Hook setting question…

Let’s leave circle hooks out for a moment.

When you have a flathead CHOMP..do you pick up the rod,turn off the clicker and wait for the feel of the fish before setting the hook? Do you wait for a good run? Or, once you know the fish chomped..just set the hook right away?

My thought and practice has been to pick up the rod, turn off the clicker and wait for some line to go out before setting the hook. This tells me he still has the bait in his mouth and I’m less likely to get an “air” set.

My style doesn’t work well with the fish that swims towards the boat…it’s very hard to detect them until your line is in a pile below the rod…or when your line is moving towards the front of the boat. These are the ones that are going to get gut hooked.

Let me know your thoughts.

I like to turn off the clicker and tighten down the drag. Then when the fish has the line tight and I’m sure the slack is gone…..whamoo

As far as how long I let them run….if I can tell they are headed to the snag, not long. I hate it when them cats don’t play fair. I do like to feel the fish on the other end before the hook set.

Of course, this is leaving the circle hooks out.

I never set the hook immediately after a *chomp* type bite and before they run… because there is usually not enough time. I dont know if its just me…

1: 90%

I get a *chomp*.. I stand there and look stupid at the rod and wonder if it was my usual over acheiver bullhead.. The Flathead will tell me otherwise within seconds 90% of the time… then I will set the hook immediately into a obvious run.

2: 5%

It was my over acheiver bullhead, or a fish mouthing my bait and immediately rejecting it(spit it back out).

3: 3%

The fish chomp.. and they purposely pull the line about an inch and a half.. this barely puts the slightest, nearly undetectable bend in the rod and sit there with it for about 7 seconds.. then they spit it out.. we realize this happened when they spit it 98% of the time and get frustrated.

4: 1%

The Fish Chomps… slowly glides through the eddy un an undetectable fashion and chomps your partners bait in a *detectable* fashion and he reels the fish in with both lines in its mouth.

The best scenario is a good solid run. I like to give um some time to place the bait so I prefer to let um go for a spell. How far depends on how fast they are taking line and how much clear water I have to work with. I don’t use circle hooks for mudeyes but still, I don’t set the hook aggressively. If the fish is running away from you, I don’t think a facelift is necessary….I’d rather just engage the reel, wait for the line to become tight, lift the rod tip firmly in the air, and just start reeling.

I hate when you “think” you had a grab. The clicker sounds and a foot or two of line goes out then nothing. Now what. It could have been a passing fish that pulled your line. Maybe it was a flathead and he spit. Maybe theres a big old brute sitting motionless on the bottom chewing on your offering while you sit above wondering. I think in this situation, its at least time to check your bait. I would reel up any slack and check for weight or movement. The problem now becomes not to get snagged dragging your terminal tackle across the bottom. I usually figure once you cast and your bait hits the bottom, don’t move it unless you feel your bait is dead. One quick snap upwards with your rod to lift the bait and reel quickly to avoid snags. If you do happen to have a fish on the end, good deal!

You never know, you could get your picture taken right in front of a huge red dot somewhere in Mpls OR maybe a foxy brunette shows up out of nowhere and wants you to teach her how to catch a catfish and you forget your name…not to mention the other people you were fishing with. (Very funny balloon joke Dave)

I just wish the Minnesota River would get down to moderate levels soon! I know where to go.I know what to do…COME ON!!!!!!

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The Fish Chomps… slowly glides through the eddy un an undetectable fashion and chomps your partners bait in a *detectable* fashion and he reels the fish in with both lines in its mouth.

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That never happens!

Dark, do you use mono or braid?

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OR maybe a foxy brunette shows up out of nowhere and wants you to teach her how to catch a catfish and you forget your name

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I would like to hear the “rest of the story”!

I use power pro on the Penn and big game on the Abu.

As for the brunette (Jill) I managed to help her miss one but she wants to catch a big cat…maybe next time. I told her Dave and the boys would be good company if she gets back down there any time soon.

Dark .. I thought the balloon joke was hillarious.. I hope she *got it* before you did

Even Sherry thought it was very funny.. she tried to stop it from happening(she is excessively proper).. but it was too good of an opportunity to let it pass by

After all.. Tyler(4 years old) just wanted someone to fix his long, skinny, animal making type of balloon if they could… all the air came out and he couldnt get any more in there.