Setting Hook Properly Is Key for Catching More Fish

Photo by Robert Montgomery

(Author's note: This article was written a few years ago for young anglers. But the advice applies to anglers of all ages who want to catch more fish.)

You feel the fish bite. It even pulls the line and bends your rod. But you don’t catch it.

What happened?

Maybe the fish was too small to get the hook in its mouth.  Maybe it bit and spit.

Or maybe you didn’t set the hook properly.

Along with mastering a level-wind reel, one of the biggest challenges for young anglers is learning how to set the hook.

Remember when you first went fishing? When you saw your bobber bounce that first time, you were so excited that you started reeling as fast as you could. Probably your dad or your grandpa or maybe even your mother was yelling, “Set the hook! Set the hook!”

You just kept reeling. You didn’t know what “set the hook” meant.

Now, you know that it means to pull back on the rod when you see or feel a fish bite, and that’s what you do. But still you miss bass. What’s wrong?

Maybe nothing. We all miss fish occasionally--- even professionals such as Kevin VanDam.

But you definitely can improve your catch rate if you will listen and learn from the best.

“With a Texas rig, you have to drive the hook through the plastic,” says VanDam. “I like to do it with a little slack line. I drop the rod tip and hit real hard.”

Others say to tighten your line all the way before setting the hook. The problem with that is a tight line can make it easier for a bass to feel you--- and possibly drop the bait--- before you set the hook.

Whichever method you use--- tight or a little slack--- act quickly when you feel a bite on a soft plastic. And jerk hard.

With another single-hook bait, the spinnerbait, you should pull more than jerk. “Let the rod load up and pull into the fish,” VanDam explains. “Reel hard and pull.”

“Load up” means the weight of the fish is putting bend into the rod, especially the tip.

Topwaters and crankbaits, meanwhile, make it easier to connect with the fish because they have treble hooks. But be careful.

“You want to let the fish load up on a crankbait or topwater,” says Florida pro James Charlesworth. “And then you want to do a sweeping hook set. If you set too hard, you can jerk the hooks right out.”

VanDam adds, “Today’s hooks are so good, so sharp, that you don’t need to set the hook hard.”

With a topwater, the Michigan pro advises that you wait until you feel the weight of the fish pulling down before you react.

It’s tough to do that when you see a big bass wallowing all over your bait. Your first instinct is to jerk as soon as you see the fish going after the topwater. Setting the hook too soon, however, will just pull the bait away from the bass.

If you’re fishing with a spinning rod, light line, and finesse baits, you don’t want to jerk at all. Doing so might break the line. Plus, you don’t need as much force to stick a bass with a light wire hook as you do with a big worm hook.

Instead of jerking, use a “reel set.” When you feel the fish, reel as fast as you can, allow the rod to load up and pull straight up and back.

“I do a lot of smallmouth fishing with a spin rod,” says VanDam. “With this hook set, if you miss the fish, you can let the rod back down, and the smallmouth will be right there to hit the bait again.”

Join KVD, Ike, and Other Pros in Supporting Autism Awareness

Here’s a shout-out to professional anglers Kevin VanDam, Mike Iaconelli, John Crews, Fred Roumbanis, Kelly Jordon, Edwin Evers, Bub Tosh, and Scott Martin. They all support autism awareness by displaying the “Fishin’ with a Mission” decal on their boats or tow rigs.

“Fishin’ with a Mission” is the creation of Eli Delany, a Massachusetts angler whose son Luke has autism. And he’s not the only one.

According to a pediatrics report at Talk About Curing Autism website, 1 in 91 children has autism, with a new case diagnosed nearly every 20 minutes. No medical detection or cure for the disability exists, which is why being aware of its symptoms, especially in children, is so important.

You also can support autism awareness by educating yourself at Delany’s website and buying a decal.

In a letter to the sponsors of the above anglers, Delany said, “In today’s very difficult times, your sponsored angler was willing to give away very valuable advertising space in support of children and families affected by autism.

“This shows true humility and a genuine willingness to give back to the sport and the community. You should be very proud that you sponsor such an individual.”

Join VanDam, Wejebe to Keep America Fishing

Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam and noted saltwater angler Jose Wejebe support the Keep America Fishing campaign, and you should too. Check out their testimonies here.

And sign onto the Anglers’ Bill of Rights here.

Along with The Activist Angler, the Keep America Fishing website is one of the best places to keep informed about issues that concern recreational anglers.

Fishin' With a Mission to Raise Awareness About Autism

This website isn’t just about activism to promote and protect recreational fishing. It’s also about using the power of our sport to support good causes.

One of those is autism awareness. My friend Eli Delany leads the charge on this one at MyLittleBuddysBoat. His little buddy is son Luke, who has autism.

But Eli and Luke also have some great company in raising awareness about the disorder that is now being diagnosed in 1 in every 92 children or about 1 in every 50 households, since most families have two children or more. Bass pros Mike “Ike” Iaconelli, Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers, Kelly Jordon, Scott Martin, Fred Roumbanis, and Bub Tosh generously support the campaign.

Delany raises funds to benefit the cause by selling Fishin’ with a Mission decals on his website. “At the end of 2010, we were able to make our first donation to purchasing life vests and swim boards for the aquatics program at the New England Center for Children (school for autism treatment and education),” says Eli, who adds that Ike has been “tireless” in his support.

“It’s also very humbling to have the continued support of KVD who still displays the decal right next to his name on this boat,” he says. “Considering what he is achieving is unheralded in our sport, I’m incredibly honored to have his continuing support when there are many other worthwhile charities that he could be supporting just as easily.”

Keep America Fishing is Waiting for You

Have you checked out Keep America Fishing yet? More importantly, are you a subcriber to KAF News?

Don't make me come over there!

Latest has information about threats to angling, a piece by Kevin VanDam, and a great guide for Respecting the Resource.