Accuracy and Urgency

[dtrs5kprs]

56 minutes ago, fowlthing said:

Thanks for the post.  I have experienced the loss of fish because I jerked on a smoke grub and have finally retrained myself to increase the tempo and lean back on the rod.

My question is with the Kietech swim bait  they seem to hit it harder and if I don't jerk or if the rod is too limber I can't get the fish in.  It should be just like the smoke grub only slightly bigger...but seems the bite is different??  Any thought and wisdom...

 

Maybe I need to trust your advice and treat it just like a grub bite?

 

Thanks

 I throw the smaller swimbaits on a rod with more pop. Sometimes you can reel into them, sometimes not. It's not exactly like a grub bite. There's quite a bit more plastic on their mouths with even a small swimbait.

[dtrs5kprs]

In their mouth. Stupid phone.

[fowlthing]

That helps to know... this forum has been very helpful. I really enjoy fishing and want to get better....

[Quillback]

I'm picking up a few Keitech fish every time out.  Some will get off, especially jumpers.  But, the bite is a "load up" bite.  They aren't nipping it or playing around.  When they load up, I set that hook.  I almost always touch up the hook points with a file.  Get them just a bit sharper, seems to help.

[Fish24/7]

3 hours ago, Quillback said:

Some will get off, especially jumpers

have you tried sickle hook jig heads? I haven't lost a fish yet this year while using them.

 

[Gavin]

Nothing is more fun than casting to cruisers. Gotta make that first cast count!

[Quillback]

11 hours ago, Fish24/7 said:

have you tried sickle hook jig heads? I haven't lost a fish yet this year while using them.

 

I have not, sounds like it is something I should check out.

[chi0082]

14 hours ago, Fish24/7 said:

have you tried sickle hook jig heads? I haven't lost a fish yet this year while using them.

 

^^this. Sickle hooks have magical powers. I think Matzuo did some voodoo chants and black magic to make them hold on to fish so well. Not that fish can't throw a sickle hook, but it significantly reduces the chances of it. If you think about the design and how the hook is embedded into the fish's mouth and the physics behind it, you'll realize why it is much much harder for a fish to shake off a sickle hook. That little angle in the hook does wonders.

[Ham]

As Dave pointed out to me, not all sizes of the Matzuo Sickles are the same. I have had ver good luck with the 2/0 and 3/0 sizes. I have had far too many mystery "get offs" with the #2 and #1 sizes. I do well with the #4 hooks in panfish heads. ie it doesn't seem to be a great hook for Ned heads.

I prefer the Matzuo sickle, but one down side of their low cost is that some of the hooks seem less than perfect. You may have to throw a few out before you pour your jigheads or at the very least make sure they are sharp before you fish them.

[Fish24/7]

4 hours ago, Quillback said:

I have not, sounds like it is something I should check out.

I'll mail you some 3/8 heads to try  that have lil nasty eagle claws