Swimbait advice

Hmm… did not see the word ‘drag’ written in your explanation. I’m sure your rod, reel, hooks, line are not the problem. But drag is critical seeking size, every head turn is (mass x muscle) and they quite often slap at it to stun it so they can come back to line it up. Assume that’s the case until you actually get a look at the sink, if it’s good then do it, otherwise remain patient. If it wants to run let it run, with relative ease is the key, near cover being the exception. Some argue winch it in no matter what, I stand opposite this assessment.

@one-love 

Thanks for your reply, I didn't mention drag because honestly, it wasn't even a consideration.  Honestly, I think it was user error but I can't figure exactly what I didn't do.  I didn't feel the fish, I  was working a weighted G i swimbait and saw a swirl, then felt the weight of the fish.  It's possible I reacted to seeing the swirl NOT feeling the weight of the fish.  I was checking the hooks today while resharpening but only one wasn't sharp but it wasn't dull.

As I was doing this reply, it reminded me of something that occured to me once before but with a hollow bodied frog, fish hits/swirld, hooked for a second then spits the bait.  Is it possible I set the hook too soon?

Interesting… hollow body isn’t treble though. Hollow is best to wait until the fish turns, then set, as you describe. Though in this case, since you were unconvinced of moving it port side, the fish clearly had it. But something jumps at me here, in my experience I don’t want to set the hook with trebles. Lean into and reel, yes, but never a slack line set. Trebles stick, they don’t sink like singles. I suspect if you truly set it after feeling mass you inadvertently loosened those stuck points. Might have only been one stuck, which isn’t uncommon. To me, especially those larger beasts, have sufficient mass to stick themselves. When your rod loaded, that right there was the set. Fishing trebles the last thing to do is release line tension. Just lean and reel. Even the dinks. The harder they pull, up to a point hence drag setting, the better they’re stuck. I certainly don’t want to deliver bad news, though I suspect we might have found the culprit lol. But where there is one, there is another. You’ll get it next time.

I need to catch up on this thread.

Posted by: @one-love

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Hmm… did not see the word ‘drag’ written in your explanation. I’m sure your rod, reel, hooks, line are not the problem. But drag is critical seeking size, every head turn is (mass x muscle) and they quite often slap at it to stun it so they can come back to line it up. Assume that’s the case until you actually get a look at the sink, if it’s good then do it, otherwise remain patient. If it wants to run let it run, with relative ease is the key, near cover being the exception. Some argue winch it in no matter what, I stand opposite this assessment.

I’m with you on playing the fish in certain scenarios and drag is ABSOLUTELY crucial when doing so, but there are times I’m not f@ckin around and will waterski that fish back to the boat. Place and time, though…right? 

@blitzdr…control what you can in terms of terminal tackle/gear, etc, but yes…it’s very possible you were overly excited and leaned into it too soon. Not to mention, the fish could’ve been at a non-optimal angle when it struck your bait, making for a subpar hook set. Lots of variables that could’ve caused the lost fish, though.

I’ve had the same thing happen to me while frog fishing. Fish will swirl on the frog or even just slurp it down gently and I’ve overreacted/reacted too soon, not allowing the fish load up on the lure, making for a failed hook set. Swimbait bites can/will be funky, light, awkward, etc…sometimes it feels like a bluegill peck and others…they’ll freight train it and run. Regardless, unless you watch the eat and can see the bait being engulfed…I prefer to wait on that weight…then swing on em. 

Keep grinding, brother. 💪🏻

I'd made some plans to hit the water last Friday but caught a bug and was under the weather for a day but I made some adjustments.

1.  I gave some thought to the possibility it wasn't something I didn't do but something a modification I made to the bait.  I added one of them grenade clip on sinkers to get the Gi down a little bit.  It could have prevented a solid hookset by interfering with the hook point and the only dull hook point was a center tine.  Possible?  Yes.  Likely?  Ehh.  I'll be using suspend strips from now on.

2.  Changed rods from the EG Wild Shooter to the JDM Daiwa Steez Harrier.  Different taper and action.

3.  Changed hooks from Gammy to Ichikawa light wire.  If that doesn't help, I'll go back to Ryugi.

As an aside, I hooked into a double digit LMB in this area of the lake several years ago.  Don't know if this one will go 10+ just hope it stuck around for me to find out!

The Saga Continues ...

@blitzdr Sounds like you’re on top of things.

only thing that stands out…Harrier might be a tad bit on the fast side (taper-wise) for these duties, so I’d really get my drag dialed in to compensate. Just my 2 cents. 

@blitzdr very interesting. I always wondered about those clip-on sinkers, assuming the same as you suggest. I chucked them once or twice but gave up quick, did not care for how they manipulated the bait more than anything. They could clearly be a potential counterweight to foil hookset. Love your move to strips, I've used lots here or there, and dots for that matter. I've loaded as many as 5 dots on a jerkbait with success, each slightly offset overlapping directly on top the bill worked like a champ. Sort of turned them into a ramp, caught plenty that way. But strips, take care points don't touch during movement if placed on bottom. They can snag up. I'm sure you're aware already, but just in case. Though I never cared for the hook shank way if that's what you're thinking, caused dead movement to my eye but I could be wrong. Yup, very interesting.

@rise great catch. I don't know the sticks mentioned, just assumed taper would be appropriate. Yup, roughly mod/fast for me almost all the time outside light single point or deep jigging. I've never understood the infatuation with 'fast' it's just a designation. But what a difference it makes with trebled moving baits. In a not good way. Extra-Fast is that much worse. Fortunately, the 16lb nylon stated is probably about the safest option here, for real, something has to give, rod, line, our arms, even the fish maybe but good luck with that, to assist the drag. Yup, great catch.

Well, second time I tried, second time I'm giving it up.  My lake has a healthy population of solid sized fish BUT a few things are making me pass on it again:

1.  Other baits have delivered some nice time LMB, my PB is 8 lbs 8 oz on a DoLive Stick, my next best was 8 lbs on an Blitz DR.  The biggest that got to the gunnel but not over it was on a Lucky Craft Skt MR.

2.  Minimal time to pursue the fish in a serious way.

3.  Financial resource limitation.  I don't mind spending money but capitol inverstment to return is low.

Gave it the old college try.  Thanks for your input and huzzahs!

@blitzdr

Ohhhh, I’m loving this evolution. You’re right where everybody has been. I admire your vision, your clarity, making sense, but the hunt never ends. Could be a slump, a few skunks, sleepless night, odd dream, seeing someone land a beauty, sheer curiosity, something, always something. Like playing that high roller slot machine, never pays off, waste of money, frustrating. But if we’re in that casino, eventually we drop coin on that bastard.

UPDATE:

I THOUGHT the Steez A TW HLC was sold.  Things happen and you can't blame people when they get jammed up, c'est la vie.  I thought one of the contributing factors to the lost fish was a quick change sinker, I ordered up tungsten tape.  The EG Wild Shooter is a swimbait action rod.  Have the RAID Gi and Gan Craft 128 ...

Ever Forward!