Setting the hook using a jig

[Mo'nBack]

Rusty; I have for years tried to break my pole when I set the hook. I miss very very few fish. I actually did break 2 poles (of 2 popular brands setting hooks, neither one being BnM). You are not going to tear their mouths out. Everyone that fishing with me comments on hearing my line sing when I set the hook. None of this is opinion, simple facts that work, whether it's a light bite or a hammer strike.

[jigsbydirk]

I'm with you Lip Ripper, Set It HARD!!! If it is a good fish you won't hurt anything.

[Seymore]

I may do this a little differently than some, but when I feel that tick or thump, however you want to describe it, I take just enough time to reel down a turn and a half or so, and then I give a good, crisp, hard flick of the wrist. I have strong forearms from playing baseball alot, but I've never had a problem with pulling a jig through a crappie's lips. In fact, I hook a lot of fish in the hard palate in the top of their mouth. I think that's due to that little pause that I give before I set the hook. I firmly believe that alot of fish will hold that little jig in their mouth for longer than a lot of folks give 'em credit for.

[EDDY CREEK BANDIT]

Hello Matt!
Tick, Reel a little harder. No jerk no fuss. I lose very few. After I load the rod I just enjoy the tug. THE BANDIT

[jlaughlin72]

I am with Mo'n Back, try to tear their head off. Those of you that fish with jigs, should have noticed, the way the jig hangs, the hook is up and when they hit it, the hook sticks them in the palet 9 out of 10 times. So in my oppinion, and what works for me is to don't hesitate and jerk the rod like you just got shocked.

[catchin30]

Forget all that reeling stuff. Use a 10 ft jig pole and tight line. When you feel or see that line move, set the hook as hard as possible. 98% will be hooked in the roof of the mouth and it is not coming out.
Once the hook is set, pull line with the other free hand and that way you do not loose the depth you were fishing. Depth is the key to catching crappie.
Exception: Sometimes you can just barely lift the pole and it feels heavy. When you feel that then see above.

[sparky]

Jerk and make their eye balls bleed.

[NIMROD]

What you need to remember is most wire Crappie hooks are real thin and sharp. It takes little pressure to impale the fish. I fish a full poie length of line most times on my 12' jig pole with 4lb test. If I set it hard the line can break. Crappie not really gitting hard will get lip hooked and can rip a hole at hook set. Then any slack and the hook falls free. I'm still having problem setting the hookto hard.:rolleyes: Guess too many years Bass fishing.:rolleyes: I've taken some Bass fishing friends who rip their heads off. I tell them to ease up or they will just pull up a set of lips.:D

[Crappie Reaper]

Or, after you get the fish in...then flick a booger on the other person in the boat with you. Or, if you want to practice setting the hook on a fish, sit in your living room and just flick boogers...your wife should understand. Tell her you are practicing crappie fishing. She should understand!

This one made me blow coffee! Guess that's not as bad as "the farmer blow" while clearing a nostril. Glad I don't have a wife anymore, she would never be able to get past that one.

[CrappiePappy]

I like using 1/32 jigs with a #4 hook on it. This year I have been missing some good fish. I don't know if it is the color I'm using and they are short hitting it. Anyhow, when you are fishing a jig lets say 14 inches from the tip, how do you set the hook after the bite? I don't really jerk the pole a certain way to try to set the hook but, I kinda let the fish hook himself. Is that a proper way?

How do yall do it?

I'll assume you're using a "long pole", and vertical jigging, from your description. I don't use this particular method, but .......

in the case where I have very little line out, and I'm still retrieving and get a bite .... generally I just set the hook and lift the fish out of the water, all at the same time & with one motion.

in the case where I'm "Vertical Casting" ... I set the hook normally, which is to say "fast", not "hard".

I'm usually quite aware of what rod I have in hand .... length, action, and about how much bend/give I can put in it, before I'm liable to over stretch my line (and break it, from excess pounds pressure vs the line's breaking strength). That's why I say I set the hook "fast", rather than hard ... the "jerk" is with speed, but limited in distance traveled (taking into consideration the length/action of the rod being used). I'm setting the hook "fast, but under control" ... as it were.

I've got all my casting rods, pre-tested, for drag slippage under hookset conditions ... done at home, before they ever see the start of the season. I know I can reasonably assume that setting the hook, beyond the line's test strength, will cause the drag to slip ... insuring that the hook will still most likely penetrate the fish's upper palate, and the line/rod won't be subject to undue stress (and break).

.......... cp