Hook Setting with Weedless Plastic

[sc419795]

Had 5 decent bites this past weekend working lilly pads. Fishing with a rubber frog (Yum Buzz Frog - Green Pumpkin) set on a Owner TwistLock with Centering Pin Spring. The barb was threaded through the body of the frog set weedless across the back.

Seemed in 3 of the bites, the bass were chomping on the legs. On the other two, I swear they took the hole body in. One of these the bass literally came all the way out of the water through a lilly pad - had to be a 4-5 pounder. For up here, that is a good size fish. In all 5 cases, came up empty.

My hook setting was more of a side jerk. Wondering if I should be using a better technique on setting the hook. The good news is I may have found the right offering....just need to do a better job of landing them.

Any ideas on both the "leg bites" as well as setting the hook differently?

[sasquatch hunter]

did you feel the fish before setting the hook? or did you swing for the fence as soon as you saw the bite?

wait until you feel the fish pull, then and only then, swing for the fence

if you don't feel the fish then he totally missed it, and may come back if you just continue to work the lure.

what rod, reel, line, are you using?

[20_lb_sack]

Make sure you are using braid and wait till you feel the fish to set the hook, HARD. Maybe a little faster retrieve, would make them commit to the bait.

[teelman]

Definately follow the advice above, also I saw a rig last year on BassInsider on ESPN where they added a treble hook to the main large hook for the frog. They clipped one of the hooks, and stuck the other two into the legs of the frog. I played around with this rig but never could get it set up right and still get the action out of the frogs I use (horney toads usually, but also yum too). So, I just make absolutely sure I feel the fish before I set the hook.

It's an explosive bite and definately can scare the crap out of you when they hit it. Just remember to feel the fish. Also, I typically buzz the frog on top, as slowly as I can and still get the legs to buzz along. I seemed to get more bites when I used it this way.

Good luck with it and let us know if any of the advice works.

chad

[Buggs Islander]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by teelman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's an explosive bite and definately can scare the crap out of you when they hit it. Just remember to feel the fish. Also, I typically buzz the frog on top, as slowly as I can and still get the legs to buzz along. I seemed to get more bites when I used it this way</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have to remind myself for the first 10 casts or so in the morning not to jerk when I hear or see the splash...just keep reeling at the same speed and drop your rod tip while you reel, when you feel the weight of the fish, set the hook like he slapped your mama! like said before, if he missed it and you just keep reeling it along, they will come back for it sometimes!

[basspro48]

I love fishing frogs through the slop and have missed more than my share of fish, but over time you learn to wait, let the fish take it, and then hammer back the rod as hard as you possibly can (I love settin the hook with a 7ft. heavy action rod and 40lb braid)

[sc419795]

WOW....great advise. Couple of responses for some of your questions....

1. Using a 7 foot rod. MH action. Cabelas Fish Eagle II
2. Tournement ZX Bait Caster Reel from Cabelas
3. 10 pound test Stren line.

Looks like I need to upgrade to braided line. Not sure I understand the differences between mono vs. braided. Would love more information on what is the difference and why use the braided. What pound test would you recommend?

I think I saw the ESPN show referenced on the treble hook. Not sure how that would work and stay weedless. My technique was to cast fairly deep into the lilly pads, try to slowly work the frog over the pads to a hole and let the frog slowly drop a foot or two. I would then slowly reel in to the next pad, bring the frog back on top of the pad, and start all over again. Seems right after the frog dropped back into the hole is when most of these strikes took place. Like someone said, kinda takes you by surprise and my hook setting was probably more of a light tug vs. coming out of my socks.

Like I said before - the good news is I think I may have found something that seems to work...now it's time to try and refine my technique and start to land a few of these fish.

Would love additional input, thoughts and ideas from you all....

[sasquatch hunter]

mono has a lot of stretch(especially 10lb. mono). If you did ever hook a good fish in that kind of cover he would more than likely break you off.

braided line has zero stretch, so you can deliver the full power of the rod to the lure during the hookset. braided line will be alot smaller diameter than mono also, so you can use a much heavier line but still have a relatively small diameter line compared to mono.

look at the boxes of braid and it will tell you what size mono the diameter is comparable to.

when you buy your 50 lb. braid be sure to spool a small amount of mono onto the reel before putting the braid on. this will ensure that the braid does not slip around the spool.

[gatrboy52]

10# mono will result in less than 10% hook ups,a weak hook set will reduce that percentage.not feeling the tug before setting hook and your down to 1 % hook ups and like said in pads if you did hook up 10# mono w/ a decent fish , your heart will be broken most of the time.
it is inherent that bass will slap or knock toads a good percentage of the time,nothing you can do about that.if it persist during a outing change colors,style, retrieve,untill you find something they will committ to.when fishing toads i always have a speed worm ready and always alternate between the two.in many situations the speed worm will get more bites than the toad and way more hook ups.
about the lightest test braid you can get away w/ is 30#,50# in the heavy cover.
in pads i swim a frog more than i buzz it ,i seem to get more good hits than slaps.

[jeff210]

make sure your hook is put where it will almost penetrate out the other side and when you set the hook,, wait til you feel the fish, reel forward til your rod is almost pointing at the fish and set it sraight up.

[gatrboy52]

the short bites is the bass not committing to the bait.very common and only experimenting can answer that on a given day.10# test is your problem.braid is the only way to go.wait for the bass to take it in . i set the hook up not to the side.

[ccm]

50lb or 65lb braid seems like overkill but actually due to the thin diameter of braid you want that heavier line and thicker diameter, for me i like to work the bait with my tip down it allows me more time to let the fish inhale it