Getting better hooksets when yak trolling

[mi327]

I have noticed that I lose allot more fish when trolling, as opposed to casting. Right now my trolling setup on my Propel 10 are two Scotty rod holders in gear track mounts with the rods fishing forward at about a 30 degree angle so I can watch the rod for strikes. When I see the rod start to bounce, I grab it and give it a sharp tug forward but because of the angle I can never get a good long hook set like I do when casting. Is there a better technique or setup to get a better hook sets?

I have noticed that the fish I do land had the hook all the way through the hip so I am assuming I getting a decent hook up some of the time.

Also I notice especially on the left side the rod always rotates when I get a strike will it help to change out from the gear track to a more solid mount that prevents rotation?

[J.A. Veil]

I don't have much trouble hooking stripers when trolling. Occasionally I will see the rod bounce and as I try to remove it from the holder, the fish comes loose. But that is a small percentage of the time.

Last year I commented on the gear track rod holder base rotating and loosening on the left side. I use a different approach as described at http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...ght=gear+track.

I troll four rods from my Slayer Propel 10 -- two in the front and two in the rear.

[ronaultmtd]

I never touch the rod until it is bowed over when trolling- especially white perch who have a habit of nibbling at the swimbaits before engulfing it- same technique when drifting for flounder- you see the rod bouncing leave it alone until it gets a good bow- now stripers and redfish are all together another thing- they try to rip the rod out of the rod holder and if you aren't very quick you will lose a rod and reel- but you will quickly know the difference- and I used to troll 4 rods, but no more...I troll two rods all on the forward rod holders- I seldom lose fish due to tangles and missed hits...and I try to maintain a straight troll after hookup and leave one rod out- usually by the time I get the fish to the boat, the other rod is hooked up...and you can only fish this way from a Hobie Mirage Drive or a peddle yak that leaves both hands free to fish...I should also state that I have very sharp hooks on all my lures- and touch them up from time to time with a small file-

[yakscientist]

I also troll only 2 rods in forward fixed mount scotty rod holders on my paddle yak. Usually it's a pretty good bend in the rod before I even get to take it out of the holder, but I always pull it forward another foot as I'm taking it out of the holder, without cranking yet. Did the same thing countless times when working as a mate on a rockfish charter boat, even the big migratory stripers will sometimes be finicky as they bite, so that extra tension (can also be applied by pedaling a bit as you've got the rod in hand, n/a on a paddle yak) really helps. Caught a couple speckled trout on a guided trip with RavensDfense and he said they've got much softer mouths, so that extra pull may do more harm than good in the rare cases of a hookup with one of them, but constant tension is always a good thing. The last rockfish I hooked actually behaved like a trout, jumped out of the water and everything, and yet again I was blessed/cursed with a 19" fish, but it is an amazing difference between a 13" and a 19" rockfish, from start to finish.

[D3NAL1]

any of the single bolt rod holder bases will rotate due to the thread. the right will always tighten and left loosens. for that matter i switched over to railblaza, they have a kit to use two bolts on the track. Rockfish do not have a problem taking the baits, but other species such as reds, perch, and croakers will get off while trolling at times due to their harder shakes and runs. I end up having to set the hook and reel in over my head to ensure to keep tension on the line.

[Fishinfool]

Good advice from all commenters. The only thing I might add is make sure your hooks are sharp and not rusty.

[M1A4ME]

I noticed (trolling from a boat, not a kayak) that using braided or fused line resulted in more good hook sets. It doesn't stretch as much as monofilament and I even ended up buying some more flexible (medium action vs. medium heavy and heavy action) after breaking a couple rods on hook sets (those weren't when trolling, but breaking the tip off a rod is a PITB).

And sharp hooks is a must.

[kevinfry]

too stiff of a rod can be a prpblem too. while not great for jigging or topwater, both ictalarus bill and I have way better hookups trolling with ugly sticks than our other rods soft tip i guess....one of the reasons Bill looks like a paddling sporting goods store...he always carries the perfect rod for every occasion

[mi327]

Thanks looks like I got some decent ideas, I think I need a little bit longer of a delay before setting the hook. Hooks on the last trip were new and I am using medium action rods so they definitely aren't too stiff. Now to figure out a better way to mount the left rod before the fall Rockfish season comes.

[kevinfry]

Thanks looks like I got some decent ideas, I think I need a little bit longer of a delay before setting the hook. Hooks on the last trip were new and I am using medium action rods so they definitely aren't too stiff. Now to figure out a better way to mount the left rod before the fall Rockfish season comes.

You did remind me, however, actually, we use med heavy.....for ugly stick i get best results with those, i have a med action ugly stik lite...does not work as well for me. not sure if that is due to the action or the model.

[yakscientist]

too stiff of a rod can be a prpblem too. while not great for jigging or topwater, both ictalarus bill and I have way better hookups trolling with ugly sticks than our other rods soft tip i guess....one of the reasons Bill looks like a paddling sporting goods store...he always carries the perfect rod for every occasion

Ugly stik bigwater is the rod I've caught most of my rockfish on, but I was getting pretty decent hooksets on my smaller Shakespeare rod, idk the model but it was like $25 from walmart. Ugly stik's catch a lot of flak and I really don't know why, they've always been great rods for me and easily last 5+ years for $40-60, well worth it IMO.

[Elsea]

I troll mostly paddletails on jigheads. When trolling I never set the hook and I don't lose many fish. Add a strong hookset to the forward motion of the kayak and you could possibly be pulling the hook out of the fishes mouth??

[ronaultmtd]

I have used every type rod known to man and caught fish on all of them- from the old Pflueger steel rods to solid Lamiglas Fiberglas rods...the first carbon rods were prone to snap like a twig, but have become the gold standard of strong, light weight, sensitive rods- in my humble opinion, today's tackle is the best bargains for the highest quality we have ever had in fishing tackle...hard to find pure junk- even at WalMart...

[DOGFISH]

I must go along with shapening the hooks. However, it is amazing, how even with treble hooks, as sharp as they can be, a fish will strike and miss or get off the hook. I am always sharpening hooks and changing out hooks.

A rod at a 30 degree angle is said to provide maximum power during the troll. However, the flex in the rod is also important. Too soft a fishing rod will amount to more missed fish. So the type of rod is important.

Good luck.

[yakscientist]

I must go along with shapening the hooks. However, it is amazing, how even with treble hooks, as sharp as they can be, a fish will strike and miss or get off the hook. I am always sharpening hooks and changing out hooks.

A rod at a 30 degree angle is said to provide maximum power during the troll. However, the flex in the rod is also important. Too soft a fishing rod will amount to more missed fish. So the type of rod is important.

Good luck.

30 degree, I'm assuming that's measuring from the kayak, treating an imaginary line straight out from the front of the kayak as 0? Interesting. I usually have my rods close to that, maybe 45, just cuz they are forward rod holders and I need to leave clearance for my paddle strokes.