HI miss too many fish with my current set up. I use Sonny's punch bait with the following set up.
-3/8oz egg sinker on the main line
-wire leader tied to main line
-#4 treble hook with the spiral wire to hold the bait.

I cast it out and tight line on the bottom. I keep the line fairly tight. When I feel them pull I set the hook pretty aggressively. Seems like my hookup ratio is about 50%. Seems to me if he is pulling the rod out of my hand and I set the hook, there's no way he shouldn't get hooked! I would love your opinion on what I could do to fix this! Justin

Get rid of wire and try 6 hook

ok. what's your thought on getting rid of the wire leader? you think they feel it and let go early?

yes plus waste of money no use for cats their for sharks, no one I know of uses them

ok. tomorrow I will use a monofilament leader! thank you!

Try no leader just hook and smallest splitshot sinker you can throw

I agree. You might also try a slip cork rig with this same setup.

this^^^^^^

i love this setup for my daughter's rods. Althought we use #5 split shots.

U might try mine stubby cheese 1/4 Oz slip sinker hope this helps keep bait cool.this time of year.

the wire leader is probably too stiff and making the hook go away from the fishes mouth when yanked . the mono or even braid leader will probably solve your issues

Pretty WELL proven a myth
Cats on feed simply engage a prey/bait
For the most part "I think" they just get tired of trying to suck bait out of the lake bottom muck to mess with eating it(pick up/drop)
Wire had zero to do with it if all things preceding are in line
Now think preceding . . . . . .

First, I would get rid of the wire leader and go to mono. Also gar will hit punch bait and they can be tricky to stick with a small treble hook. You might try letting it run on a lose line for a moment before setting the hook. If you have a lighter action rod, you may be surprised how hard a small cat can pull...try a smaller hook with COLD bait...it dissolves really fast when it gets warm and when it falls away the fish has no reason to hang on to an empty hook.

I use wire leaders and don't miss very many fish.

don't let your rod rest on the boat or anything else. By the time you feel anything it's too late. I also place my index finger under the line in front of the reel. You'll feel it there before anywhere else. If the bite is light I give the rod a slight tip to feel for resistance before setting the hook. I use mainly Uglystick M/H rods w/long handle. And Abu Garcia 5500 reels. For me they have a nice balanced feel. I usually hold it out with my left hand. If I get tired I rest my elbow on my knee.

I rig punch bait Carolina style with a 1 1/2 or 2oz no roll sinker with a 30lb mono leader... now the hooks matter to me i use VMC brand they are heavy duty and very sharp...I also have some eagle claw hooks Danny King gave me in 2005 that are very sharp and extra strong... Punch bait hooks have to be sharp to work...