NEW to river fishing.. how set hook?

[stealth3350]

hello everyone im new to river fishing. i was out last weekend trying to catch first cat ever.. i had 2 take it but no hook set. my question is what is the proper way to set the hook? heres what i did tell me if im wrong.. i set the drag real light so when it took it i would here the drag? then do u wait before u set the hook? or set it right away. someone told me to tighten the drag and hang on and horse the fish in? wich is the correct way? omly fished the river 1 time so im pretty new at this

[bobbymalone]

Are you fishing circle hooks?

Everybody has their own opinion, but I am a believer. Will not fish for cats any other way.

Circle hooks don't require a classic hook set. Just a slow sweep to load up the rod and let the hook do it's job.

[DTro]

What Bobby said with circle hooks.

How you set the hook varies quite a bit on what line, hook size, wire diameter of the hook, hook style and action of the rod.

Keep experimenting and you will find something that works for you.

There is no right or wrong way.

[stealth3350]

yup using circle hooks.. the 2 misses i had seems like it is fairly common.. i just thought i was doing something wrong.. thanks

[wastewaterguru]

I still can't figure it out!!!!!!!

[pushbutton]

when i first started fishing for cats i also had the same question....it is possible those "missed sets" are just small fish messing with the bait. a larger cat is often going to take the bait and run, making the set easier almost even hooking themselves. just keep trying and you will figure it out!

[DTro]

....it is possible those "missed sets" are just small fish messing with the bait.

I would go as far as saying probable.

[bobbymalone]

Don't give up on the circles yet.

Here is what I do, but like DTRO says you will have to figure it out what works for you.

1. wait for your clicker or whathaveyou to start ripping. Don't jump and grab the rod as soon as you here a click. Patience is a virtue.

2. when you are confident the fish has the bait, carefully pick your rod out of the holder or off the y stick. when you pick up the rod try to keep the rod tip in the same place. this will help to keep slack line to a minimum. frantic grabbing isn't going to help. Again patience is a virtue.

3. this is the key step. tighten up the drag (or use your thumb if you have baitcaster) while simultaneously pulling the rod back slowly to load it. It's basically the same kind of motion as a classical hook set, except it is happening in slow motion. It might take me a literal second or two to "set" the hook. As you are setting it, you will feel the rod load up and it's fish on.

If everything works correctly you should have hooked the fish right in the corner of the mouth.

I like 4/0-6/0 circles for cut bait.

[blakeb]

i would like to hug the guy that designed circle hooks, like stated by everyone else dont put a mike icconelli set in with it, a slow sweeping motion, i wouldnt even call it a hook set, once you master the circle there is no going back.

[fishdog]

I like to night fish from shore and I look for big circle hooks that bullheads cant fit in their mouth I realy like the mustead tournment demon circles they are "thin wire" very strong,shap,the hole isnt offset(no bend at the eye).

Ive perfected a foolproof way to use circle hooks (And havent missed any fish. every time its hooked in the corner of their mouth).

I use a 7' med-heavy action spinning combo, 30lb power pro line, a very sturdy pole holder made of round tubing,I pound the pole holer into the riverbank. my rod handle is held up to reel and is nearly at a 90 degree.

I let the Fish take it (bail closed and drag set) I have seen my rod bend nearly in half my rod tip almost goes into the river ,

you can tell by the tight line and the constant bend in your rod , if you wait to reel in, you will see that cat make another "run" bending your rod again. NOW you can tell the fish is hooked, just reel him in. DONT jerk the rod or you may unhook the fish,I just horse the fish in as quick as i can so he has a better chace to survie

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I had terrible luck using circle hooks with live bait for Flatheads back in the day that I switched to big octopus hooks and I will never go back. Clicker + octopus works nearly every time for Flatheads, for me.

Circle hooks work great for me when targeting Channel Cats or Carp. I typically still use a clicker, but instead of setting the hook I just close the bail and lift the rod (not hard) and reel up fast at the same time.

[icehousebob]

When using circle hooks and cut bait, be sure not to fill the inside curve of the hook with the bait. Just have it hooked by a corner. I had trouble with setting the hook too hard and my solution is to tuck my rod into the gap between the seat of my canvas chair and the armrest. With your bait lying in the current, sip your beer until the line tightens and the rod tries to pull your chair into the river. Finish your beer, crush the can, and then pick up the rod and start reeling. Works for me.

[nsnutter]

Icehouse, I love that idea. Not because it sounds like it would work, even though I'm sure it does, but because its the first suggestion involving beer!

[mainbutter]

Here's what I do with circle hooks:

I leave my reel on full fighting drag, with respect to my line's breaking strength, and have a good strong rod holder.

I find a majority of fish eat, turn, and swim away, and hook themselves before I even get my hands on the rod.

I never use any rod movement to "set" a circle hook, the most I ever do is reel up tight.

[Scott K]

Here is what I do with circle hooks,

I open my tackle box, look at them in the drawer, and say, I should give them to somebody that likes circle hooks.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Hahaha that's great 4WE...that's pretty much how I feel about them too.

[gooseby10ga]

I personally have found the only way I will use a circle hook is with mono line, the bail closed and the rod at about 45 to 60 degrees to the water. I think that circle hooks have to be left alone to do their job properly and most of us can not stand waiting and waiting and waiting until the fish hooks itself. That being said if am targeting Flats with live bait I will never be using a circle I have had zero nadda for luck that way. Just my 2 cents.

Oh and when using the normal 'J' hook and you have a run and you decide it is time to set the hook, give it the onion I mean real down and give it the ONION!

[Shack]

Do not get me wrong, I love mono and circle hooks, but the last couple years my go to is braid when using 4-7/0 gama octi circles. It also has #65 Power Pro on it.

I put two & two together. I have a smaller approximately 7' heavy-white rod, with a Penn 9 on it. Back a couple years ago I had some left over Hi-Vis 65# Power Pro, this rod, & the Penn. I figure no harm in having an extra flat setup ready to go. At this time I was fishing with a couple spinner setup for Miss. North channels that had 25/30lb Berk. Big Game on them. Some of the spots we fish during the summer months are a guaranteed snag if you do not let the fish pick up the bait or you have to reel in. For some reason I brought this combo along and have fallen in love with it. Unless it is bound up pretty good, hook, weight, swivels, and all come back in. A far as I can remember I have only fished cut on it. I very rarely loose any fish that commits to chowing down and sticks with it, from point of hook-set and all the way into shore/boat. With mono I have noticed a "nervous/panic" point when the fish was getting close to shore or the boat. That's when mono stretch (IMO) can be a negative.

Most times, even with your back turned, you can sense/feel when a channel slams it. From shore, pick it up, give it some tip, slowly pull back & apply pressure, and start reeling in, while giving firm tugs to embed the hook. Most times from shore the pressure against the line from the current is enough to stick the hook, but a tug(s) IMO is needed. I good old greazy yank will tilt the circle and (IMO) leverage it on out of the mouth.

I have started to fish (again) live large baits with 10/0 Gama Octi circles. The one in my avatar was caught on one. That is a whole nother topic though.

I just need to find a power handle for that Penn 9. Funny how the power handle makes all the difference.