of the blame on the rods. Maybe. Stretchy line could also be a factor. Distance to hook another one.

But I think setting the hook at just the right time is key to increasing catch percentage.

But I agree with SG, letting them go too long is also a mistake. Setting too soon. A mistake. Setting too late. A mistake.

So the key I truly believe is all in the timing of when to set the hook.

I don't let them run, but when I feel the tug I let them take slack out of the line and pull it tight and as soon as its tightening up I hit them.

I'd say my percentage of catch versus miss is greater than 70% this way. Like SG said you can up that by waiting longer but risk killing fish.

I'd say something akin to maybe a 3 count and then set the hook.

1. Feel the bite.

2. Let them tug it tight

3. As it is tightening up hit them with the hookset.

   I have not gut hooked a bass in more years than I count so that's a plus.

@Swamp Girl - when they are aggressive and eating well, I think you’ll find that you have more time than you think. They will grab it and just start swimming away. They will hold it for 5-10 seconds which is plenty of time to reel down and sweep (which for you in a canoe or light kayak is going to be your best bet).

52 minutes ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

I don't let them run, but when I feel the tug I let them take slack out of the line and pull it tight and as soon as its tightening up I hit them.

First off, I like your post, FFF. You explain a tricky task well. Yesterday, most of the bass that hit my T-rigged craw were swimming toward me. My craw's kicking claws create a thumping that I can feel in my rod. When I no longer felt that thumping, I'd wonder if I had a hit. It felt like I was retrieving nothing. So, it takes a couple seconds to regain contract with my lure and the bass and then I needed to react lest they swallow it deep.

49 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

They will grab it and just start swimming away.

I'm not talking about a grab and swim, which is pretty common and gives me a good chance of hooking one. I'm talking about a snatch and bolt where your line is immediately tight, your rod bowed, and they often only have half your lure in their mouth. I lose most of those bass. There just isn't time to feed them line.

I'm fishing almost nothing but T-rig currently just so I can improve with that method and I still feel like it's as much luck as skill that I get a good hook set. Despite that, I am catching more and larger bass since starting this. I'm also starting to enjoy the technique while originally, I did not, I just used it because everyone raves about it.

1 hour ago, SJS said:

Despite that, I am catching more and larger bass since starting this.

It made me smile to read this.

Congrats. Great catch! I'm going to say that's Sun City Hilton Head where you're fishing.

If it is, DM me and I'll tell you some good places to fish in there. Yes, there are double digit bass in there. And there are over 300 lagoons in there.

That is now your magic rod! Catches the big ones!! Great job, that is a monster!

You can get a good enough hook set even with a light rod if you time it right. If you're using a 5" - 6" bait you're most likely going to have to let the fish take a few chomps at it. Feeling the weight of the fish, followed by reeling in the slack and set it. I lose fish with the T-rig when I'm too impatient.

I have a MF baitcasting rod (Daiwa Aird-X) and a MF spinning rod (Fenwick HMX). Both are rated MF, but they are not the same. The Daiwa has noticeably less power than the Fenwick. The action is similar. If I’m fishing a weightless Senko TR with a 3/0 EWG, I will consistently get great hooksets with the Fenwick. After losing bass on the Aird-X, I upgraded to MHF baitcasting rods. But even those are not totally the same. Power and action ratings are not “equal” amongst rod makers. I have three MHF baitcasting rods. A Daiwa Aird-X, a Falcon Lowrider All-‘Round Fast and a Kistler Helium TCJ. Once again, the actions are pretty similar, but as far as power, I’d rate the Daiwa on the low end, the Kistler in the middle but close to the Falcon at the top. I’ll fish Texas rigs with the Daiwa, but I leave jigs to the other two rods.

One thing to consider is line diameter. I lost a few when I was in my Jon boat and only had a baitcaster with 10 lb line. (I was crappie fishing and under prepared). The line stretch was more than I expected and I didn't set the hook as solidly as usual.

Nice one! Congratulations!

I've fished a texas rig a fair amount with ML rod. I use finer wire hooks, and I set the hook twice or really give them the business. I adjust my hookset for every lure/rod/line combo I use.

I like texas rigging. If I can’t run a jig, gimme a texas rig in heavy cover. Just bare bones, old school MHF with heavy mono and a t rigged power worm in summer slop just screams “bass fishing” to me…I love that type of thing!