If it�s a pop-pop-pop ... it�s blue Gil and that�s why there is not fish. Especially around grass

3/0 wide gap on senko. Make sure your hook is razor sharp. I swing away as soon as I feel a bite. Some days they short strike. Some days you just may be on a tough luck streak. I think waiting to set the hook is a bad idea for the fish and your success rate.

I use a medium heavy baitcast with 15 lb test on the same weightless trig. Never a problem casting. Set the hook on the first bite.

Medium light rods don�t work well with unexposed hooks. Even with braid, not enough power to set an EWG hook through the plastic and through the bony palate of a bass (especially if there�s even a small bullet weight that could get in the way). Reserve medium light rods for exposed hook presentations that weigh 1/8oz or less�small inline spinners and light wire exposed single hook ultra light jigs (Ned rig, Neko rig, etc). Honestly, medium is as light as I�ll go unless I�m fishing a lake with no vegetation or timber.

Minimize how much time the line is completely slack, always be feeling the weight of the lure in the line and your hands (semi slack line)

Always have your body, arms, and rod in a good position to reel down and set the hook at a moment�s notice

Agree with reel down, feel the pressure, and set the hook hard with unexposed hooks�this takes less than half a second if your arms, body, and rod are in a good ready position at all times

When I bass fish, I throw a Texas Rig. I let it sink while keeping �in touch� with the bait, standing with the rod tip down. I already have both hands on the rod. When I feel the THUMP THUMP, I turn the crank a half turn to take up slack and yank the rod to a straight up position like I�m trying to break his neck. Didn�t miss too many doing that.

The first �thump� is the fish sucking it in. The second � thump� is the fish spitting it out!!!!

Truth...

LIke everyone says, the rod is your problem, not enough backbone and too much "give" in the tip. Go to at least a medium power rod (MH better if using baitcasting reel), and go down to a 2/0 or 3/0 light wire hook with 3/16 titanium bullet weight.

This is what I am doing, apparently that's not technically texas rigging but tex-posing. Still learning the lingo sorry. I am sticking the hook all the way through the worm, then burying just the tip back in the worm.

It looks like this...



In this case it was a pretty windy day (after the storm yesterday) so I put a 1/8 oz. weight on the nose, behind a bead and a bobber stop.

Maybe this too. Next time I'll haul a bluegill rod out there and cast where I am missing strikes and see if I get a panfish.

Thank you all for the advice btw.

break the fish's neck when you set the hook

You have to feel the weight of the fish before you can get a good hook set. MH rod like has been said. I would never use a light wire hook. But that�s just me.

What the swivel for?

I just saw the pic and was gonna ask that.
Get rid of the swivel. Get a stiffer rod and set the hook as soon as you feel the bite