Andrew Martinsen on Setting The Hook
Many an angler has lost a hooked fish. Nobody really talks about it but it happens to anyone who has been fishing long enough. Most weren’t even aware that there was a fish there in the first place. Usually the cause is that the angler simply didn’t react fast enough. Setting the hook is a skill that every angler needs to master before they achieve success.
The basic set is straight forward and will work well with most species. There are some variations on timing and intensity between species. Bait presentation has an influence as well. Once an angler gets the basic set they can then make modifications as needed.
The setting stance works best when anglers that are shore fishing or anchored. The angler should be stable with the feet a shoulder’s width apart with the knees slightly bent. If an angler is not in a stable enough position, they can throw themselves off and into an unexpected dip.
A stable stance also ensures that the angler can exert the proper force to set the hook. While the upper body should be relaxed, elbows need to stay close to the upper body. Elbows that are sticking out result in a loss of power and leverage. The arms end up moving more than the rod does.
Once an angler feels a change in the line, they should tighten up any slack and point the rod toward the target fish. The angler should be able to feel the weight of the fish on the line. Next, quickly snap the rod up and over the shoulders. Remember to keep elbows in and use the forearms for this action.
Once the set is made, the angler needs to maintain the pressure to drive the hook deeper. This can be done by cranking the reel a few turns. The initial set isn’t always enough when fishing for toothy fish or in vegetation. The intensity of the set will vary from species to species. Crappies need a much gentler touch than the harder mouthed walleye.
Timing is important no matter what type of presentation an angler is using. Setting too quickly can result in loosing a fish that hasn’t gotten a good grip yet. Waiting too long can result in the fish expelling the bait before the hook is set. If the fish are hitting the bait hard, set the hook hard. If the fish are taking their sweet time, the angler is better off waiting until they feel the fish’s weight. Natural bait presentations should be set immediately to avoid sinking the hook in the gut.
Of course these guidelines don’t always work. Sometimes fish are hard to detect on the end of the line. To combat this, keep slack out of the line. Anglers should watch their line for any change at all. When in doubt, the best bet is to set the hook anyway.
Trolling is a popular presentation form especially if walleye are the game of the day. Anglers haven’t come to a consensus yet whether setting the hook while trolling is necessary. Anglers that troll at higher speeds with the reel drag set tight normally set the hook with just the momentum of the boat.
If an angler is slow trolling with a loose drag, then they should plan on setting the hook themselves. The hook should be set before the boat is stopped. This will help keep pressure on the line and fish.
Drifting is another popular presentation. Drifting lends itself well to low key fish that aren’t aggressive biters. To know when to set the hook, anglers need to watch their line carefully. Lines will leave a wake as they float a long. If the line starts swaying back and forth, there may be a fish toying with the bait.
With drifting, anglers need to rely on the feel of the line. There is a difference between how a snag and a slow-bite fish feels. It can be subtle and will take the angler time to learn how to identify it. Anytime the line slows speed or hesitates, the angler should set the hook. The odds are favorable something is nibbling on their offering.
Learning to set the hook is a fundamental skill that anglers need to master. There are as many fish lost with a slow set as there are with an overly aggressive one. Learning when to set the hook will fill the boat with more fish and less “the one that got away” stories.
Take care,
Andrew Martinsen
About the Author
Andrew Martinsen is the creator of fishing sites such as Walleye Fishing Secrets and Fishing Inner Circle, among others. He is a fishing fanatic, having started fishing as a kid and never looking back since.
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