HB hook setting

rickets · #1 07-09-2007, 06:11 AM

Hey guys,

Im new to the site, been lurking for quite a long time though...

Ive recently got into fishing a lot with HB's and in the few trips ive been out, have been considering some issues:

I seem to be only landing the fish 25% of the time... however, maybe im just inexperienced but i havnt felt hits?

All I feel is what feels like the lure running into a snag and then the weight just continues and the line runs... however, the other 75% of the time, I have the fish hooked, but it ends up getting off before I can land it...

One time too, I even saw the fish just before it got off, i was so frustrated!

Is there something im missing or is there a technique to actually setting the hook when using HB's? What should my drag settings be at? I been fishing heavy drag with HB's thinking it would help to set the hook better and stop the fish from busting me off at the nearest snag.. however, how much should I set it too? Maybe the fish is pulling the trebles out due to the drag not giving them room to move?

Brad Y · #2 07-09-2007, 06:24 AM

change your hooks to owner stingers and dont remove the barb

yellow door 1 · #3 07-09-2007, 06:31 AM

What lures are you using
- how big are the trebles
- how old are the trebles.

If you arent already using these trebles - Owners - They are very sharp and strong.

Click on the link below for prices

http://breammaster.com/store/category249_1.htm

rickets · #4 07-09-2007, 06:31 AM

hmm righto? I gather im doing nothing wrong then?

Dont Smith Jade's have st36's on them?

Superduperman · #5 07-09-2007, 06:36 AM

Jades have either ST31s or ST41s (not sure which one) which are a lighter guage treble and are ALOT sharper, but also break easier. I never bother to change the trebles on any of the lures that come with owners.

Recently I've been pulling the hooks alot of the time too, but thats coz i've been putting too much pressure on and trying to winch the fish out. Let em take line and drop the rod tip if they make a sudden dash, should help yu to land more.

rickets · #6 07-09-2007, 06:45 AM

hmmm that makes sense...

Im used to catching bream on bait, thus, most the time theyre hooked hard in the mouth so I tend to winch more with the rod, letting the rod do most the work while I wind in slack...

Maybe i should release some of the drag more so they can run and try to not put too much pressure on them all the time :P

As for lures,

Im using the Smith Jade MD, a coupla mirashads, strike pro pygmy and small fry, baby vibes... I got an sx40 but i havnt tried it yet... and a few others i prolly wont use.

I got the sx40 in 313 (the frog looking color) so im hoping its an ok colour? Heh, im told it is but judging by other color reviews on here, i think i wont be getting hit near as much as 301 302 and 305 lol

Good advice thanks

panger · #7 07-09-2007, 07:41 PM

A soft actioned rod can also help alot. I used to lose a lot when I was using a fast tapered stiff rod.

Also when fishing bad structure a heavy drag is good but backoff it off and go easier on them once they are out. Personally I flick off the anti-reverse and backwind once they are out of the structure. It means I can give line without having to adjust my heavy drag setting.

hank hunter · #8 07-09-2007, 08:52 PM

have you been using braid or mono as your main line? you definetely know when they smack a lure on braid, even the slighest tap

Superduperman · #9 08-09-2007, 06:03 AM

1. allow the rod to move, dont just hold it firmly at the same angle
2. Go easier on the drag (easier said than done in alot of saituations)
3. Use a Long Flurocarbon leader if your using braid (I often use 3-4m)

I put this into practice today and landed all but 1 fish that i hooked! Yesterday I lost 50% because I was in a 'winching' mood (gotta admit there is something satisfying about skulldragging a fish!)

rickets · #10 08-09-2007, 06:05 AM

I use 4lb fireline... the reason i dont know is because i cant differenciate the difference between the lure hitting rocks and snags and the fish actually striking the lure...

heh.

Might try a softer action taper, however, went fishing today and found no fish.. not surprisingly, the current in the swan today was soooo damn fast...

we fished, the stretch from east perth to maylands and i didnt have any hits that i know of...heh

rickets · #11 08-09-2007, 06:08 AM

yeah superdooper, i use a 6lb fluro leader about 2-3m long... however, i dont usually hold the rod that loose in my grip...

usually its fairly firm but i move the rod tip around quite a lot on the retrieve, moving it up and down to pull the lure up out of the sand and twitching it to the sides, and down...

Superduperman · #12 08-09-2007, 06:30 AM

It's not necessarily a loose grip, just allow your wrists to move around when you hook a fish. If you do feel a bump, let it sit for a second so the lure floats up a bit, often when you start winding again there'll be a fish on! This also helps to avoid snags.

Lone Ranger · #13 08-09-2007, 08:22 AM

I reckon yes better trebles may give you a better hook up rate however in my opinion, as you stated you're new to it, chances are more likely that it's how you react to the strike than the kind of line or treble you have.

With me I like to use a light to medium drag (enough to be able to still pull the mainline out without much effort). With me, once I am on, I immediately lift my rod tip up so the line is tight, sufficient tension but don't pull on it hard yet, just let him run. Make sure he's definitely on (secure on the hook) before you wind; instant reaction of winding can often loose a fish. I tend to have the tip down when winding. The way I do it, I never wind when he is in his initial frantic run, not unless I really have to. Once he is solidly on, just go the usual pump & wind. Slow and steady wins the race, even in fishing. I rarely lose a fish these days, if I do it's normally my knots that are the problem.

Until you get this part right, no fancy gold plated top hook is going to help much. I am sure there are different ways of doing it as is obvious in Tom's thread.

In fact, it may be worth you going on the Breamer's Day as Shane and a few others there I am sure would be able to show you a thing or two, however looks like they are already short of boaters though.

HTHs

Richo · #14 09-09-2007, 09:29 PM

You will never mistake a bream hit on a hard body after getting smacked. Get rid of all the twitching for now and just go a slow steady retrieve with a few pauses - you`ll know when there has been an enquiry. Id suggest you come to the the Breamers day Bear is running.

Cheers

ruski · #15 09-09-2007, 09:54 PM

Another tip would be to keep the slack line to a minimum.

Had a few issues with it yesterday, where a lure was sitting suspended, but there was a 2 meter loop in the water that was slack, and by the time I started winding the slack up again, it turned out the lure was already 2m to the right after a bream grabbed it and started running with it. In turn, I didn't get a chance to set the hooks properly.

However, when the line was quite tight, we found that the fish were pretty much hooking themselves.

Cheers