Fly Fishing For Bass: Setting The Hook

[Tim Smith]

I have been adding to my fly fishing skills over the past couple of years and have finally gotten around to using the 6 wt. to try for bass.

The few times I've used a fly rod in the past, I've caught a few bass here and there, but they were always relatively small. This weekend I got into some larger fish but lost them on the hook set. There was a nice, solid "thunk" but they got off immediately. I'm pretty sure that was because the flexible nature of the fly rod I didn't drive in the hook far enough.

With spinning gear I use a relatively stiff rod and I'm not shy about hook sets.

What can I do to be sure I get the hook home with the more flexible fly rod? I was using a popper with a sharp, brand new hook. The tippet was pretty thick (not sure what size or how stretchable). I'm not sure I see an immediate solution.

Multiple hook sets?

[Flysmallie]

Pull up fast with your rod hand and down fast with your line hand. Don't be a sissy about it, they have tough mouths. If that doesn't work then get a stiffer rod.

Or maybe you weren't giving them enough time on the popper. Setting it too quickly can be just as bad.

[Ozark Sweetwater]

Strip set, strip set, strip set! I doubt it's rod related, unless you are using an old noodle like fiberglass or bamboo.

[Lancer09]

Trigg has the right of it.

[ozark trout fisher]

If you aren't already, make sure to hesitate a brief, fraction of a second before you set up. Oftentimes fish take the fly on the way back down and you'll miss them if you set right away.

[Guest]

Strip set is the key.

[Greasy B]

Start with the rod tip low, right at water level. Your line should be as straight as possible. In other words zero slack.

[jdmidwest]

Good sharp hooks. Buy a hook sharpener.

What type of fly? You will need a hook with a wider gape if you are targeting bass specifically. 6 wt rod should be more than plenty, I never go above a 5 wt unless I need more casting distance or tossing bigger bugs. I use the same rods for bass in ponds and streams as I do trout. But the hooks are wider gap.

[stlfisher]

I was fly fishing for bass night. I managed 5 and missed 3 other strikes. The only difference I noticed is the amount of material on my fly appeared to get in the way of the hook set. So I trimmed it out a bit and it seemed to help. I miss more on the fly on average though...I think it is harder to maintain constant contact with your fly unless you strip like mad and I think it gives the fish a second to spit out the fly before you can react. Also, even large flies are relatively small/streamlined in the water (compared to bass baits), and we don't have treble hooks. I think a bass, especially a largemouth has an easier time spitting these baits out before they get hooked.

[marcusearlt]

It's all about the strip set. Theres already in my opinion a lot a stretch in floating fly line, after all it does have a mono core, so the rod tip needs to pointed at the fly with as little slack as possible. I use the rod to steer fish around but not to set the hook. When nymphing for trout I raise the rod tip and when stripping any fly I do a strip set. It was really tough for me to develope that as a reflex but eventually it happened. Also try bending your hook out just a little so the point is more prone to grab on and stick in.