Need to set hook on the troll?

[Spooled]

Have an on-going debate among boat mates as to whether or not it is necessary to set the hook when trolling...fishing 10'-6" mooching rod/reel...both bait and artificials.

Need help settling the debate...what is the opinion of the members?

 

[Karma-Kazi]

It all depends if you burry the line into the rigger clip, if it burried and it releases itself it does not need a hook set, also depends what gear, with bait i dont ever set the hook, just crank down on the reel a few good ones and keep steady pressure!

Its all personal prefferance!

-Steve

 

[tyee hunter]

i always set hooks...regardless if the fish pops the rigger or not...even if it does pop the hook may not be set well.

 

[Charlie]

If you "Google", "Hook set ", you will find this has been a favorite topic for "Bass" anglers for years, but you will also find there is not a lot regards to trolling for salmon? Here is a couple of things to keep in mind when you are rear back and set those hooks.

1. Forward movement of the boat is usually from 1.5 mph or faster?
2. Speed of a salmon taking the bait or lure can exceed 1 meter/second.
3. Amount of tension on that "spring" loaded rod, in the release clip.
4. Use of "barbless" hooks.
5. Size of fish… These are NOT the size of a bass!
6. How many commercial trollers do you see setting their hooks? [:0]

"Fish size is another important factor. Big fish absorb less shock then small fish. Why? Small fish will move or turn in the water when the hook is set. I've seen some small fish come right out of the water and over the boat during hard hook sets! Bigger fish however do not move as much on the initial hook set due to their heavier weight in the water. If, when the hook is set in a big fish, the line, the rod or the fish do not give much then there is only one other thing that can - the flesh and bone of the fish…

"I observed that when I set the hook very fast and hard with a stiff rod, heavy line and on a short pitch the hook would tear a "slot" in the roof of their mouth…

"Hooks work best when they puncture a small hole…"

"Again, a small fish may move or be pulled in the water enough to absorb the shock of the hook set, however, big fish are much harder to turn. The extra weight adds to the risk of losing a big fish due to applying excessive force during the hook set or while working the fish to the boat."

Conclusion: Even though it is the natural reaction for most of us (even me) to give that pole a great big pull to "set" the hook, it is not necessary. It in fact can and will cause the loss of fish and without the forgiving stretch of monofilament, there would be a lot more fish lost! It is far more important to keep your rod tip up and a steady tension on the fish. The speed and tension will set the hook when the clip releases.

Let me know who wins your debate!

 

[wolf]

I sometimes do it if it hasnt popped of the rigger but if its off the rigger no i dont lets say for example,
You have your line back about 20 to 30 ft from clip then your down 80 feet so basically you have 100 ft or so of mono out and your using a nice rod the amout of line strech I thhink is a lot I dont think your really doing much when you do try and set the hook.

One thing I was taught years ago by someone that simply amazed me on the dock get your hand held weigh scale and have your buddy put it on the end of your line now do a gradual pull as hard as you can bend that rod as far as you think you have ever held a fish or to the point you would never haul one in all the while getting your buddy to see how much wight your accually puting on the rod, by this.

Now your going to scratch your head LOL LOL all you can get out of it is about 4 to 7 lbs max as these rods now are so "noodle" to them and so strong with the materials and shock absorbson.

One thing I do like to do if you have a fish pounding away and yes its hard to do but grab the rod out of the holder hit the downrigger switch and start reeling it wont take long but now your set!!!! the fish will pop it of but now you have changed the angle of every thing and there wont be any slack line out there and it feels pretty cool when it does pop off in your hands.

good luck wolf

Blue Wolf Charters
www.bluewolfcharters.com

 

[Karma-Kazi]

Wolf, i also love doing the downrigger thing, i have also heard, but never tried, releasing the break and dropping the ball??? Have you ever tried this?

