Ok guys this is my 3rd post here, and it is probably one of the most important posts I will ever make.  sometimes things so simple can really make you think for long periods of time.  ok so I like to worm fish, mostly texas rig,  one of the problems I had last year was a lot of bass falling off, after they jump, or just near the boat.  I missed some nice bass to and it propted me to rethink my whole agenda of worm fishing.  I usually use a 7in berkley power worm, and I was using a 2/0 tru-turn worm hook, so the first thing I did was upgrade to a larger hook, now I use a 3/0 x-sharp offset worm hook. they are a little expensive like 5 dollars for 3 but you got to pay to play.  next I stopped using lead bullet weights and went to tru-tungsten weights.  I doubt this had anything to do with it but they are a lot smaller and I like em.  so the last thing to work on was my hook set, I always did kind of a side arm hook set, and when I looked online there were a lot of sites that said this is the way to go.  But I visualized things one day.  I thought if the worm is in the mouth of the bass and I pull sideways there is more of a chance that I could be pulling the hook forward in the mouth resulting in a lip hook.  So I started to set the hook with a fast upward jerk, and wow since I changed that around I have hooked 15 bass and only one fell off.  I guess it was a combo of all the diffrent changes but maybe there is something I am missing so thats why I made this post if anyone has any advice On maybe some subtle change that may help Id like to know.  By the way some ppl say my hook in the worm is too big and I kinda laugh, If you think a largemouth bass can fit anything in its mouth when its mouth is fully open, who cares what size hook I got it really shouldnt matter, I dont think.  I figured that the bigger hook would have more of a chance to penetrate the basses mouth further back for a more secure hook up, but If someone could let me know if this is true I would love to know.  Thanks guys talk to you later.

Just out of curiousity how long are you playing out the bass?  And are you keeping tension on the line at all times?  First and foremost is your drag set right?  I don't know the specific ratio to line breakage, I go by feel, but I've noticed that I lose fish when I give any slack to them.  I also like to put my rod down in the water when reeling in so that the fish can't jump as easily.

I like a sweeping hookset with cranks, a snap up with jigs, and with plastics I like to go the opposite direction of the fish on the hookset.  I am not the most experianced, but these tactics work for me.

mud

to be honest I play the fish as long as it takes or as short as it takes. I always keep tension on the line, and since I changed some of my tactics I havent had too much of a problem.  I never really had a problem with the line breaking, only when I get a pickreal on instead of a bass.  thanks for the reply

Nashiem,

Sounds to me like you pretty much got it figured out.The only thing I do different is I use 4/0 or 5/0 EWG hooks on worms and creatuer baits.And no there not to big they may look it.But look at the mouth were dealing with :)Used to use 2/0 and 3/0 had the say problem you were having,But since I switched up no problem at all

     

HOOKSETS

One tip that I read that has helped my hookset is to lower the rod tip slightly when you feel that initial tug.  Let the fish suck that worm in and then set the hook with a straight up jerk.   I use 2/0 and had no issues with the hook being too small.  Remember that going bigger on hooks will affect the fall of the worm slightly.  I am going to use more lightwire hooks this year to give it a more natural / slower fall.  

Additionally, definitely make sure your drag is set right.  The easiest tip I got from this forum is to fill a plastic bag of groceries set at 25% of your line rating. So, a 16oz (1 lb) can of soup for 4 lb test would do.  Lift the bag slightly off the ground and the drag should start releasing line slowly.  When I learned this tip, it helped me tremendously.

Hope this helps.

the only thing proper about hooksets that you can carry with you is that it must be firm and quick.  

Theres no one hookset that'll just always work.

Sometimes ya gotta sweep to the side, sometimes its a straight up and down hookset, sometimes its a quick pop, other times its a long pull, sometimes the bait sets itself and you just have to keep it tight.

The other side that comes into play is where the hook actually is in the fishes mouth.  Did you get the soft membrane, did you get a good meaty spot like the top of the lip?  Obviously the thin membrane will tear easily, stick a fish inthe meaty part and it feels almost hard enough to think its bone.  

A hook CAN be too big...think of it like a wedge.  Its possible that you can pry open a mouth if the hook pushes the lips apart, or the weight does it....all depends on timing and a lot of other variables.

Bottom line..the best in the world lose fish..it happens and it'll never stop.

Lift weights, get pumped, and give er' hell! ;D 8-)

All of the above , and another issue.

You didn't mention what line and rod you are using. A soft mono can have up to 20 % strech, a moderate or slow action rod has a lot of "give" to it. If you combine this two and you have a bite at 40 feet, your line might strech up to 8 feet, the rod tip could bend 2-3 feet.So you have to moove your rod tip 10 feet to transfer all the power to the tip of the hook. There is no way a 2/0 hook will penetrate the bones in the fishes mouth, especially with a bunch of plastic on it. So your hook is in the skin of the mouth, and when the fish shakes it's head, the hook rips the skin and the fish swims away. If you peg your weight on the line, it helps the fish to shake off the bait; an unpegged weight will slide up and down the line, not giving leverage to the fish.

Try using a fast action rod with a low strech line, see if the situation persists.

With big plastics, I use 3/0 hooks or bigger. For 4" plastics, 2/0 or smaller is OK.

Just my $.02

I exclusively 1/0 and 2/0 worm hooks with worms. Bigger hooks rob the worm of some action and I prefer more finess. I rarely lose fish while worm fishing and I think you're more likely to lose a bass on everything else, especially crankbaits.

As for setting the hook... I prefer an straight up rod set, but sometimes bass hit when you aren't exactly ready and then you have to set it however you can... sideways or whatever.

