I was watching Bill Dance and how he knows he has a fish on before he sets the hook. Does this have to do with watching your line? Because if it does I sure want to know how because I am horrible at setting the hook. Thanks again! 
maybe he feels the weight one the end of his line? I know when I dont feel a bite but feel weight to hookset immediately before said fish can swallow my bait.
Watching your line is a huge part of it. To go along with that, being able to understand how your bait feels in the water and know when a fish is on the other end takes a lot of practice and understanding. We all wish it was as easy a series of heavy ‘thumps’ on the end of the rod followed by a hearty hookset.
So I mean, how can he afford the time to reel in slack, lower the rod tip, and set the hook? Because i sure as heck know that if i tried doing that, the fish would already spit the bait out.
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So I mean, how can he afford the time to reel in slack, lower the rod tip, and set the hook? Because i sure as heck know that if i tried doing that, the fish would already spit the bait out.
He fishes his own private lake with his shad fed bass. He feeds them shad every week and skips the feeding for 2 weeks before the taping of the show. That way the fish will hit damn near anything he throws so he can do a show on that subject. Whether it be spinnerbaits, crankbaits, craws, jig, etc. they will hit and swallow anything he throws that looks like food.
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So I mean, how can he afford the time to reel in slack, lower the rod tip, and set the hook? Because i sure as heck know that if i tried doing that, the fish would already spit the bait out.
He fishes his own private lake with his shad fed bass. He feeds them shad every week and skips the feeding for 2 weeks before the taping of the show. That way the fish will hit damn near anything he throws so he can do a show on that subject. Whether it be spinnerbaits, crankbaits, craws, jig, etc. they will hit and swallow anything he throws that looks like food.
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That sounds awesome. I’m pretty sure I’ve had a few dreams in which I do the same thing. Maybe someday… 
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So I mean, how can he afford the time to reel in slack, lower the rod tip, and set the hook? Because i sure as heck know that if i tried doing that, the fish would already spit the bait out.
You can do that too given the right technique and mood of the bass.
You can feel the hit without much force on the fish if you fish, say a worm with your line drooping from the tip. You can feel the line move but the line isn’t exactly tight.
On casts to target where you can expect an immediate hit, i.e. a dock, you can leave the line completely slack after the cast and watch your line foe movement. After that, fish the lure with the line at a 90 degree angle to the pole for maximum sensitivity.
Some days you have to be faster, watch Iaconelli, he sets the hook without dropping (I never could).
In general, the more realistic feeling/tasting the lure, the longer you can let a bass take it. For instance, with as senko, if you don’t set the hook fast enough, they will swallow it. But a big 1oz football jig, not so much…
Experience will dictate.
Nice hookset! So is that the same kind of hookset you would do for a brush hog on the bottom?
To me I do as I would panfish, let them take the bait for a second, then hook em! 
okay thanks for the tips!
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