-steve

 

[wolf]

No because your creating more slack line think of a triangle because thats how it is down there ball straight down line out from ball then the bow of your line to the clip when you bring it up now your totally changing the angle and its bring it up for you shortening the distance. its hard to do because we all get excited and just want to pound it off try it its really fun but do it when your confident enough and there are lots of fish around or even when the pinks show up practice it, its cool to "feel" the fish pop it of the rigger with you fishing rod in your hand


Wolf

 

[hiroshi]

Once my line releases, I usually put a lot of stress on the line but, I don't set it with a hard jerk. After that I know the hook is set pretty well so I just keep good pressure on it. It's easy to loose a fish using a fly reel that's one to one and barbless siwash hook but, man is it fun. We do seem to lose a lot because once the fish starts to run toward you. You can reel just so fast.

 

[Spooled]

Thanks for all the great replies!

I think it safe to say the consensus is you don't need to set the hook...Charlie you make a very compelling argument!

 

[Captain Dudds]

hmmm very interesting. I always set the hook. I can't figure its going to do any harm - people say you'll rip it out of their mouth but I think thats BS. First I can't remember ever loosing a fish as I'm setting the hook, and second I'm worried that they grabbed the actual rig but the hook isn't buried. For example they grabbed the whole anchovie in their mouth teaser and all and they've got their jaws clamped down. The force you feel on the rod might be the teaser jammed up against their closed mouth and when they open up, everything can come out. If you reef on it, the teaser will be forced out and the force will be transferred to the hooks. Same deal for a plug or a big spoon, maybe not a hootchie though.

Also I can think of a fair few times where a guest grabs the rod and its jerkin away and I'm yelling "set the ****in hook!" and they don't because they're new, which is understandable, but then the fish falls off. I've found I don't lost alot of fish right after a hook set - I'm not going to say that when you set it, its game over for the fish, but when you do lose them, its usually later on in the fight when the hook has had time to wriggle around, or before the hook set.

When I was younger we used to let the clip set the hook, and last year I played around with different theories, but ended up coming back to the hook set. Plus I love the feeling of setting the hook on something heavy!

In the end it probably doesn't make much of a difference either way, we all seem to catch fish and we all do things differently, and who knows whats actually going on down there - so much of fishing is speculation.

Thats pretty interesting about bringing the DR up wolf, definately going to have to give that a shot. Intuitively it sounds like a good idea, anything to remove that second of slack when the clip pops; however, I have manuals so it will be a while I guess.

 

[chris73]

Agree with you Capt'n. I always set the hook too. Yes, I lose fish but can't remember that I lost them during hookset. And do I lose more fish than others? Probably not.

 

[Tips Up]

I'm a hook setter[]

Every now and then I get a good laugh watching someone set the hook 3 or 4 times like it was a marlin. LOL!

Tips

 

[JuandeOne]

A salmon smokes your lure, stretches your line, tension from the release clip, reeling down hard on the fish, sharp hooks...I fail to see the retionale behind "setting the hooks" in this situation.

I witnessed one guy set the hooks on a big spring one time and as he reefed up on the rod the fish decided to take off and ping...fish gone, broken line.

 

[reelfast]

- gel spun on the reels
- flourocarbon leaders
- all hooks replaced on spoons
- line set deep in the clip which is set for a hard release
- i always set the hook as i have no idea if the hook is stuck up against the jaw bone or softer tissue.

i would like to see a commercial troller 'set a hook' that would be a sight to behold!

 

[wolf]

Good one reel fast LOL LOL
Just what I was getting to there isnt alot of line stretch from cannon ball to flasher but tons from rod to flasher 100 ft out I sent my clips SOOOOO tight it really has to pouund it off most times a big spring will hammer it 3 or 4 times before it pops and I know its burried by then let that fish set it for you. remeber "tight" is good LOL LOL


wolf

 

[Spooled]

Looks like the debate in the boat will continue...to each there own

 

[salmon9]

I real hard to keep a lot of tension on the fish at the time of the bite and do not hook set. I agree with the notion that sharp barbless hooks do not need a hook set.

 

[Charlie]

Like I said... let me know WHO wins the debate!

But, there is NO NEED to set the hook! [:0]

 

[Salmon Smoker]

I don't set the hook. I do spend a lot of time tying new rigs with new hooks and changing hooks on my spoons. I will also sharpen my new hooks before I use them and after every catch. I believe that a sharp, barbless hook catches fish.

 

[kuma]

I think you need to set the hook hard when using dull,rusty hooks!