Feeling the bite

Hi all,

Coming from a carp fishing background, where the fish actually hooks itself. I would just like to find out how exactly you know you have a fish on the line when it comes to bass fishing?

So I know there are different ways of telling. Small twitches, feeling no weight of the lure and more.

But when do you set the hook and not look like a complete idiot? It almost feels like the bass aren't biting at all.

I feel like I am missing a lot of potential catches.

Thanks for the assistance! ::tight:

at times, it will be a violent take ( crankbaits, jerk baits, spinners .... or feel small taps or pressure or weightlessness on your line (usually fishing plastics or jigs on the bottom)
also you can watch your line see if it changes direction in relation to where you have cast, have caught many just watching the line close to where I casted and you will see the line move before you feel it, normally wind up slack until you feel weight and give a good strike to set.
it varies from day to day dpending on how aggressively they are feeding.
how I learnt to feel the bites was to start fishing live worms on a small Carolina rig casting it and dragging it next to structure once I figure out how to catch them , then progressed to lures.

When in doubt, set the hook. That does not need to be violent but just take up the slack or lift your tip quickly but gently If it was structure you will lift it over the structure, if it was a bass the hook tip will prick him and you will know all about it! Then set that hook! Problem is bass fishing gives you a trigger response to set the hook on anything and when you spin for saltwater fish you have to teach yourself to unlearn that, as you just drag the lure out the fishes mouth..Bass inhale a bait, even when they are gentle you get the feel for it. Deep fishing, watch your line as Jonathan said..you can watch the loops when your bait is sinking and the loops of line straighten away from you for just a second, that is a fish, structure will never pull your lure away from you on a sink. Set that hook. You will loose a few lure and get snagged a few but that is bass fishing..

Try fishing a bass coloured fluke now that bass have spawned all over and babies are full up, texas rig it, or small jighead or weightless. I like the small jigheads where if I am stuck I can I can straighten the hook and get all back. On a big fish you must be careful. Throw that fluke right into the sticks and cover and cr@p, reeds and weed beds..the bass are right in the cover..

jonathanw wrote:

at times, it will be a violent take ( crankbaits, jerk baits, spinners .... or feel small taps or pressure or weightlessness on your line (usually fishing plastics or jigs on the bottom)
also you can watch your line see if it changes direction in relation to where you have cast, have caught many just watching the line close to where I casted and you will see the line move before you feel it, normally wind up slack until you feel weight and give a good strike to set.
it varies from day to day dpending on how aggressively they are feeding.
how I learnt to feel the bites was to start fishing live worms on a small Carolina rig casting it and dragging it next to structure once I figure out how to catch them , then progressed to lures.

Click to expand...

I guess I should just go out more and practice feeling the bite when it comes to bass fishing. I caught a couple of bass already but I literally saw them take my line and felt the small jerks in my line. Didn't even have to set the hook like some of those guys do on YouTube videos.

So to narrow it down, I gathered the following bite indications:

- Line starting to run away from you (aggressive take) -- crankbaits, jerk baits, spinners.
- That weightless feeling as if your lure is not attached to your line anymore.
- Small jerks in the line that you'll feel

And then what I will do when I think I have a bit is to life my rod up slightly until I feel the fish (Taking that I do feel something) and set the hook.

What do you think about that? Feel free to add some more to the list.

Also, do you know of some good bass fishing dams near Gauteng? I have to do bank angling since I don't have a boat.

::tight: