"Setting the hook" on trout?

[Sandman2749]

Forgive the amatuer question but I have heard this a few times.
How much is enough for trout?
Like tugging on a dog leash To get his attention or harder?
Does it vary based on the type of trout you suspect is on the line?
A full "set" as soon as the line pauses or is this after you know he's
on the line?

I hooked a rainbow in the Bow a few weeks back. My indicator
paused and when I tugged gently the monster cleared the water
and shook like a pitbull getting out of the bath. Then... Pop! He spit
the hook out.

I suspect I missed the boat on that one?

Thanks in advance.

[AxeMan]

Sandman, that is certainly not an amatuer question or an easily answered one. I was just talking with Paul about that last night. I think too many factors are involved to give a definitive answer.

For fly fishing I like to set the hook gently when I first notice the strike. I use a pretty light tippet so I don't want to snap them off.

Most trout have softer mouths so a hard set shouldn't be required if your hooks are razor sharp. Not like walleye with their boney rock hard mouths where you have to smash the set.

For bait fishing it totally depends on how aggressive they are biting. For an aggressive bite I don't give them too much time before the set because I don't want them getting hooked too deep. When they are being picky but persistant and mouthing the bait I give them a couple of seconds to get the bait fully in their mouth before the set. For a poor bite when they are just pecking the bait and leaving, I find you have to hurry up the set again before they spit it out.

[Albertafisher]

That is probably one of the most amateur questions you can ask.
but my answer to this that if you are fishing spoons or spinners, setting the hook quite hard is the way to go, you might get 5% less hookups but a better hookset. with dryflies, the same.
but with nymphing you should be much softer, unless your rod is a noodle.
but it all really comes down to how stiff your rod is.

[mustard73]

If you are trolling, the hook basically sets itself.

[walleyechaser]

not a amateur question at all..... depepnding on the situation and setup one uses depend on how hard a set the hook, if I am spinning and they are aggresive, I would set the hook quite hard, like mustard73 said, they often hook themselves when trolling. Not too sure if that answers your question, but basically vary your strike on how they are acting

[Sandman2749]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I'm just talking about fly fishing.

[Sundancefisher]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I'm just talking about fly fishing.

You should set the hook just hard enough so the line/knot won't break. I advocate using as heavy a leader as possible for the size of fish. If you go too light and are releasing an exhausted fish you may of just killed it anyways. The side benefit is you can set harder and not risk snapping them off. Also if using an indicator...you need to set harder to get the slack out. Same if you have slack in you line from current, wind, curl...watching butterflies etc...you need to set harder. A dry fly or trolling or using a wet sinking line you can often have the fish set itself. Also if dry fly fishing it is not so much a matter of how hard you set but rather when you set. To excited and you pull too soon and you miss the fish. To slow...fish spits the hook.

IMHO

[Paul C]

One of the key points for setting a hook is how sharp the hook is. They sell inexpensive tools at your favorite fishing suppliers. I use a device that has two round files in plastic holder. Made by Rapala. I highly recommend you have this device for catching Mr. Rainbow Trout. The hook is really sharp when you can mark your finger nail.
Good Luck !

[crazyfish]

not a bad question, set to the tippet size is a good idea, but if you are catching a few whites, then a hard hookset can rip it right out of the mouth, so keep trying and adjust to the circumstances !

[Sandman2749]

Thanks fellas; much appreciated.
I'll ramp it up a notch and see how my catch ratio responds. :-)

[fishnut9]

Lol wow was i ever off. I was told as a kid not to set the hook on trout cause their mouths are soft. I just kept reeling in instead. Well this is good to know then.