Losing the hookset

[BuzzStPoint]

Already a couple of times fishing I've gotten some good sized fish and lose them.

last weekend a northern hit. Aggressive one.. Hit hard, taking line, shooting right then left. Got it along side the boat and just like that gone..... Like it spit the lure out.

Ripped lips? Dull treble hooks? Something wrong with my technique?

What causes the fight of the day to only end up in the fish to simply swim away like nothing happened?

 

[scipper77]

Re: Loosing the hookset

Re: Loosing the hookset

When you keep steady pressure on and a bent rod it's hard for the fish to throw the hook. As soon as the fish is near the boat you have to stop reeling in to pull the fish out of the water. This is when many fish will throw the hook.

Also, Pike are known for barely fighting until they see the boat. Then they panic and make a big run.

Another contributor to lost fish can be setting the hook to fast, but it sounds like you are using crank-baits.

How are the barbs on the hooks you are using?

To keep fish on, I recommend moderate drag, a medium rod, consistent reeling (These all keep pressure on the line). I also make sure my net is free (not buried in the side well) and whoever I am fishing with knows right where it is so that when I say "NET" they have it ready within seconds. I also lose most of my pike at the boat. Fast netting fixed most of that. Getting the trebles out of the net, that's another story.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Loosing the hookset

Re: Loosing the hookset

If it was easy, it'd be called catching, not fishing.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Loosing the hookset

Re: Loosing the hookset

As S77 said: When playing a fish, it requires a constant pressure on the line with the rod.

I always observe the bend in the rod and try to maintain the same amount of bend in it with my reeling it in. I've seen people "pump" the rod (oh boy here come the jokes) and lose that bend. The constant bend/no-bend are changes in pressure and can cause the hole in the fish's jaw (by the hook to) elongate thus making it much easier for any fish to "throw" the hook.

Another thought: how close to the tip of your rod do you get the fish before trying to net it? If too close, you'll loose pressure. I try to net them rod high (& bent) & about 4-6ft away from tip.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[JB]

Re: Loosing the hookset

Re: Loosing the hookset

"Pumping" should not change the pressure on the fish. The reason for it is that fish need to be fought with the rod, not winched in with the reel. The reel is for storing line. Pump up to get the fish closer, reel the extra as you pump down, but keep the pressure on the fish constant.

I agree with having at least rod length of line out when landing/netting/gaffing. If you miss you really need full rod length to renew the fight. The most common cause of boatside escapes is loss of pressure on the fish.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Loosing the hookset

Re: Loosing the hookset

The reason for it is that fish need to be fought with the rod, not winched in with the reel. The reel is for storing line. Pump up to get the fish closer, reel the extra as you pump down, but keep the pressure on the fish constant.

I mostly agree. If you are fighting a large fish capable of making long runs on your drag (pike, musky, salmon, etc...) you need to fight with the rod and work the fish reeling in as you lower the rod tip.

If you have a smaller fish you just need to concentrate on keeping that pressure on the rod. There is no need to play a 3 lb bass or small pike this way unless you are using light tackle. Watch the pro bass guys. they definitely winch the fish in with the reel.

There have been times where I will try to make a drag adjustment and the fish will throw the hook even with my bent rod. Again, let up on the pressure for a moment and that's all it takes.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Loosing the hookset

Re: Loosing the hookset

Do yourself a favor and replace the trebles on your baits with a large, single hook. Most trebles they are put on baits are way too small to get any type of penetration on a larger fish.

Make sure you hooks are sharp. Half of the hooks you buy are not "sharp" coming out of the package. A sharp hook should have no problem digging into your finger nail. If you can drag a hook accross your finger nail and it doesn't dig in, it's needs to be sharpened.

 

[fishndirk]

Re: Losing the hookset

Not sure what you mean by "a northern", but if its mouth is anything like the bowfin we have in NC than you almost have to "double" set the hook. What I mean is they have such a boney hard mouth structure that when you set the hook you have to really mean it and then reel in the slack and try to set the hook again cause it takes so much pressure to drive the hook into their mouth. Ive lost a lot of these suckers half way into the boat cause I did'nt do that.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Losing the hookset

The way pressure is lost during pumping is because some people do not do this fast enough:

reel the extra as you pump down,

They're too excited and pump down way to fast. Some point the rod directly at the fish, which is a total no-no and will almost always guarantee a lost fish.

Also note that by pumping vertically, there will be a tendency for the fish to come to the surface. For jumping fish such as Steelhead or Atlantics, pump your rod horizontal to the water and always maintain a bend in the rod.

Tom B.
(LongLine)