When vertical jig with slab, do you set the hook when feeling the bite or you just reel it up fast? I am new to white bass fishing, yesterday lost a few fish setting the hook when I felt the bite. I wonder if I did something wrong.

rip da lips

I set the hook on ANY offbeat feeling.

Yep!

cross his eyes!

As soon as I feel the thump, I lay the steel to them.

I do NOT set the hook as everyone seems to do. On vertical presentation for white bass with a slab you just keep reeling as you feel the pressure and the fish will almost always hook themselves as they grab it and turn to swim back down to the bottom. When I take bass fisherman and they yank the hook they catch probably 1/3 to even 1/4 of the fish I catch. This happens over and over, trip after trip. I find the speed at which you retrieve your bait can be the difference in catching fish or not so play with the speed of your retrieve and you'll be surprised if you aren't catching them or getting a lot of taps and not catching them...i.e. slow it down just a touch so they can inhale it just a little easier.

Just don’t drop the rod tip before you set the hook with a slab. Reeling or crossing eyes will work, but if you create slack in the line, the slab will try and drop out of the fish’s mouth.