Setting the hook on a bass coming straight towards you is something I've always struggled with.

I was hitting a small lake up here tonight and the bass were tearing up Texas rigged worms right on the edge of the grass/weeds where it dropped off into the creek channel. Most of the time they would "bump bump" and pull or "bump bump" swim to the side. These are textbook hook sets, the line gets tight, very easy. Every once in a while I'd get a "bump bump" and they'd swim straight towards me. I tried my best to get the line tight and set the hook, but like always, I'd miss most of the fish.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks to help out with these situations? I have a 8.1:1 reel on my worm rod. I hoped the high speed would help take up some line, and it does, but I still miss most of the hook sets.

Either way, it was a lot of fun bank fishing pulling in 1 to 2 pounders this evening. It's just fun when they're aggressively hitting TX rigs!

Thanks,
Brian

I actually experienced this last weekend and may have figured something out. I noticed that if I reeled until the line was tight and then attempted to set the hook, most of the fish spit the bait. I finally decided to just reel until the line was tight and then just lean into the fish while still reeling. My catch rate went way up. I don't know if this is the answer, but it worked for me in the exact situation you're describing.

Brian, I wonder if it has more to do with directional orientation than line slack.

When a bass takes a bait and swims generally "away" (or "down" fishing vertically off a boat) from the angler, the angler senses it and sets the hook, it snaps the hook "back" and lodges in the mouth. I suppose from the perspective of a fish, it'd feel like being "clotheslined." That makes for a really solid hookset.

But, if a fish is swimming directly toward you, and it is just mouthing the bait, I think we might often snatch the worm right out of their mouths.

Just a guess on my part that what an angler should do is if the fish is swimming back toward your left, you sweep your rod tip to the right; vice-versa, too. It'd give you the best chance to sink a hook in the corner of the mouth.

One other thing comes to mind. If you are fishing from a boat, tossing a T-Rig into shallow water, does a bass generally take a worm and run deeper with it? My guess is yes. So, a bank fisherman might see fewer fish running at him, more running out deeper or sideways. Hmm?

Brad

If possible, allow the fish to move until it changes directions then rear back.

watch your line, you are missing the initial bite and are feeling them spit it out.

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Are you saying to set the hook on the initial "bump bump"? Don't even wait for them to pull? My dad taught me to always wait for them to "take it" before setting the hook, so that is how I've always done it. I've been at this fishing thing for a while, but always learning new things!

For a Texas Rigged worm, certainly one that is pegged, the bass has to more or less get enough of the worm in its mouth to lift the sinker so that it can transmit the "twitch" back up your line.

This is what you are paying for . . . if you use "sensitive" rods. They are designed to let you feel the fish quicker and not miss them. Same with lines with little stretch. Those ticks on the line are what people pay for.

Your dad very well might have been speaking of different presentations.

Brad

Great info, thanks everyone!

when fish are swimming towards me...I hold my rod tip up and keep reeling....the fish will eventually change direction and then you can set the hook or they will set the hook themselves. This is why it's paramount that you have sharp hooks....

This happens a LOT when you are fishing docks. A lot of the time I have to wait until the fish is practically under the boat before I set the hook...

I know none of the bass ive caught had any hands, so when you feel the bump bump he doesn't pick it up with his hand and put it in his mouth. Feel it bump Slam that hook thru his head, Maybe that's why I catch bream on tx rig sometimes.

I fish with a newbie and he tells me I think I'm getting a bite and I ask him if hes waiting for the fish to swallow it and poop it out before he sets the hook?