Ringworms/paddletails… when to set the hook

I been asked on more than one occasion when to set the hook on a fish hitting a ringworm and a paddletail. I pretty much think it depends on the line used. With braid I wait a second or two after feeling the weight or the thunk of a hit and the set is more of a very gentle tightening of the line while slowly reeling. With fluoros and monos I think the hit is felt when the stretch has been taken out of the line and I set right away with a short, but sharp, snap.

Given the differences between the two kinds of line, when do you set the hook?

I swing for the fences the first nano-second I feel anything. No waiting for me, ever, regardless of line type used.

Like James I set the hook as soon as I feel the hit. If while doing so you are missing a few fish and they are pulling the tail down, shorten up the ringworm about 1/2 to 1 inch.

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I swing for the fences the first nano-second I feel anything. No waiting for me, ever, regardless of line type used.

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I was trying to think of a way to say that. If you’ve ever seen video of a fishin hitting a lure, you know we’re all a little slow to react. I think a lot of time what we feel is the lure hanging up on the way back out of the fishes mouth.

Bottom line, anything feels different, BANG!

Rootski

Hence the hairles and muscular shoulder-blades I assume?

I’ve done well using the 3.25 paddletails by shortening them a bit, maybe 3/8 to 1/2 inch and fishing them vertically on lighter jigs, say 1/4 to 3/8 max. The new 2.5 inchers are soon to get a workout. I guess I haven’t seen much need to dally while using the paddies…..regardless of line.

Ringworms now. Well, thats another story for me. If I wait a second while using braid I can generally get a hook-up. If I hit immediately, I find myself empty hooked. Mono I can pop right away and get the fish.

I am referring to a vertical bite here, not dragging or pitching.

I know that confidence in what you are using comes into play with how critical you are of a given bait. I’m admittedly not a huge fan of ringies, but do use them. I’ve had some discussions with some other anglers who are interested in using these for the first time and I tell them they are the “thing”, but sometimes wonder if the description of how I set the hook is entirely accurate.

Given the fact that no two days will have fish hitting the same, I’m looking for just general information. Thanks for your responce James….you are one of the masters of those plastics that I respect 100%.

Right now. Thats one of the great things about fishing walleyes and saugers with plastics. There either on or not on. No playing around with feeding line, trying to guess if there is a bite or not. Its either there or gone.

Thats my take on it.

No matter what type of line I have used I have notice when using ringworms ,paddletails,ringies,s-doos or grubs the fish have just inhaled them so NO need to wait to set the hook.
As James put it “I swing for the fence”.

Now live bait is a whole other post

I make my own jigs for ringworms with a 60 degree eye and extra wide gap hook. I rig them much more like the shakey style and there is absolutely no waiting. Perfect upper lip every time

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Hence the hairles and muscular shoulder-blades I assume?

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I swear Mr. Congressman, I never used steroids or other performance enhancing drugs… lol

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

The vast majority of the time when I’m getting short hit vertical jigging two things are going on. 1) I’m in an area with small fish. 2) I need to shorten my ringie or paddletail. If I shorten my bait and the results are small’ish fish… I need to move on.

Immediate hook set for me

lol James

Just one more for the right away camp…as soon as I feel the tick, thunk or pull I put the coals to em. As they say, hook sets are free right.

I use 65 lb braid and I cross their eyes IMMEDIATELY.. No not your eyes.. the fishes’ eyes..

lets put it this way, the last time I went stream trout fishing, every brookie came out of the water on the hook set.. by about four foot..

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I swing for the fences the first nano-second I feel anything. No waiting for me, ever, regardless of line type used.

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Ditto…only one doesn’t have to swing as hard with braid…

Why would you wait? If the fish tugs……he’s obviously on the line! Cross the eye’s!!!!

One more for the “hit-em right away” crowd.
Mono or braid, it makes no difference to me.

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I make my own jigs for ringworms with a 60 degree eye and extra wide gap hook. I rig them much more like the shakey style and there is absolutely no waiting. Perfect upper lip every time

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To each there own, but since I’ve switched over to using Precision H20 jigs, I just can’t see any reason to spend my precious time making my own jigs. Quite simply put, these jigs work awesome with ringworms, paddletails, superdoos or any other plastic I’ve found the need to stick on a jig.

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I just can’t see any reason to spend my precious time making my own jigs.

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Joel – I crank out about 300 per hour. So if I paid myself $50. per hour for shop time thats about 16-1/2 cents each. I get a substantial discount with Gamakatsu making the hook cost next to nothing. Last I saw H2O jigs are about 40 cents each when bought in quantity. I haven’t hit the lottery yet to pay them to make them the way I want them So when its too miserable out to play, I throw something worth while on TV, and use those days to tie flys, make jigs, replace guides, and have some quality time teaching my kids to do these things.

I’m not going to dispute the quality of the H2O jigs. I’ve used them and I like very much the small wire style of a “keeper” rather than a traditional barb.

But they do not come with or have an option for a 60 degree eye (which I like better for dragging in rocky areas) or Gamakatsu EWG hooks. I also have a type of “flat-head” jig I use for many northern lakes. Instead of a straight drop in the weeds, I get a flutter as it drops. Perfect for pitching to cabbage weed holes where the walleyes slam them on the fall, not the drag.

Anyways, enough said. H2O jigs are great and I enjoy making my own stuff

Most of the fish I unhook have the worm/paddle tail deep in their mouth so there is no reason to wait. Cross their eyes imediatly!

John

Set the hook right away.
Thanks, Bill

I grip it and rip it as soon as I feel something different. Like someone said, “hooksets are free”.

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Most of the fish I unhook have the worm/paddle tail deep in their mouth so there is no reason to wait. Cross their eyes imediatly!

John

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Hi John…..

Thought I’d just mention that the four foot bass flag went back up yesterday. Its my way to protest this lingering winter.

I was talking to an old guy down at the river a few years ago. He gave me some valueable advice. His reasoning was “Fish don’t have hands, set the hook”

Makes sense to me

Set it, and don’t forget it!