Long Distance Hook Sets?
Was out fishing early this morning. Grass was coming up all over the place
so time to fish some topwaters, and what better than a horny toad.I wanted to cover a bunch of water and did so casting the heavy toad. A huge
explosion near the pads and a hook set, resulted in no fish. The fish had
the frog but it was way out there and the fish came off. I was fishing 8lb mono but again distance was the reason I couldn't connect
with this fish. Any advice for hooksets at greater distances, or should I
just not be casting as far? Braid would not have made a difference, or at
least that's what I want to believe |
alwaysfishking
Jun 6
2005
|
| Actually Randy, I believe Braid would have made a huge difference. With
zero stretch you would have made the connection. Also a longer rod
would have helped. Maybe you were already using a 7'+ rod. But with
long casts and loooonnnnnggg hooksets Braids really shine. Of course that has been my experience. The stretch of mono with the
long distances usually puts you at a disadvantage. Chris |
Chris
Jun 6
|
| I agree. I have fished 10lb mono for topwater for a long time. This last
weekend I fished braid for the first time in a tournament. I nailed three
out of three topwater hits on braid. I used a 7' medium action rod to do
it. (Actually a Lamiglass 3 power) I was using 30lb Stren Super Briad
which is approximately the same size as 8lb mono. It worked well. The one
thing I did was to back my drag way... way... way... off. The biggest I
caught topwatering was about 14" I also used the same rig for crank baits a
little later in the day and had very good luck with hooking and landing
fish. Still for most people for most applications I'ld probably stay with mono for
topwater. I went to braid because so often I am throwing to or into pockets
in weedlines with my topwaters. I still land more fish with mono I think,
but I hook more with braid. I also don't have to run my boat over an area I
planned to fish to retrieve my baits nearly as often. The other thing to remember is that frogs are notorious for missed strikes.
I have never fished a Zoom horny toad, but I have fished other frogs. I
quit fishing them because I missed close to 75% of my strikes. A local pro
guide and good friend Dave Willhide told me that if you hook more than 50%
of frog strikes you are pretty darned good. |
Bob
Jun 6
|
| have made a huge difference. Chris, I almost exclusively fish braid, the exceptions are wacky rig's and
topwater poppers/spooks etc. The reason being is that with the braid on a
topwater hook set I have pulled the lure free too many times, with mono
almost never. Little stretch is a good thing. The braid is great for slow
fishing jigs and worms when the bite is subtle The only reason I used the mono was because it already had a hook on I
could use and was too lazy to re-tie on the braid, but I cast way too far
7ft med heavy rod so that wasn't a problem. You always remember the big fish you lose,,,,at least I do |
alwaysfishking
Jun 6
|
| Yeah, I agree 100% (about losing big fish). I have guess I have
reserved myself that i am going to lose fish in slop. It is going to
happen no matter what I throw. I figure Braid gets me a solid hookset,
it cuts through the weeds, and moves the fish quickly. Combine that
with a longer rod that gives you leverage I believe you increase your
odds. I have actually lost less fish since going to strictly a braid
for a slop presentation than I did when I used 17lb XT a few years ago. Now, if I am throwing a Pop-r I use either fluoro or mono combined with
a very soft rods, and triple grip hooks (nickel plated). For a spook, I use a heavier/stiffer rod and mono, but heavy 17lb xt.
I have a specific rod for each type of topwater I throw. The soft
action rod is one I use for Pop-R's, Tiny Torpedos, or jerkbaits like
#9, #11, & #13 Rapalas. I have a MH rod I use for Zara Spooks only, and I have a Heavy Rod I use
for Frogs or any slop type topwater. That is what has worked for me. Here on the lakes I fish they are very
fertile and very shallow (my home water anyway). So I am fishing very
thick cover for about 4 months out of the year. Oh well, I am learning still, and I am sure there are more sure fire
techniques. If I am really motivated I will go through and pitch a
plastic worm with about a 3/4 ounce sinker into irregularities in the
pad fields. That takes forever, but can produce some big fish!. Oh well, that is off the subject, but good luck! chris |
Chris
Jun 6
|
| Believe what you want, but a not-stretch superline, whether braided or
fused, would have made all the difference in the world. |
RichZ
Jun 6
|
| Randy, as odd as it may seem reconsider your choice of rods.Stop and
consider trying a rod with a bit more flex with the super lines . Especially
when doing any long distance casting.
|
Jun 6
|
| I was second guessing the braid thing after the posts. I always fish the
horney toads on braid I just hated thinking it was my lack of re-tying a hook that cost me a fish,
better for fun than a tourney i guess |
alwaysfishking
Jun 6
|
| >>>Was out fishing early this morning. Grass was coming up all over the place |
Dan
Jun 6
|
|
5/0 Lunker City Texposer, it was all me I believe, not the equipment |
alwaysfishking
Jun 6
|
| 8# test for fishing those things? What size hook are you using? My guess
is that 8# is inadequate for the hook you're using. WW |
go-bassn
Jun 7
|
| I always say, a lost fish is better than no fish at all... WW |
go-bassn
Jun 7
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| 8# mono on a 5/0? Don't be so hard on yourself bro... WW |
go-bassn
Jun 7
|
| Ahh like I said, it was a matter of convienance, next time I won't be so
lazy, I'll get the clippers and re tie the braid.. when you want to fish
Warren? |
alwaysfishking
Jun 7
|
| I just wanna know what the @#$ you were doing with a 5/0 hook tied to 8
lb mono in the first place. That's a mismatch that should never have
been put together from the get go! |
RichZ
Jun 7
|
| simple, I had no other hooks with me. I had used up all my 4/0 and all 3/0
hooks... and still have not replaced them. Hard to imagine cause I had 2 25
count packs of gammys just a short while ago |
alwaysfishking
Jun 7
|
| Randy I'll have to make a trip up to see ya & fish those Bill Dance ponds
buddy. Is it possible to launch a full-size bass boat in them? Warren |
go-bassn
Jun 8
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