Am I using a rod that is too stiff for a hard hookset? Bass fishing mainly, using artificial worms “Texas rigged”
Back story, over the years of me fishing, I have developed a preference for a heavy action stiff rod. I have seen or experienced “cheap” flimsy rods that don’t allow for a good hookset and therefore missing a few fish that otherwise would have been caught. Here recently, I have noticed that I miss more fish that to me I should have gotten a good hookset. A good friend of mine used to give me hell about not setting the hook hard enough and I have ended up teaching myself to try to rip their lips off when setting the hook. A couple weeks ago I got on a good fish and had two chances to get it and both times I yanked the bait back to the boat with no fish. The second chance I know the fish had the bait good.
I’m just wondering if my aggressive hookset paired with 7’ heavy action stiff rod is causing me to get the bait out of the fishes mouth before it can turn and grab any meat. Would a slightly looser rod actually give some coushion to the bait and actually result in a higher percentage of catches?
What are some of yalls preferences of rod stiffness and why? I have buddies that fish with softer rods and don’t seem to have the issue of setting the hook, I’m starting to think my preference may need some tweaking... any ideas?
Back story, over the years of me fishing, I have developed a preference for a heavy action stiff rod. I have seen or experienced “cheap” flimsy rods that don’t allow for a good hookset and therefore missing a few fish that otherwise would have been caught. Here recently, I have noticed that I miss more fish that to me I should have gotten a good hookset. A good friend of mine used to give me hell about not setting the hook hard enough and I have ended up teaching myself to try to rip their lips off when setting the hook. A couple weeks ago I got on a good fish and had two chances to get it and both times I yanked the bait back to the boat with no fish. The second chance I know the fish had the bait good.
I’m just wondering if my aggressive hookset paired with 7’ heavy action stiff rod is causing me to get the bait out of the fishes mouth before it can turn and grab any meat. Would a slightly looser rod actually give some coushion to the bait and actually result in a higher percentage of catches?
What are some of yalls preferences of rod stiffness and why? I have buddies that fish with softer rods and don’t seem to have the issue of setting the hook, I’m starting to think my preference may need some tweaking... any ideas?
Comment