The hook set can vary depending on your equipment, the lure, the cover your fishing etc. But for the basic texas rigged worm set up this is how I would fish it. First I would go with a 7 ft MH action rod with a spinning reel. I generally fish it with Berkley Trilene 10lb test. I use a 2/0 wide gap hook. Fishing this set up I use a pretty aggressive hook set, straight back with alot of force. Of course if Im fishing something with treble hooks such as a crankbait Im going to a baitcaster and a medium action rod and heavier line and just a slight tug will get your hook set not too aggressive because you will pull those treble loose.

Some times it's hard to get a very good answer on a Question like this.

One area is to set the hook to the power of the rod. If you notice on the video that buddy sets the hook and then waits for the fish to react. All buddy is doing is having max pressure on a fish without breaking things.

What most anglers do is crank that drag to the max and drill the fish with John Daly follow thru this will give you a world of hurt.

Also notice that the drag slips just pass max hookset from buddy.

You will proably never see a better how to video on hookseting.

Garnet

Garnet, Buddy who?  Link?

LBH I no I can confuse but you have me confuzed.

Either pm or just say it I can take it.

Garnet

I think sal669 was on the right track. Your line and rod are huge. Using braid will make hyou tone down your hookset or get used to destroying hooks. Another important thing is making sure you take up enough slack before letting it rip!!!

LBH I no I can confuse but you have me confuzed.

Either pm or just say it I can take it.

Garnet

No, no,no,...not a slam at all, just asking who "buddy" is. I want to go check out his video If you said "roland" or "skeet", I would assume I knew who you were referencing but "Buddy" isn't one I recognize.

If you notice on the video that buddy sets the hook and then waits for the fish to react. All buddy is doing is having max pressure on a fish without breaking things.

LBH Now this is funny  just go to your post and click on Hookset. The best buddy hookset is the first 2 "in my opinion" theres a couple issues that I would correct in the rest of the vid. Isn't that you about half way. I will critique your hookset if you would like later right now I'm going to bed. On midnights and not happy.

Garnet

 Well, here we go. I'll muddy up the muddy water a little more ;D. I have used the same weight and brand of mono for ever (might get some giggles here, 12lb.). I keep my drag set pretty light and use my thumb if needed for extra pressure (nothing I couldn't handle yet, so that's why I stay with it). I try to go straight up (as opposed to side arm if limbs and stuff will let me).

 Reel down to take up slack and then I have used everything from setting the hook with the wrists to one that would do Bill Dance proud ;D. That depends on where I think the bait and fish is in relation to snags and such. If it is really nasty, I want the fish at least looking in my direction after the hook set...

IMHO!!

                                                             As Ever,

                                                              Skillet

LBH just for fun I watched the vid. a couple times. The first thing I see is if you are half way thru this vid. than that guy at the front stoled your stick.

That stick could go right into my tourney rods. But more important go to KVD spinnerbait dvd or seminar and he will tell you use a soft tip stick those are not $500 stiff to the tip junk.

When I talk about 70/30 and a very soft tip watch the vid. very close first buddy lifts his just a little to check bend in stick and then strait up to the power of the rod and holds it there. The fish reacts by shaking his head and it's game on the drag slips. If buddy had a 4-5 custom 7 ft loomis Shimamo stiff to the tip he would give back this 25% soft tip advantage. It's uphill trying to confinecse anglers of this but I like a challenge.

About third buddy that strait then side then strait rod action would get edited by me. Bad foot postion bad rod control just not nice. The good news is buddy 3 keeps going back to good rod position so he would stay on Garnets team.

Theres buddy that looks like he's draging a tube behind the boat. The first time I watch side hookset towards boat not good. This time I see boat direction lots of line out good hard hook set and then rod strait up. This guy has fish a lot.

The worst footage is baitcaster buddy with that side arm away from his body wraist wrong position elbow exposed to pain hookset. The only guy I no that can do this regular and get away with it is a forestry guy for 20 years he climbs trees everyday and use his wraits to lim trees from every angle the rest of poor slackers with week wraist are dead with this hookset.

Fun watching a guy that has fished a bit and is proably very consitdent. But not named KVD.

Still the best hookset video I've seen.

Garnet

I'm going steelhead now to learn who to fight fish after 35 years still learning.

The hookset video and most all of the clips in our other vidoes are used merely to show that you don't have to be afraid to set up on 'em.

Many of those hooksets are from senko fish, allowed to run till the camera was ready (seconds, but still), some were even live lined shiners. We (I) produce the videos as entertainment as opposed to training and education. So with this in mind, Do as I do and not as I say and you'll have a blast, but you may not be right, lol. The key element in all those shots is the smile

The worst footage is baitcaster buddy with that side arm away from his body wraist wrong position elbow exposed to pain hookset. The only guy I no that can do this regular and get away with it is a forestry guy for 20 years he climbs trees everyday and use his wraits to lim trees from every angle the rest of poor slackers with week wraist are dead with this hookset.

he IS pretty much married, ;D I don't know how else his wrists got that strong, that's his biz,lol but he does tend to slay 'em, whatever he's doin', I'll bet he ain't quittin'.

I'm still not sure If I'm buddy, Eric is buddy?? Hawg is baitcaster buddy because Dirk and I arent using them there. Am I buddy 1 and the others buddy 2, 3? I'm lost on that stuff.

I no how to spell wrist now and I'm 50 and fading fast the confuz is easy

Thanks Garnet

I'm having a tough time following you.  I know the night shift blues, grab some zzz's