Guys

I am hoping for some helpful tips for my next outing to the coast. I have had a lot of problems with the hookset on trout. I probably hook about half the strikes I get. Very frustrating.

I am ussually fishingwith DOA under popping cork in my kayak, but still miss way too many.

I have tried hookset up and to the side. Immediate hooksets and waiting to feel weight of the fish. It is quite common to feel the tug for 2-3 seconds and then it is gone. Not sure if there is a strategy that is considered best for trout, but it would be nice to have one strategy that I can focus on to improve my hookup ratio.

Thanks for any tips. Appreciate it.

Sean

Your hooks are very sharp and not blunt/dull, correct?

Hey

My hooks are as sharp as they come out of the package. I don't think any hooks had been used more than on one trip, while most of the DOAs were new. I hadn't considered sharpening hooks, but am willing if that will put some more specks in the kayak.

Sean

I cannot help U with the DOA stuffs but I fish specks all the time with live shrimp on a treble size 8 free line and have not missed a single hookset yet ... my biggest problem is my shrimps got stolen by piggy perches a lot.

I was catching a lot of specks fishing at ROLLOVER PASS with jigs and i lose a few specks when the fish bite over the middle of the channel.And i am fishing most of the times with GAMAKATSU crappie jigs 1/16 oz.,1/8 oz.+BASS ASSASSIN CURLY SHAD 2" chartreuse,crystal.
I don't know if you fish with braid,but if you don't fish with braid + fluorocarbon leader ,you must try to see the difference.
I never fish with popping cork because i am catching more speck just with jigs without popping cork.

S, what type of hook are you using? J, Kahle (wide gap), circle, treble, etc?
Type of hook makes a difference in how, if any, hook set you do.

I am using prerigged DOA shrimp. I think they are probably j hooks coming out the top of the plastic. Thx

Sean

Ahh...... should have payed more attention to your first post.
Does DOA offer unrigged lures?

Using mono or braid line?

Might consider taking the DOA off, and putting it on a light wire circle, or my choice a Kahle hook. Fish it with a weight insert if you need to get the same action.

Might be more of a hassle than worth. If you're getting solids hits the way your fishing, then let's focus on making the hook ratio better for you with the package lure.
I'd check hook point sharpness just to make sure.

If I recall correctly, the open hook gap from the DOA surface to the point is pretty narrow, maybe cut a little bit out to give more bite to the hook?
Other than that, maybe work the hook set a bit harder to try to set the hook better. This time of the year giving them a bit more time sometimes is necessary.

One last thing, you're sure the hits are game fish, trout/reds/etc? If the cork isn't going completely under it probably isn't a gamefish/big fish.

I fish soft plastics in the Delacroix Marsh area of Louisiana
every spring. I have to relearn the hook set every year.
The traditional " cross thier eyes " bass style does not
work for me. The quick lift that works for crappie , does not work for me.

What works is to crank like the devil when I feel the bump, get a good bend in the rod , then and only then , set the hook.

good luck

MO

Some great advice. The fish taking the lure are definitely trout and the cork is pulled under. Setting hook after getting a solid bend is something I will try. I will also pay attention to those hooks. Just need to get back out there and put new strategies to work on the water. Really appreciate the tips.

Sean

A high speed reel ( inches of line per crank ) is
very helpful.

MO

I use braid when I throw a popping cork so my method may be different that what you need but I don't do much of a hookset. I mainly drift when throwing a cork. I keep my line taken up so I don't have a bunch of slack. I watch the float go completely under then sweep the rod up. About mid sweep the rod will load up if it's a trout or I will feel the piggy let go.

This fella waits a long time, but he's live bait.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghYhna5DbAs

I use extra wide gap hooks to make sure plenty will stick out of the bait. Also, it seems the pre-rigged shrimp have heavy stainless hooks that aren't very sharp. I use Gamagatsu or Lazer Sharp from Eagle Claw. They are finer wire and very sharp.

Good video. It seems that letting the fish take the bait good and solid before setting hook is the way to go.

I have heard enough to go get some better hooks. I love those DOA shrimp ( probably a comfort thing) so I will see if I can replace the hooks and still make em work.

Don't like messing with gulp or live bait, so hopefully I can get the lures working for me. Thanks.

Sean

I just let the fish take the bait when the rod bend count to about 3 then bam set it and reel it in.