setting the hooks

[emmo97]

hi everyone, me and a couple of mates went out fishing today in the boat we were fishing the local canals, and olny managed 2 bream but so many missed opportunitys. i was just wondering if anyone had any tips for better hook up rates. cheers

[bargeass]

Some days are just like that

Maybe let the fish have a bit more time with the lure before setting the hooks. Or try a stinger... But sometimes that's just how it goes...

[Slick-Ackers]

yea i was fishing with emmo today and i lost 5 bream just by myself with another 4 being lost by the others. stingers is a plan but was also wondering would scent help? considering that they would hold on for longer or maybe swallow the lure down?
or should we fish it slowly taking into consideration that the bream maybe picky in the canals because they've seen all sorts of lures?

[bargeass]

Both of those sound good in theory. They deffinatly won't hurt your chances. Anything is worth a shot haha

[TheChief]

What lures where you using? With hardbodies you don't need to set the hooks. Let the rod load up by itself. Striking can pull the hooks and also spook fish. With plastics wait for the "tick" when the fish picks up the plastic and set the hook. If it's a long plastic like a sandworm, turtleback or Wrigglers I always give them a little bit more time to swallow in properly. Don't use a big hook size either, it can stop fish from swallowing the plastic. Always check your hooks if you have bent the point over or a blunt point you have no chance!

[Slick-Ackers]

we mainly use 2" gulp shrimp or some powerbait dropshop minnows for some reason the "tick" doesnt come that often its either the bream pick it up and swim off with it and we strike and it takes off and spits the hook or we go to twitch the lure and we are on and it spits it also

[TheChief]

Originally Posted by Slick-Ackers

we mainly use 2" gulp shrimp or some powerbait dropshop minnows for some reason the "tick" doesnt come that often its either the bream pick it up and swim off with it and we strike and it takes off and spits the hook or we go to twitch the lure and we are on and it spits it also

It's a tough thing to figure out. Could just be unlucky. Stingers could be the option. A lot of people use a treble stinger in 2'' Shrimps and scent can't hurt either. Maybe try some smaller plastics?

[Slick-Ackers]

yea maybe the go here in this situation. well ill head out tomorrow using the new tactics. stinger, fishing very slow, let the fish take it and smaller plastics hmm sounds good lets just see if the fish agree

[chanlo]

Originally Posted by Slick-Ackers

we mainly use 2" gulp shrimp or some powerbait dropshop minnows for some reason the "tick" doesnt come that often its either the bream pick it up and swim off with it and we strike and it takes off and spits the hook or we go to twitch the lure and we are on and it spits it also

This happened to me today, I twitched just as the fish hit it and I didnt set the hooks.

[bream miagi]

the takes your talking about are most probably the fish just tail grabing your placcy and as soon as you come up tight ther letting go...it hapends alot with gulp and other placcys..stinger hook is the answer...you shouldnt have to "stike" or set the hook with bream just a natural lift or side swipe of the rod tip and wind like crazy for the first couple seconds so youve got a nice solid load in your rod that should be it..anything more than that either the fish doesnt have a hook point or your hooks need to be changed to fresh newies...

spiro

[Squidgy96]

O dropped 14 flatties this morning haha, I was spool annoyed!

[Slick-Ackers]

ahah yes it does get very annoying i know exactly how you feel atleast i can say i caught 2 bream aha the others came up with a donut not that mine were very big

[Breamin'124]

my most dropped fish in a day is 17 ,

[fisho fanatic3]

I must be the king of missed hook ups. It's just like bait fishing wait for the biggest bite then strike. because if the bite is light then they are only nudging the lure not taking it and if they are taking it and it is light then they are not taking the hook.

So the biggest bite is when they engulf it.

[kevsta]

I find that I get lots of bites but when I lift the rod, I ended up with nothing on the other end and perhaps I spook the fish with my instinct to strike hard.

There was one session, where I'd change tactics and focus on my reaction times and caught a lot more of the smaller fish by winding the handle on the reel faster when I felt the tap instead of lifting the rod.