If you’ve ever been fishing, you already know how to set the hook. The real question is, do you know how to set the hook in the most effective way? Subtle differences in the way you go about setting the hook on a fish can actually make a huge difference in how successful you are at the end of the day. In this quick video made for boats.com, our Editor Lenny Rudow will demonstrate the difference between a common hook-set, and the most effective technique. Check it out.
You should have been able to see the major-league difference between swinging with the arm versus the wrist. What isn’t talked about in this video is how to set the hook when using circle hooks. And that is, indeed, quite a different manner. With circle hooks, speed is actually the enemy. The way circle hooks are designed they gently grab in the corner of the jaw and turn. Yank when you feel a bite, and you’ll yank that hook right out of the fish’s mouth. Instead, you need to slowly apply the pressure so that hook has plenty of time to turn and embed itself.
Here’s the drill, when using a circle hook: when you feel a take, allow the fish to eat the bait for several seconds. Then close your bail or engage the reel, and slowly crank until the line comes tight. Do not move the rod at all, but instead, let the fish and a slow turn of the crank steadily increase the pressure. When the rod’s doubled over you know the fish is securely hooked. That’s it—with circle hooks, there really isn’t ever a hook-set, such as it is.
Watch this video on circle hooks versus J hooks, to get a bit more in-depth info on each style of hook, and how they work.