When working a T-rig/C-rig/Jig I think I'm missing opportunities to set the hook. I'm not to sure whether I'm dragging or bumping into things along the bottom or getting a bite. Granted I'm usually rigged weedless, it doesn't really cost anything to set the hook when there is nothing there; although it does cost to not set the hook when there is something there. What type of rod/length do you think is most appropriate when paying attention to bites? Any tips to be more successful when setting the hook?

T-rig - medium to heavy hook set / C-rig - soft sweeping hookset / Jig - yank the ever living hell out of it!

Use at least a 7' rod. Usually if I think I got a nibble, I slowly tighten up the slack and see if there is any weight or resistence, if it doesn't move easy enough...hammer down!

With T-rigs and jigs I usually just wait for about 1 to 2 seconds after feeling the bump, then I set the hook. I rarely miss using this strategy. I used to miss on C-rigs all of the time until my buddy taught me to wait until they carry it off. Once the rod starts to bend, I do a sweeping hook set. This has increased my sucessful C-rig hooksets a lot.

the fact of the matter is lots of bites are not even felt, especially when its on the fall and they just kind of catch the bait. I've set the hook on fish i never felt, but saw the line stop dropping when i knew the water was deeper than the bait fell.

Depending on fish activity and time of year sometimes they pick it up so soft all you see is the line move over an inch or so, you have to be quick on this as they normally pick it up and drop it almost immediately.

There are some good vids around of underwater footage of fish picking up baits and spitting them really fast but soft at the same time.

For texas rigging of small jigs a 7' medium heavy rod of your choice works well.

Hook sets are free, set the hook on everything until you develop a good feel. I;ve been fishing soft plastics for almost 30 years now and i still miss quick bites and set the hook on good feeling brush every now an then.

If you are unsure you can pull a little on it before setting the hook to feel if the fish is there, but often times this will cause them to spit the bait.

When in doubt set the hook.....

A old man once told me hook sets are free. So if you are rigged weed less give em hell and yank them into tomorrow.

only way to know if you are missing fish is to set the hook. if it doesn't feel right, cross his eyes. you will still miss fish, cause you won't even know it was there. I saw a movie that had homer circle fishing (Bucket Mouth?). Anyway, Homer missed a fish on a crankbait. Never knew it was there. but on film, the fish clearly completely inhaled the bait.

Alot of times on cranks they will come up behind it, inhale it and keep swimming the same direction, all you feel is the bait stop vibrating, set the hook!! Same with spinnerbaits, if you feel the blades stop vibrating yank it!

When in doubt set the hook!!! Oh, and be ready to duck

When both Texas rigging and Carolina rigging as well as jigging, I spend a lot of time line watching. It also helps to have a sensitive rod.

All I can tell you is what My Dad told me. The first thing you feel is the bite, the 2nd is the fish turning it loose, the 3rd is me slapping you up the side of your head for letting that fish get away

I grew up with fiberglass composite rods initially progressing through the graphite era to present fishing plastics and the light weight, strength and sensitivity of today's rods are incredible if you remember how they used to be. I believe if you invest like the above posters say in a rod at least 7', something like a good Falcon Low Rider or Bucoo with flouro you'll learn to tell the difference better and also agree that it don't cost nothing to set the hook.

I tend to bird dog a lot. That is I think I feel a bite and I freeze momentarily, and if I feel anything weird I'll set the hook. If you think your missing bites, slow down.

Try using a Picasso Tungsten weight, it will drastically increse sensitivity while being half the size do it will come through cover very well! Picasso has insert free technology that will not fray your line!!

The main thing that my uncles drove into my thick skull when I was young and they were teaching me how to fish was..........Whatever bait your useing, plastics, cranks, spinners, whatever, "know" what your bait feels like when there isnt a fish on it and pay attention. When it feels like "anything" is different or unusual from the feeling you "know" is normal, set the hook. If you cant see it you cant control it, but you can react to what you can feel. As stated many times above this is where good sensitive equipment comes into play.