big bait

[dogsbestfriend]

hey guys, i would like to know how long do ya wait to set the hook when using big shad ?

[fishhook]

What hook are you using ? Size and style ?

Fishhook

[Brian]

I use circle hooks so I don't set the hook at all.

[dogsbestfriend]

using j hook 5/0 with a stinger j hook 5/0 near anal fin.

[Deleted]

everyone has their own opinion on this but, you will lose alot less fish using J hooks on you planners......not enough pull back from  the planners during the initial stike to turn the circle hook and bury it up ....... I always use circle hooks on down lines..... just my .02 cents...

oh, cross their eyes on the hook set with a J.......just start reeling with the circle hooks.....

[BentRod]

Mar 18, 2014 19:52:07 GMT -5 dogsbestfriend said:

using j hook 5/0 with a stinger j hook 5/0 near anal fin.

How big are the shad you are using?

[dogsbestfriend]

the shad are 10-12 inches, using on planers or floats.

[Jason54]

With the bigger shad I use 7/0 octopus hooks. On the hook set try to rip there head off. Still miss a lot of fish though.

[mwardncsu]

I think the question is how long to wait to set the hook. Tough one to answer. On the cold water they will often short strike or play with the baits. Sometimes you have to let them chew and choke on them - often longer than you can stand to. Other times they will slam the bait and set themselves. It's all sort if a "feel" thing. This winter I had them short strike, tail grab 8 baits and let go after setting the hook - I pulled back a crushed bait and crushed dreams. . Finally let them take it and take it and take it and take it and take it then set the hook and it was on.

[Brian]

I think my success with circle hooks is because I don't touch the rod until the fish is hooked... I still have some that crush the bait and don't get hooked, but I guarantee that I never jerk the bait out of the fish's mouth

It also does not take much pressure to set a Gamakatsu Nautilus hook, I can just look at one and get hooked. I am confident that if it goes inside the fishes mouth, it's probably not coming out and confidence is 90% of fishing IMO so if anyone disagrees, I'm not listening!

[BentRod]

Mar 19, 2014 18:01:28 GMT -5 mwardncsu said:

I think the question is how long to wait to set the hook. Tough one to answer. On the cold water they will often short strike or play with the baits. Sometimes you have to let them chew and choke on them - often longer than you can stand to. Other times they will slam the bait and set themselves. It's all sort if a "feel" thing. This winter I had them short strike, tail grab 8 baits and let go after setting the hook - I pulled back a crushed bait and crushed dreams. . Finally let them take it and take it and take it and take it and take it then set the hook and it was on.

I would be slow to listen to Marypoppinsward on this one!

It's an experience thing and there's no exact answer to your question. Hook size plays a big role though. You'll never hook one with the wrong hooks on big hard nosed shad. On a 10-12" shad, a 6/0 is probably about right. You're going to miss a lot on big shad, there's no way around it..it's just the way it is. Youll miss way more in cold water vs warmer fall water. When one gets pulled under hard, break the fishing rod..literally try to break it. Go with your gut and cross his eyes..wait too long and the hook will turn back into bait..too early and you miss it.

[dogsbestfriend]

ha, ha, MARYPOPPINSWARD. THANKS for the replys fellows. i dont plan on live bait fishing anytime soon. i was asking for future reference.i have yet to catch one on big bait, only had a few takers. i still have not been fishing since last spring i guess. i have been able to get my dog GRETCHEN feeling a little better with her arthritis . i may try to take her out for 3-4 hours soon, but i will be throwing artificial. i dont want to spend 1-3 hours trying to catch bait.i know the summer is out, she cant take the heat, so we need to try soon. she is 14.5 years old, but i know she still wants to go out in the boat. i will post a report , good or bad when we go. thanks again