Hey guys, I think I have a problem here and I'm hoping for some help.  I was out the other day fishing a weightless lizard and weightless worm both texas rigged.  Here's my problem, I was using chartruese and the fish were loving it, but I'd see my lizard/worm disappear and I'd set that hook.  When I do hook set, it's pretty serious, a lot of my friends joke I'm gonna pull the fish into the boat right there.  I'd estimate upwards of 35% of my sets were not sticking, the lure would pull right out of the fish's mouth, and when I brought the lure in, the hook was out of the lure so I believe my rig was set up correctly.  Now I'm brand new to fishing with plastics, and I don't know if this is normal, but it sure doesn't feel it.  I mean, over 1/3 is a lot of times to pull that lure fully out of that fish's mouth.  If this is any help, my hook sets are generally lower the rod down then jerk straight up.  When this was happening I did try some sideways sets, but to basically the same % of misses.  Thanks for whatever advice you could give me.

it sounds like they dont have the whole bait in their mouths when your trying to set the hook. i would try and down-size the bait to make sure they bite the hook and not just half of the bait. also if you can see the bait that means there isnt a whole lot of weeds so you could leave the point of your hook exposed.

i hope this helps . let us know if you get it figured out.

Sounds like timing...  you are a little too quick (or a little too slow).  It's kind of like topwater at that point, wait to feel presure, don't set it on sight alone. (all that does is slow you down a second which is the reason I think you are a tad quick based on what you wrote.)

I think that sounds really good.  I'm gonna try that.  Now that you mentioned it, I do remember feeling as though I was a little too fast.  Thanks a lot.

Mase, you can also try rigging the lizard and worm with the hook towards the tail of the bait.

i have found that this helps when fishing a bait weightless....

hope it helps,

Alfred

These guys have already given you some good advice on hook setting..... but just so you won't feel quite so bad, believe me, all of us have had our share of "really stupid hooksets" !

I don't know how they do it, but fish seem to have some kind of six sense, that tells them when your not paying attention. Fact is, your odds of getting bit seem to go up by about 90% as soon as you reach for a drink, or go to scratch your.... well, you get the point :-)

Anyway, you will get better, and better, with practice, but if you fish for 40 years, you will still miss one now and again. Just part of fishing.

Peace,

Fish

a couple of things to think about:

1:  how deep are you skinning the hook point when rigging up? if too deep it can make hook sets harder.

2: What size hook are you using?  too small of a hook or the wrong kind can make them hard as well.

Are you using an EWG hook?  Try a larger size hook in EWG.

I think that your timing is the problem, not the action of setting the hook.

try the slack hookset. put your pull down then jerk up to about 1 or 2 o'clock. this should give the fish ample time to get the whole hook in its mouth, and have a successful hookset.

I fished straight shank worm hooks from the beginning a long time ago, then stocked up on the "new" EWGs. My hookset ratio fell really bad, but I kept at it and steadily improved that, mostly by letting a bass fully eat a soft plastic. Problem with that was they were more often spitting the thing out. Finally I remembered those old standbys and tied one on. My hooksets went back up to the 90-95% range from probably 60% with EWGs. I think you lose a lot of power in a EWG because of the circle in the bend. The straight shank hooks are too narrow for really fat plastics, but lizards really don't usually need the extra gap. They are soft and a hook easily penetrates them. I rig them about the same way, poking the hook point into the skin on the side of the lizard instead of piercing the back, using a 4/0 thick wired Tru Turn or similar 5/0 hook with offset eye. I barely pierce enough side skin to hold the hook point, then bunch the lizard up a bit to let the point bury into the side again. It takes the "cross his eyes" power hookset to bury such a large thick hook, but if it's razor sharp it's going to grab some serious jaw parts and won't come loose. The True Turn spins when under pressure, more likely to clear the bait body and grab flesh. A larger hook looks bad but I don't think hooks turn bass off. If fishing in clear open water I'd leave the hook point exposed and not bother pinning it against the lizard's side. Save the EWGs for thick baits that leave you no choice but to use them.

Jim

Instead of watching the bait, watch the line.

The bait could disappear just because a fish is hovering above, watching it.  You are then setting the hook on nothing.

By watching the line this won't happen.  If the line twitches, moves to the side, or does anything unnatural e.g. moving against the current, then it's 'fish on".  Now it's time to crank out the slack and cross his eyes.

Good luck and have fun.

avid