I have been standing all my poles straight up 90 degrees on the bank and tight lining. I have seen alot of variations of angles...45 degrees to just slightly bent over etc...any difference on hook-ups? I usually winde my line until the tip is bent slightly...just making sure because I have been missing some fish. If I bend my rods will it help or am I paranoid? OPINIONS PLEASE!

I normally put mine about 60-75 degrees, and I leave just a little bit of slack to give the fish about a foot of run time before the hook sets. I don't know if this helps or hurts my hookup rate though. If I'm using punch bait I keep the line tight

I use shad, usually big chunks. So if my weight is 5oz, I should still leave a little slack? I leave slack in my santee's, but have never on my other rigs,whatever they are called{Three way}. Just trying to make sure I can minimize misses.

That's a lot of weight. Are you river fishing? I've found 3-oz no-rolls are all I need for lake fishing. I fish almost exclusively with 3-way rigs, and having a little slack in the line doesn't seem to hurt, but I'm not a pro.

What size hook are you using? If you're using big chunks of shad you need a bigger hook to keep that gap open. Your hook size should determine your bait size. If the bait is too big for the hook that could be your problem.

Hopefully someone else will chime in and correct me if I'm giving bad info.

Not bad info...I use 8/0 Gama's...and my weights are for the distance. Ive tried 3oz and just cant get the distance. Any help is appreciated. Also, when using small threadfins on small circles, how to hook? Hardly use them and Im taking my 3 year old to catch her first tonight.

Don't overlook the fish that are probably closer to the bank than you think! A lot of bankers actually cast OVER the fish trying to get out in the middle of the lake! And the boaters cast towards the bank and catch fish! It's the boater vs. Banker conundrum.

Smaller threads use a 3/0 or 4/0. I always hook through the eyes and let it swing freely or you can double hook it (once through the eyes and then back around through the spine). Either way should work fine. Good luck with your daughter! Hope she catches a few and doesn't get discouraged. If she gets bored put her on some perch.

I keep my lines as tight as possible! That way if a fish just sits on the bait you will see it and you can reel down. Also if the fish swims towards you the line will go slack...REEL! My biggest fish didnt slam the rod at all he just took the bait sideways and i noticed the line moving right to left. So for me having my line tight enables me to see whats going on. Santee Cooper for me, sometimes i use a river rig.

3Way, 5oz...8/0 gama circles .....rod stand at roughly 75deg or so......tightlined BTW

Last cpl of trips I've been laying my rods out flat.............

Your not worried about them getting pulled in....

Yea you are lol

he aint worried. gotta get bit before they can pull in a rod. hahaha

Sounds like you are fishing for carp now.