I lost multiple fish yesterday on "rising bites"??? What am I doing wrong?

[Cajuntec]

It's more difficult to get a good hook set when fishing a float. You have a slack line to start with, and the float will drag across the surface as the line straightens out. A rod on the longer side will help for sure.

My longest is a 7”, but it’s an UL. I understand what you are saying about the float, but I’m wondering if the slip bobber does it less, as the float doesn’t move as much from that position once the line is going the other way through it on a retrieve.
All the best,
Glenn

[Cajuntec]

7 footer and stiff and set it like ya mean it , will cure it ….like you said

I’m planning on setting the hook on future trips. Got the 7’, but it’s not that action.
All the best,
Glenn

[CrappiePappy]

My longest is a 7”, but it’s an UL. I understand what you are saying about the float, but I’m wondering if the slip bobber does it less, as the float doesn’t move as much from that position once the line is going the other way through it on a retrieve.
All the best,
Glenn

Yeah, a clip on float will move some on hookset and the slip float will (may) move less, but in either case it's gonna dampen the power of the hookset ... like I said before : with depth of the bait or distance of the float.

Normally speaking, when one gets a "lift bite" the fish has sucked the bait in & their forward motion upon striking carries them forward, which causes the line to go slack & the float to tip over (unless there's weight on the line or float). In those cases it's especially important to take up as much slack as possible (either by reeling or with a long rod) before setting the hook, and also to set the hook with more power than you would if the jig and/or float were close to you. And the more powerful hookset is even more important when using a lite action rod, because you aren't getting much penetration power until you load the rod up some (against the resistance of the fish).

You can do one of two things that might also help you get the fish stuck better: one is to remember to put your finger on the spool when setting the hook (to stop the lite drag until playing the fish in) -- and the other is to tighten that drag down just enough that setting the hook on a snag, instead of a fish, will pull drag & not snap the line or rod in the process.