Salmon Hook Set Question?!?

[limpinglogan]

I recently started fishing the Grand River because it is close to my house. I started in August by catching some nice bass in holes and around stumps...two weeks ago while fishing with Rapalas I hooked into three Salmon but could not land them. I am very new to River/Salmon fishing and since then I am 0-6 on Salmon while fishing with Rapalas.

I am in need of some advice...it seems that they like a rapala that dives 3-6 ft deep...they are hitting it hard but I can not get a good hook set and lose them after a few seconds or a minute or two...(I got two up to shore only to have them shake me off)

I have noticed I have trained my self NOT to set the hook hard in the river because 90% of the time it is a tree or stump...maybe this is my problem but I cant afford to set the hook on every bump I feel down there especially when I have a six dollar rapala on the line...I already lose enough lures as it is.

Has any one else experienced this? Is it just a matter of setting the hook harder? A lure with bigger hooks? They have hard boney jaws don't they? Is that what I am struggling with getting a hook set in those bony jaws?

Any advice would be appreciated because I am h3ll bent on getting one of these things but I am new to this and just can't seem to land them.

-Logan

[Fishndude]

Hit em hard, then hit em hard again. They have tough mouths, and strong jaws. I have fought Kings for several minutes, only to have them let go of the lure they had clamped in their jaws, because I hadn't set the hook properly. Once you set the hook into a King right, it is rare for them to shake the hook loose.

[ausable_steelhead]

How loose is your drag on the set? I run a tight drag until I hit one, then I'll give it a couple clicks loose if needed.

[deadbait]

Maybe you should try differint hooks on your cranks or make sure they are sharp. I dont notice myself setting the hook any harder when a king takes a crank. Usually they will hit it with some aggression and end up having a mouthfull of trebles. Just my experience, but I would make sure you are using quality, super sharp hooks and this should help your landing percentage.

[Mitch]

I would first ask about your tackle used. What kind of rod are you using? This is not the place for a long noodle rod, you want something stout that you can bear down on them right from the start. Next question would be line... If you're using a stout rod you can run some stout line. The fish you're getting those aggression strikes out of are not going to be line shy. I recommend Power Pro. I used to run a short section of mono or flouro as a lead but don't bother with it anymore.

As far as getting hung up, well, that's how the game is played. Most places if you're not casting to wood, you're not getting bit. If you're not willing to part with $7 lures invest in a $25 plug retriever, it will pay for itself over and over.

Good luck,

Mitch

[limpinglogan]

I am using short stout spinning gear with only 12lb test so I have my drag set so that they can take line out pretty easy... so they don't snap my tackle in half....maybie I need to crank my drag up to increase that hook set.

[Frogpoopin]

I am using short stout spinning gear with only 12lb test so I have my drag set so that they can take line out pretty easy... so they don't snap my tackle in half....maybie I need to crank my drag up to increase that hook set.


yep nuff said

[Fishndude]

Braided lines have virtually no stretch, while monofilament stretches a LOT. With mono you can whale on a hookset. You can with braid, too; but if the fish grabs and goes, you can also break them off in an instant with a strong set. It is a chance you take. Not setting the hook hard is taking a bigger risk, IMO.

[limpinglogan]

I think I will switch to a little longer pole and 12lb braid this weekend. I will check that my hooks are sharp and make sure my drag is good...I will get one this weekend!

[mechanical head]

forget the 12lb, 30lb Power Pro stick'em hard.........

[Fishndude]

forget the 12lb, 30lb Power Pro stick'em hard.........

:yeahthat: x 2. At least 20lb. Heavy enough so you almost cannot break the mainline. A buddy of mine broke off 30# Power Pro fighting a King a couple weeks ago. With an 11 foot rod rated for 17# - 20# line.

[thousandcasts]

I consider drag an "option." The less line I let 'em take, the better.

Like everyone else said, bone up on the line and rod and lay it to them when you get a strike.

[limpinglogan]

Thanks for the advice! 20 lb braid sounds good....maybe 30lbs.

[itchn2fish]

I consider drag an "option." The less line I let 'em take, the better.

Like everyone else said, bone up on the line and rod and lay it to them when you get a strike.
Yah right on there. Their mouths are bone-hard. Set hard.

[limpinglogan]

I upgraded to a longer pole and 20lb braid...now I just have to get a bite! they have disapeared the last few days...it is raining as I type this tomarrow will be good.

On another note just before I upgraded tackle I lost a monster. Same story... bad hook set and it shook me off. It was the 7th one I had lost (I know I stink) any way I got a good look at it and it was twice the size of ther others I have had on...I am still in shock at how big this thing was...any way new tackle and rain outside = a salmon tomarrow!

-Logan

[walleyeman2006]

a sinlge hook on the back of a rap will help too.....singles go in easier.....i wouldnt go over 20lb power pro theres really no need....for me at least ive went back to 10lb mono and had 0 break offs......you might want to up size your hooks depending on what ur usuing j-11s and 13s are good bets for kings i lean to to 13s just for the bigger hooks........and make sure the hooks are sharp....flat fish and ping a tees are another good shallow option....

[wintrrun]

You have to set the hook????

interesting.......:dizzy:

[Oldgrandman]

You have to set the hook????

interesting.......:dizzy:

Call it getting them on the rod, or setting the hook, or whatever.... Salmon, especially fresh run salmon, can hit and run hard a number of ways. Sometimes running at you, sometimes not.
For me a good hit and a few head shakes means I am rearing back and reeling if I have to just to keep the line as tight as possible....
What is best is to feel the hit (usually a battle for your rod the first few seconds with a silver beast) and keep the line tight as much as possible until they are in.
With the not so fresh fish the hit can be pretty lame but you still better get on em quick if ya want to land em.... Loose a lure to a snag, you should have more to put on ;)
Just my .02 on it.

[thousandcasts]

You have to set the hook????

interesting.......:dizzy:

You make a good point there. When fishing cranks, I'd say a good hook set from me is more habit than anything.

[The Fillet Show]

I like to run 9 foot steelhead rods with a shimano sedona 4000 with 20lb braid and 15lb p-line ccx mono leader. I replace all of my hooks with excalibur rotating treble hooks and run owner hooks when fishing a single hook/skein/spawn sack. One good hard hook set with those excalibur hooks and they shouldn't come off.

[waterfoul]

When the fish hits, swing like you're Kirk Gibson in the 84 World Series!! Hit it out of the park!!!

For me it's an 8' MH Crucial with 20# Power Pro... stong enough that you can sometimes get your bait back from a snag with only a bent hook.