Hey y’all,

So like the topic states I’ve been overthinking my hook sets the last couple weeks and would appreciate some feedback.

The hooksets in question are more specifically with Texas rigs. So how I set up my T rigs is usually with a finesse worm, straight tail worm or ribbon style worm. I also do not peg the weight and usually use a 3/16oz bullet weight.

Now i started thinking, is there a difference in how I should set my hook as compared to using a jig, weightless soft plastic, spinnerbait, as they do not have a weight that’s just free as compared to how I set up my T rigs?

How I set the hook now is, when I feel a bite, I level my rod towards the bait, reel in and then pull up to set the hook.

Thanks again for any feedback, I know I’m overthinking this one just a tad lol

Sounds right to me. Being an seasoned angler, I started with 5-6 pistol grip fiberglass rods and mono line with tru turn hooks and you had to hammer them but with today's gear it's much easier to get a good hook set. Broke the back out of 3 seats back in my younger years setting the hook but much easier now

Sounds right. When you feel a tap, start reeling up the slack and if there is weight when you come tight sweep the rod.

Exposed hook = lean into the fish

Weedless = hit em'

Circle hook = reel down

That's as fancy as I get.

The only thing I swing for the fences on a hookset is anything with a weedgaurd or a hook buried in plastic.

12 hours ago, fishingram24 said:

Sounds right to me. Being an seasoned angler, I started with 5-6 pistol grip fiberglass rods and mono line with tru turn hooks and you had to hammer them but with today's gear it's much easier to get a good hook set. Broke the back out of 3 seats back in my younger years setting the hook but much easier now

I started with the exact same gear. Still have one of my old pistol grip Ugli Stik rods and the first baitcaster I ever owned (a Daiwa Procaster) that had the side button for casting.

7 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Sounds right. When you feel a tap, start reeling up the slack and if there is weight when you come tight sweep the rod.

^^^ This works best for me too.^^^ One thing that has changed for me using lighter gear and longer casts is I've found it more important to not stop reeling until you've completely swept plus another turn or two. I also keep my drag tight, not locked down, but 50 ish percent of breaking strength, I prefer little to no slip on the entire reel down/sweep and reel motion. After I've folded the rod, I then back off the drag.

scott

I pretty much reel fast and pull with everything and if they got it - I get em.

Broken off a lot of big fish swinging hard.

That being said - not every situation or bite is the same and you just gotta do your best.

Main thing is - don’t have a “Hookset technique” necessarily - set the hook exactly the way you got the bite - in response to the situation - usually you unconsciously do a better job than you can when you think hard about how to set the hook IMHO.

My primary lure is T-rigged soft plastic with an unpegged 3/16ths ounce weight. I prefer craws over worms, but that could change in a New York minute if I hooked a worm and that outproduced the craw.

I do what the others do and catch thousands of bass, but I still think it's a difficult way to catch bass, starting with detecting a strike. Sure, there are times when the bass provide a clear tug to announce themselves, but there are times like last night when they take the bite and someone manage to swim at me at the exact rate of my retrieve. There's no tug, no feeling their weight, only the slight absence of my bait's weight. Yeah, I have to detect that absence of 3/16ths of an ounce to realize they're there.

Then there are times when they charge my way and I can't reel down and set the hook fast enough. I'll do and set the hook on slack line, but the bass will still have my lure and still be coming my way.

I think I enjoy this style of fishing so much because every hit is different. A new challenge.

Good question.

While I hardly do it, the only time I do the Hollywood Break Neck Drop the Boom Hookset,

is frog fishing in the slop.

Mostly just because I can, and it's a pretty good time too.

Other than that, my hooksets are all almost identical,

regardless of the gear (rod, line, hook type & size & terminal tackle) I may be using.

I feel like the tackle sends the charge down the line and sets the hook.

The heavier or lighter the tackle,

the more or less impact will result at the end of the line.

So I let the tackle do its job.

Helps take the guesswork out of a sport that already has more

than my little pea brain can process.

YMMV

🤪

A-Jay

Every rod I own is either a MH/F, H/F or H/XF.

The only time I hit her the hardest is with either the H/F or H/XF and that’s mostly when punching or frogging as @A-Jay mentioned.

When pitching or especially flipping up close and personal in heavy cover The only goal is to get her head up and out.

I don’t waste time feeling, playing, experimenting or thinking about a hook set.

All other times I either sweep or firmly lean into it and let the rod do the work.

Mike

Have a heavy enough setup that you can get a good hookup. Next best thing is make sure your hook is sharp!

A- Jay is spot on.

Greetings All,

Great to be back on the system again! A big shoutout to Glen and associates for making things better!

@fishingram24 you called it, "I started with 5-6 pistol grip fiberglass rods and mono line", I'm still using that similar configuration these days, with my BFS reel.

I am one of the reeling with a sweep anglers. This is the approach regardless of rig. Spinning, casting, and fly rod (OK, tugging on line while sweeping).

I hope you each get to try all these various hookset methods during the extended holiday weekend! Be well, Cheers!

1st and foremost you should have the properly rated rod for the bait being thrown.

I'm braid to leader so never swing for the fences.

As a line watcher " why I hate wind " I usually see the bite and reel up slack, feel tension, set hook.

On my finesse setups there's always a little drag on the hook set.

On moving baits and trebles it's simply a sweep.

Senior Basser still uses monofilament ... not as fast as when younger ... believe the kind of hook you use for T-Rigging is crucial ... great results with Gamakatsu G Finesse Hybrid worm ...

*as a side ...really like the dark mode for the screen ...

Good Fishing

You will win more not thinking about it. Like @Pat Brown said and @casts_by_fly. That’s solid advice for sure.

If it’s not a treble bait and I feel a good solid thump I’m reeling up slack and thumping them back. If it seems like they are short striking. I’ll

Be a lil more conservative. Just let instinct take care of it. Don’t overthink it. It’s about enjoyment.

I swing for the hills with everything. Ned rigs, T rig, cranks, top water. Sometimes it a fish. Other times it’s a rock or stump.

I truly dont think about it at all. in the ocean, I hammer them like they owe me money.

bass fishing..I dont know what I do. I just do it.