free spool or rod bending thump?

What method do you use? I know some have bait clickers, but for those of us that do not, do you free spool and let them take it, or do you tighten your line and wait for the rod to bounce?

Bait caster and line out alarm all the way.

Nothing like the thump of the bite!

With a spinning reel, I would loosen the drag for slight resistance.

The thump is what I live for.

Depends on what I’m fishing for an what I am using. If I am fishing for channels – most of the time I will use a circle hook, with this method I will just tighten the line and let the rod bounce, once the rod is doubled over, just start reeling.

Flatheads in open water I will use a circle hook with clicker on, however, I will let them take it tell they stop, then start reeling.

If I am fishing a log jam for flatheads I will use a J hook with the clicker on, as to easily pull them out of the wood, this is a quick hook set too.

Since I use a pair of “old fashion” Penn Peerless #9 reel it’s the clicker….

As soon as the clicker starts to run I slip it into free spool…let it run a bit…Then turn it off and wait for the thump

But my reels are just like me – old..so thats just my method

Forgot to add…I have a spinning set-up also….This one is set for the thump……..

My big game reel is a Shimano 4500B, so I can go either Big Thump or clicker… and yeah, it depends on what I’m fishing for. The way I fish for channels, most of the time if I have the clicker on they don’t hook up, so I cast, keep the line tight till it thumps the bottom and then wait for it to start twitching like Michael J Fox* and then just start reeling it in.

Since I haven’t fished for flatheads much yet I don’t really have an opinion.

* I love MJF and he’s got a good sense of humor about his condition… I’ve heard him say some outrageous funny things about himself on talk shows and stuff. Just going with it then, yanno?

I’m all about the “THUMP”

I have clickers on all my reels and they rarely are utilized. I always have them on, but most times have it disengaged by the time the fish is moving away. That thump is fish porn like no other.

I do like to have the clicker on for those strange spots where you might get a little slack in your line and not be able to detect the initial hit, then before you know it your clicker is singing.

I had a fish do that the other night. No thump, just (out of nowhere) the most high pitched fast clicker you could ever imagine. Basically like a speed boat caught it as it whizzed by. It was going so fast I burned my thumb on the spool. I engaged the rod and almost took a swim it pulled so hard. Hardest fighting cat I’ve ever fought. I did get it in, but there is a “rest of the story” type thing that is best left for around the fire.

Foul hooked?

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Foul hooked?

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Heh like the time I was bobber fishing for cats with cut bait and circle hooks and somehow managed to tail-hook a 2.5# channel. I swear to God I thought I had at least a 15# fish on my line.

I use clickers on casting rods but also have baitrunner spinning reels. I hardly use anything except Gamakatsu circle hooks. Best hooks I have ever used, incredibly sharp and strong.

Bait clickers on flathead rods, standard baitcasters with reel engaged with light drag on channel cat rods.

About 50% of flathead takes I see are thumps followed by either a)slack line or b)loaded rod. The other 50% would be clicker runs. Personally, clicker runs are exciting but a rod thump that can be felt throughout the boat is one of the neatest things.

Channel cats can be finicky to get hooksets on, as they routinely hit and drop cutbait. For this reason I just cast and let sit. If there is a cicle hook I just wait until they set it themselves.

I cant speek for other guys here but from my observations it seems the high speed, reel burning clicker runs are generally small fish. The hard thumps and slow runs are generally followed by fish with large waistlines.

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I cant speek for other guys here but from my observations it seems the high speed, reel burning clicker runs are generally small fish. The hard thumps and slow runs are generally followed by fish with large waistlines.

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As always there are exceptions to the rules. I agree with you Mudcat with one and only one exception that I’m aware of in my boat…

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I really don’t recall what Dan was yapping about when I heard the tell tail short burst from the clicker…then, with just a short hesitation that clicker went into SIREN MODE! I’ve NEVER seen line come off a spool that fast!!! Instinct guided me through picking up the rod, thumbing the spool, turning off the clicker and handing the rod to Dan in a split second. The only real thing I remember is thinking I was going to be spooled in a very short time! I remember saying to Dan very calmly…”CRANK THE HANDLE AND SET THE HOOK!!!!”…. well, as calmly as a fella can when your mind is on being spooled into wood…. :whistle:

Dan followed the instructions that I gave him prior to fishing like a pro…set the hook with the rod tip high to yank the fish out of any wood on the bottom and reel in with the rod high for the same reason. I was moving rods out of the way as fast as I could…and grabbing the net when the monster surfaced the first time. I didn’t see it..but it sounded …well…BIG!
When she came up top…I knew she was going over 50…I knew this because I was really worried that she wouldn’t fit into the net…turns out there wasn’t much room left over.

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Dan’s 59er from ’06

That’s a big fish alrighty.

They just look crazy when they get that big… all head and brute muscle. Makes you wonder what life was like back when 300# fish were as common as the 60# fish are now.