Every angler has his/her own technique but I need some input to help me catch more fish.

1) I use a sweep set to the side most of the time...when i sweep...how long should I hold the rod in the set hook position before pointing it towards the fish to start my retrieval? 1 second? 3 seconds?

2) When I do my sweep set...should I start to wind my reel as soon as I start my set or should I wait to reel when I start to point my rod towards the fish?

Hope u guys can help me out. Thanks

Different hook sets for different hooks/baits. Sounds like you have a bunch of mechanics issues, by your description.

In simple terms:

Sweep set for spinnerbaits. You're already reeling, in why stop?

For T-rigs, you're tip is already up, so reel down, while pointing the rod at the fish, and whale on it. Same for jigs with a brush guard.

Light wire hooks, and finesse tackle calls for a wrist snap.

Treble hooks, sort of a sweep, reel set type of hookset.

Get to a point where you don't have more slack line than necessary. Always anticipate how you are going to set the hook.

What ever position I am in when the fish bites is how I set the hook, most of the time I try to jerk the fishes lips off. I dont really worry how I am going to set the hook, that to much to think about, set it hard and fast. The only bait I dont set the hook to hard on is a crank bait, the bait is already moving fast so you dont have to set the hook as hard with all those hooks.

1) How long should I hold the rod in the set hook position before pointing it towards the fish to start my retrieval? 1 second? 3 seconds?

2) When I do my sweep set...should I start to wind my reel as soon as I start my set or should I wait to reel when I start to point my rod towards the fish?

1. You never want to point a rod at a fish while fighting it. You want to keep the rod and line at a 90 degree angle so that the rod is absorbing the shock, and not the line and knot.

2. You basically want to set the hook and immediately reel fast into this right angle position, all the while keeping the line tight from the moment the hook is set until you land the fish.

Francho said it well. I'll +1 that.

+1 to what Francho said.  Well put.

+2 on Francho's advice. Especially what he said about jigs with brush guards. I can't tell you how many times I pulled in a jig that was bit and the brush guard was pushed up against the hook. You really gotta rip on jigs to get the brush guard out of the way.

Different hook sets for different hooks/baits. Sounds like you have a bunch of mechanics issues, by your description.

In simple terms:

Sweep set for spinnerbaits. You're already reeling, in why stop?

For T-rigs, you're tip is already up, so reel down, while pointing the rod at the fish, and whale on it. Same for jigs with a brush guard.

Light wire hooks, and finesse tackle calls for a wrist snap.

Treble hooks, sort of a sweep, reel set type of hookset.

Get to a point where you don't have more slack line than necessary. Always anticipate how you are going to set the hook.

X2

i'm with the rest they pretty much summed it up. when i frog fish though i do the atomic hook set lol. i try to put the fish in the boat on hook set 40 yards out lol!!

Could have sworn I have seen atleast six of these posts.....

1) How long should I hold the rod in the set hook position before pointing it towards the fish to start my retrieval? 1 second? 3 seconds?

2) When I do my sweep set...should I start to wind my reel as soon as I start my set or should I wait to reel when I start to point my rod towards the fish?

1. You never want to point a rod at a fish while fighting it. You want to keep the rod and line at a 90 degree angle so that the rod is absorbing the shock, and not the line and knot.

2. You basically want to set the hook and immediately reel fast into this right angle position, all the while keeping the line tight from the moment the hook is set until you land the fish.

Francho said it well. I'll +1 that.

yeah, i dont get the pointing the rod at the fish after setting the hook, that may be a bigger problem than the actual hookset for this person

Different hook sets for different hooks/baits. Sounds like you have a bunch of mechanics issues, by your description.

In simple terms:

Sweep set for spinnerbaits. You're already reeling, in why stop?

For T-rigs, you're tip is already up, so reel down, while pointing the rod at the fish, and whale on it. Same for jigs with a brush guard.

Light wire hooks, and finesse tackle calls for a wrist snap.

Treble hooks, sort of a sweep, reel set type of hookset.

Get to a point where you don't have more slack line than necessary. Always anticipate how you are going to set the hook.

X2

X3

i'm with the rest they pretty much summed it up. when i frog fish though i do the atomic hook set lol. i try to put the fish in the boat on hook set 40 yards out lol!!

lol