Hookup ratio for Flatheads

[DTro]

Each year is a new experiment for me, and the more you experiment, the more you learn I figure. Some experiments go well and some go horribly wrong. But the only way to learn is to have some bad stuff happen too.

After observing some people set the hook hard and some barely setting it, I’ve noticed that less seems more when using braided line. I’ve been all over the place with this one sometimes to the point of actually breaking my line on a running fish because I set the hook so hard.

So this year, I’ve backed WAY off...almost to the point of not even setting it. Just more of a lift and pull. This is with an Octupus J Hook

Results so far this year?

3 missed fish in about 20 fish caught (85%) with one of those 3 having the hook turn completely back into the bait.

So far so good.

If you are setting the hook hard and coming back baitless more times than not, I’d suggest backing off a bit and see what happens.

[Scott K]

I dont set the hook hard either.

[bobbymalone]

I have a bad habit of giving it mono hookset when using a no stretch line like braid. assuming there is no slack in your line, up to 30% of the movement can be absorbed by stretch when using mono. With braid, if your rod tip moves a foot, that hook is also moving a foot.

i was missing a bunch of hooksets jigging for lakers with braid, until i switched to a much lighter hookset. I think I was just ripping it out of there mouths with an aggressive hookset.

I fish circle hooks about 99.99% of the time when catting and I don't have much of a problem with hooking them. I don't usually fish with barely legal bullheads though.

[wooduck26]

If you are setting the hook hard and coming back baitless more times than not, I’d suggest backing off a bit and see what happens.

Would you hold true to that statment of you were ..... 1. Hooking the bullheads through the back, 2 Using an 8ft rod? To me it seems effortless to do a hookset and lose your bait with that much leverage.......I do it everytime at the end of he night to remove my bait.

[aanderud]

Would you hold true to that statment of you were ..... 1. Hooking the bullheads through the back, 2 Using an 8ft rod? To me it seems effortless to do a hookset and lose your bait with that much leverage.......I do it everytime at the end of he night to remove my bait.

Umm....I think he means if you're coming back baitless AND fishless more often than not, might be time to turn it down -- you might have an outcome like his where he noticed he's catching more fish with the lighter hookset.

[DTro]

Well, yeah I'll pop it off at the end of the night too.

What I mean is that it's a 1:1 ratio with no stretch line. I'm finding that all it takes is a sharp hook and a little pressure on the rod (while the fish is moving away) and the fish gets hooked.

[CarpinMNRiver]

I have had pretty good success with not setting the hook very hard with gama octo hooks and braided line. I have a 9 ft rod on my flat rod and a 7 footer for channels. I just need to work on getting more bites to test it out more.

[Whisker Warrior]

I have missed a good fish this year with Pete where i set the hook so hard i darn near fell out of the boat when it came unbuttoned! The other night i went way lighter to where my fishing buddy asked if i even set the hook...Fish was definitely hooked and wasnt gonna come off..going to lean on lighter hook sets from now on....

[Gordie]

The last couple years I have used the sweep method and its worked great

I have set the hook hard with the braid and its so fast it would pull out their mouths also I noticed that when I tied a mono leader the line would break at the knots when I would set the hook hard so I just went to a all braid set up as well.

I also use the J stlye hooks

Like Dtro said you learn from mistakes

[Shack]

Just start some subtle reeling is what I mentally default to now. Actually thanks to Dtro and Brian A I had started to look into and keep record of my hookup ratio and failed hookups back in 2008. It takes some dedication to not give a hard hookset when this seems to be the obvious way, but like Dtro said you need failure to measure success and I had enough failure going on at the time so I was willing.

Key aspects thanks to Dtro and Brian while geekin' fish related stats and data in the boat:

1) The goal is to come up baitless after any positive or failed hook-up with a flat. The key to the whole action under the water, within a split second of opportunity, is after a clicker run and thump, thump, thump the hook is ripped out of the live bait being used and catches anything on its way out. This is where hook-set gets tricky. Too hard and the hook comes out without hook or it hooks up and a weak point in your gear is exposed due to force. To soft pulls the hook and live bait out together and your chances are greatly reduced with hook embedment.

2) Unless perfect, you will never be satisfied with your hookup ratio for Flatheads. Always fighting the failed hookups while chasing perfection as you dig way too deep into this. It is just good info to be used learning how and where to improve.

The most logical answer for me was exactly to do what Darren has stated. Scale the hookset process back to allow you the optimum chance (window of milliseconds) for a nice totally exposed hook to catch anything, but keeping in mind that scaling back too far could lead into hook ingestion and this is a place or occurrence that no one wants to be in to just get a fish in the boat or on shore. Harm or death, plus blood all over is not my idea of a successful landing with any sized fish. Blood in video and pictures does not go over well anyways and you know 90% of landing a fish comes from the post sharing of media form the event.

[rugbymn]

Has anyone found which hook placement in the minnow has the best hookup ratio?

I'm new to this, but I'd like to do a lot more of it. I've caught channels by accident before, but never flats. I tried going for flats once and had a few bites but no hookups and was wondering if I was hooking the minnow wrong.

[rushing]

You're "hookup" ratio also improved when you started fishin down by black dog.

[CarpinMNRiver]

You're "hookup" ratio also improved when you started fishin down by black dog.

HAHA

[hanson]

I think there is 1 important key when thinking about setting the hook into a flathead, or when considering a hookup ratio...

That is you have to know if there is a fish on the other end of your line or not. Its that simple.

Not every single time your clicker goes off means there is a fish there. Not every single time you have a "run" means there is a fish there. Not every single time you think there is a fish there is it a flathead... other fish eat live bait in the river and are harder to hook.

I hate to make a walleye reference here but live bait fishing for flatheads is absolutely no different than "rigging" for walleyes. The rigging is identical... live bait, hook, leader, swivel, slip weight. The size, test, and weight of the components are vastly different but the method is the same. Fish eats bait, takes (or feed them) line, crank down on them, "feel" the fish, set the hook.

When I really started to figure out the "run" and hookset on a flathead, its when I started thumbing the spool when he was running. When you start to slow the line down, you'll feel the fish. The rod will bend down and it will thump. You'll feel their weight on the other end of the line. At that point, just lean into them good or what I'd call a slow, firm sweep.

Not all bites are created equal though. Some fish thump and then move at the boat, or sideways, or into a snag. Reel up until you feel the weight, which may feel like you snagged bottom, and then lean into it. Sometimes it is the bottom. Sometimes I've had the bottom become a fish after 5 seconds of thinking your snagged.

When talking about hooksets and gear, you need to consider the type of line you are using and the type of rod you are using. Another walleye reference but when you troll with mono line, you want a stiff rod. The mono has the stretch, you don't want the rod to have the give. When trolling with superline which has no stretch, you want a soft rod with lots of give. The rod is the shock absorber in that system. Think about your flathead rig the same way. If you got a broomstick for a rod, don't set the hook hard or make sure you have a shock leader as a part of your system. If you are using a no stretch superline, make sure you don't set the hook hard unless you have a soft forgiving rod.

Biggest mistake to make is not setting the hook when you think you should. No shame in missing on a fish you think might be a fish. If something seams weird, pay attention to it. Alot of bites are those weird ones so you have to pay attention.

Understanding whether or not you have a bite and understanding how your choice of equipment acts will up your confidence when setting the hook. No doubt about it.

[harvey lee]

Great read Chris.