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Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: Tony_Wornick] #3504576 05/26/09 01:31 AM
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Bazztex Offline
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Great info so far.. here are a few tips that will help shorten the learning curve.

Another thing that will help you tell the difference between a bite and snags/ weeds. Get in some shallow clear water where you can see what's going on. Pull your worm thru some brush, grass over some roots/ sump bases, lay downs, gravel ...etc and get a visual for what contact with each thing feels like.

While the Bluegills are shallow spawning pitch a worm up shallow around their beds. Observe what it looks like and feels like when they hit your bait. Rock Bass hit like a freight train but you will set air 80% of the time because the are fast as heck. I had one about a pound knock 5ft of slack in my line on a Zoom 6" Lizard at Toledo Bend.. I reeled down quickly and caught him.. would have sworn from the hit is was a good LM Bass!

Crappie will also hit worms that have a dipped or small contrasting curly tail but are quick to let go in most cases. If you are missing a lot of tails you can bet it's Crappie, Rock Bass or Bluegills.

It just takes practice and patience to get all the variations of worm fishing down pat.. but there will still be a few times when the Bass fool You and Me.

Bazz
fish

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: Bazztex] #3504860 05/26/09 02:35 AM
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i always "weigh" my line after a tap. pick up on the line and if its heavy or different, set the hook. i think it helps to "pitch em some slack" as well-when u reel down, leave some slack in the line when u set the hook.


Nothing good ever starts with "hey! hold my beer and watch this"
Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: bigtexnick] #3505886 05/26/09 01:52 PM
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KingwoodCat Offline
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Originally Posted By: bigtexnick
ok, i've been worm fishing a lot recently and i've had some trouble getting fish in the boat, even though i know there has been a "bite" or at least a "nibble" on the end of my line. it is starting to become very frustrating and i'm really not sure if i am worm fishing correctly.

here's my question: when exactly do i set the hook? of course i know i should yank it in whenever i see my line zooming off in one direction or there is a clear and definite and hard "tug" on my line. but my question is more for those situations when there is simple a "twitch", a small "nibble", a barely noticeable and quick "pull" of the line. should i just set the hook right after feeling anything, even the slightest "twitch"???? or should i wait for something a little bit more, like 2 small pulls or a heavier-feeling "tug" on my line???????

what do you guys do? thanks for any help...


When you feel the fish, cross his eyes. There is no penalty for coming up empty handed. If you wait to watch the line zooming off, the chances are if you intended to practice catch and release, you are going to hook the fish deep. If you are fishing shallow, and feel a "tap", "tap", "tap" the chances are you have a bream on the other end. If you can set the hook and catch a bream on a worm, you shouldn't have any problems catching a bass.


"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him had better take a look at the American Indian".

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Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: bigtexnick] #3505896 05/26/09 01:55 PM
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KingOutdoorsCo Offline
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Originally Posted By: bigtexnick

When do i set the hook on a worm?


Fish do not have hands. The only place your worm/hook can be is in his mouth. If you feel something different, set the hook. If your waiting for movement or a "tick", it's too late. If you are still experiencing short bites, you need to change baits.

Last edited by TheBassKing; 05/26/09 01:55 PM.

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Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: KingOutdoorsCo] #3506025 05/26/09 02:37 PM
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Hook sets are free!

Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: BthomasG3] #3506068 05/26/09 02:51 PM
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If it feels like a bb gun on the other end, most times it's a bluegill bite. Any other time you feel the slightest difference, put the hammer down. If you stop and think... "that feels weird", you're too late. smile


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Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: VersieP] #3506132 05/26/09 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted By: VersieP
I think the trick is just to practice on one of those days when they are biting anything you throw. (seldom fished farm ponds are good for this). Learn to feel/imagine what the fish is doing with your worm. You'll learn to feel when the fish has actually picked up the bait and you can set the hook.
This may sound crazy, but if you ever get the chance put some bluegill or something similar into an aquarium and feed them worms (real ones) Watch how they can just inhale the entire thing once they decide to do so, but also how they might spit it right back out after a couple of seconds. Watching this really helped me to better imagine what bass were doing with my baits and helped me to better interpret what I was feeling through my line/rod.

That is EXACTLY the way I learned.

I'd rather make the mistake of setting the hook too late than too early. I learned early on that I lost a lot more fish setting the hook too early especially with a fluke.

Also watching your line can be a big help. "Hmmmm... why is the line moving sideways?"


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Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: Scagnetti] #3506184 05/26/09 03:25 PM
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I was having the same problem but it was the hooks I bought gomakatsu hooks and i dont miss near as many fish now laugh


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Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: KingwoodCat] #3506576 05/26/09 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted By: KingwoodCat (Formerly KingwooRanger)


If you wait to watch the line zooming off, the chances are if you intended to practice catch and release, you are going to hook the fish deep.


I have been having this happen a little bit lately.. so Ive been setting the hook more often than not, and gettin a LITTLE better at NOT hooking them deep.. I have been setting when I feel anything OTHER than just a "tick tick tick".. Im still learning, and still practicing with my soft plastics.


Ephesians 6:10-18..suit up. Jesus saved my life
Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: Ride-or-Fish ] #3506648 05/26/09 05:13 PM
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IM still a rookie at the worm but got some experience this past weekend. i would usually feel the tap or thud then i lift the rod tip, if its heavy i set and reel. thats just my .02


Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: bassitup] #3506855 05/26/09 06:01 PM
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this is all great advice....sometimes it could just be your rod, i dont know what u like to t-rig on, but i have had some people in my boat use 6'6" or 7" med action rods and wonder why they can land fish. not sayin thats ur problem, but 4 some people it is!!!


Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: bassitup] #3506992 05/26/09 06:32 PM
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When in doubt, load up and set it. What can it hurt?

Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: bassitup] #3507080 05/26/09 06:55 PM
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Hook sets are free man!!! Most of what has been passed is right on but when in doubt set the hook!!



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Re: QUESTION: when do i set the hook on a worm? [Re: bassitup] #3507604 05/26/09 09:13 PM
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Like I was told...Fish don't have hands!

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