Hook setting

Hey all I just got off the water at the LAB and couldn't be more frustrated (or about as frustrated as one could be after fishing).  I ended up with a big skunk and had the biggest issue with hook set, or maybe something else so I want some insight and I have a long rant so bear with me.  Here's the situation...

I typically drop shot the berkley ghost shrimp on a pretty large offset worm hook so that the hook barb is towards the back of my bait.  I usually do really well but nothing of much size so I figured that maybe cuz the hook is so visible it is deterring the larger fish.  So tonight I was drop shotting a berkley gulp ghost shrimp (typical) on a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] owner mosquito hook and was nose hooking the bait like I would a roboworm for freshwater bass.  Couple ticks and small bites here and there but not much and no fish landed.  Eventually realized that my bait appeared to be swimming the wrong way since shrimp swim backward so I tail hooked my shrimp and kept going.  This was working really well I was getting hit almost every cast but this is where the frsutration began.  I would be dragging my drop shot along the bottom and getting a couple consistent ticks and then finally a big tug so I'd set the hook but nothing there.  After this happened about 3 times I figured maybe I need to be more patient and let the fish eat the bait a little deeper to get to the hook.  I cast out and about halfway back my bait gets hit with two quick, heavy tugs so I lower my rod to give slack and can see my line in the water moving so clearly the fish has my bait in its mouth.  Quick hook set and nothing there. At this point I figure that the fish are biting the "head" of my my bait where the hook isn't and not eating it all the way to get to the tail.  I switch baits to a curly tail grub for drop shot (I really like drop shot since I'm used to freshwater bass fishing my whole life) and the same damn thing keeps happening I will get hit so hard only to come up with nothing on the hook set.  I ended the night with probably 10 solid hits but nothing to show for (typically fish story).

Now my question is does anybody have advice on what to do about this?  I'm thinking I somehow need to get the hook all the way to the back of the bait (away from my line) like I normally do with my worm hooks because when I use those hooks I have no problem with hook setting.  Any and all input is appreciated thanks!

The sames been happening to me.
Trailer hook??

I was wondering if there is a way to do a trailer hook drop shotting, may have to do some research...

zoom

When I fish the salt water I am typically on a boat.

However, I was shown a 3 inch or so perfection loop with a long tag end for the weight. This was deadly for Sand bass and Calicos with live bait. The hook could just flail along behind the line.

I hope this helps.

I agree this often happens when dropshotting the bay. I prefer to use two rods and keep the dropshot in the rod holder. The only ones that stick usually have to hook themselves. Normally this would be frustrating but since I'm concentrating on fishing with the other rod I don't get as frustrated.

david886720 wrote:I agree this often happens when dropshotting the bay.  I prefer to use two rods and keep the dropshot in the rod holder.  The only ones that stick usually have to hook themselves.  Normally this would be frustrating but since I'm concentrating on fishing with the other rod I don't get as frustrated.

I agree

Ive had those days D-storm where your getting short bit UGH...alot of the times i get this its because of anxiousness but yeah also at times, u give it some time like you mentioned and set the hook for nothing so i do feel your pain..... as for hooks im a big EWG hook guy..i never use anything else for drop shotting...i only change in size depending on the bite...smaller vs bigger presentation...i usally go 4/0..i was doing 5/0 but it was to big....umm dont know if that helped...sorry...id say stick to the EWG...worm hook....

Thanks for the advice everybody and comments seems like everybody has experienced a little frsutration like that on the water. Thanks for the recommendations too Jerdon and Tony I think I'm gonna try the EWG hooks just smaller sizes, haven't thought of doing that yet for some reason.

dont know if you throw the fluke on the drop shot...DEADLY! id say 80% of my catches are drop shotting a fluke! good luck bro! ill have to join you one of these days!

Instead of setting the hook right away, try winding fast and load the rod first then set the hook. That technique really helped my hook up ratio.

also if you have not been fishing as much or have caught numerous fish on that same hook make sure you are sharpening them, one thought .

Also you could try sticking the hook straight through a plastic and just tipping it kind of like we would do with a fat senko , still weedless , but would allow the hook to give you more of a chance for a hook up due to it already being through the thicker plastics.

WES

kobra wrote:Instead of setting the hook right away, try winding fast and load the rod first then set the hook. That technique really helped my hook up ratio.

I agree.

MOST IMPORTANT .... TAKE UP ANY SLACK!

I also like to let my rod do the work; with the single hook, and let it load up. Line and hook should slide to corner of the fish's mouth for the set.

I like to treat all strikes like Hali's .... I let them take it down to the bottom and give them enough time to chew on it; that is ... if they haven't loaded up the rod yet, before setting the hook.

If they only have the swimmies tail section in their mouth's ... you can set until you are blue in the face .... for the same nada results.
You just need to entice them to take the entire bait.

Simple .... right!!!    lol

I'm still working on it ... because I haven't figured it out yet.   Ha ha ha! I just keep fishing until I do!

SP Dan     <"))><

I use Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp L702 Circle Hooks for drop shot fishing while in a float tube. I can just leave the rod in the rod holder (45 degree angle for trolling), and the fish set the hook themselves when they take the bait and swim away with it. This might really help you with your hook setting problem. When a fish hits your bait, let them have it for a second or two, then just start reeling them in - no need to set the hook. The fish will hook themselves in the corner of their mouth. These hooks are amazing. Really great for catch and release because there are almost no swallowed hooks, no gut-hooked fish.