What's the "bass set"

Zak

Zak

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I saw some posts a couple months back about not using a "trout set" for bass. I have been missing a lot of bass eats this summer. I've been fishing for smaller bass with "smaller" flies, like a size 8 chubby, in my local lake. The bass will pull the fly under, I'll try to set the hook, and there's no fish on. I've been trying to strip set instead of lifting my rod, but that doesn't seem to help. Do I need to give the bass a 2 sec count or something? Or maybe I just suck at bass fishing!
 
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Fishing topwater what works best for me is a trout set. It's not easy to explain why but has to do with the amount of line I have out and the gear I use and how much water I cover. A trout set with a stout pole let's me pick up all the line I have out and still drive the hook home.

My guess is you are setting the hook too early and pulling the fly out.

Bass will also sometimes do goofy things and miss it completely.
 
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The trick is to not be paying attention. Cast out, look at the birds, check your watch, anything but looking at the fly. When you hear the “gloop!” that a bass makes as it inhales your fly that was just sitting there, then you panic and make a wild swing with the rod and Fish On!

At least that’s the only thing that works for me after I have missed the previous ten hits by pulling the fly right out of their mouths before they have had a chance to actually eat it 🤣

Bass and panfish process food items somewhat differently to trout. They will often grab something in the front of their mouth, hold it there as they turn down, then reposition it into the right orientation to swallow. If you set the hook before they get the fly into their mouth, you will usually just pull it away. If you watch video of bass pros fishing top water frogs, you’ll see that they wait a bit after the hit before swinging for the fences.
 
Chucker said:
The trick is to not be paying attention. Cast out, look at the birds, check your watch, anything but looking at the fly. When you hear the “gloop!” that a bass makes as it inhales your fly that was just sitting there, then you panic and make a wild swing with the rod and Fish On!

At least that’s the only thing that works for me after I have missed the previous ten hits by pulling the fly right out of their mouths before they have had a chance to actually eat it 🤣

Bass and panfish process food items somewhat differently to trout. They will often grab something in the front of their mouth, hold it there as they turn down, then reposition it into the right orientation to swallow. If you set the hook before they get the fly into their mouth, you will usually just pull it away. If you watch video of bass pros fishing top water frogs, you’ll see that they wait a bit after the hit before swinging for the fences.
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I had my son out recently for the first time in his own kayak. He was really good at going forward not the best at steering yet...

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I was in my tube and kicked through a small opening. I casted out and my popper was just drifting in front of me. I looked back to make sure my son made it through and this bass just absolutely demolished my popper. It was the blow up of the year. I didn't pause or anything g I just fricking bass mastered it! 🤠That was one pissed off bass.

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Chucker said:
The trick is to not be paying attention. Cast out, look at the birds, check your watch, anything but looking at the fly. When you hear the “gloop!” that a bass makes as it inhales your fly that was just sitting there, then you panic and make a wild swing with the rod and Fish On!
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Chucker gets it. This is the way.
 
I wait for them to reset/adjust the lure in their mouths, they usually do this as they are turning their heads. Then send the hook home.
 
Zak said:
Thanks all! I'm going to work at watching the clouds, petting my dog, and fiddling with my gear while the fly is sitting out there. I like the @Chucker method.
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Just don’t get distracted and pet the clouds, fiddle the dog and watch the gear.

I keep thinking the “bass set” is a group of people who either have a glittery fiberglass boat with NASA level technology strapped all over it hooked to a $100k pickup truck, and/or folks with a modest Plano box, a bucket, and a cup full of dirt mixed with coffee grounds and nightcrawlers.
 
Typically, largemouth bass feed by using that large mouth to create a vacuum forcing the prey/your fly and water into their mouth with the water leaving through their gills. In addition, they typically eat a wide variety food items and often hold prey items for a period of time so pause (a beat or two) before the hook set works the best. This is double so with most surface takes. Here the bass can move a lot of water prior inhaling its prey/your fly.
 
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I love the bass that literally jump out of the water to come down on my popper. It's like the bass karate chop or something.
Those are usually on as soon as they take the popper down.
For the regular "takes", "slurps" or "blowups" I'm definitely guilty of striking too fast. I would agree it's more of a make sure they got it thing and then whack em.

But man, after seeing that video maybe I'll just throw my rod in the opposite direction. 😁
 
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