Bobber down? Hit it! When???

[Jennie@ifish]

How do you explain to someone, who is bobber fishing for salmon, the first time, when to hit him?
I usually find that I want it to be all the way down.
Anyone teach a lot of people, and can tell me how you teach them?
It's just a feel. Drives me crazy when someone else in the boat tells me, "HIT IT!" and I'm just not ready... (especially if I miss him!)
When I see suspicious activity, I tend to hold the rod really still, maybe... maybe reel up line that might need mending, to make sure I'll have a solid hit on him.
Then, the bobber goes down.... Hit him? Nope, comes back up.... Then the solid down and sideways is when I go for it.
Anyone try to hook them by the "when in doubt, set the hook" method?
I never do... I figure that if it is bobbing up and down, it's probably a critter... But then again, I have seen salmon act in that manner, only to afterward do the solid takedown.
Back to the basics... If you are fishing with someone new... How do you tell them when?
Or do you just instruct them as they go and say, "NOW!"

:smile:
Dang, I love to talk about bobber downs!
Jen

[rebell]

Man This is a tuff one Jen.
If you have lot's of Maries bait tell them to reel and set the hook if the bobber flinches. Generally I tell peaple if it doesnt look right, CROSS THERE EYES AND BREAK THERE NECK! IF YOU DONT DO IT ON THE FIRST SWING REEL DOWN AND HIT EM AGAIN.

God I love setting the hook! :grin: :grin: :grin:

[get hooked]

Jennie, Does your mind ever stop grinding? You have more questions than Jeopardy. When the bobber goes under with a steady pull, I hit him. If it just bops down, I wait. Bobber down, bobber up, bobber down, bobber up, make up your mind!!!!! :tongue:

[Jennie@ifish]

You think I'm bad here.... Ask Bill.

"OK, Bill.... and then, after a steelhead goes out to sea, then what? When does it come back? Where does it go? What kind of strain is in this river? And then what? Why do cutthroats sometimes stay in the river, Bill? So, two salt, one fresh.... Go over that again, Bill, I'll never get it right..."
This goes on and on and on and on....

Bill knows a whole bunch about fish!

Jen

[get hooked]

Question.... Then why doesn't BILL have the answer??????

[Stew]

Had to have ****** tell me graemlins/stupid.gif

[excuse me]

Is ****** an Alaskan somethingorother? :whazzup:

If you think a chinook is pulling your bobber under or around for a ride then set the hook. If you aren't sure then you are right to slowly reel up the slack line. Then slowly and gently lift the rod tip and bobber up and if its a salmon you will stick it, and then you can set it harder. If not then lower your rod tip again and see if a salmon comes back and buries the bobber. The very slight movement of your bait with taking the slack out and smoothly lifting a bit wont spook out most fish that showed interest. They will usually come back and take them down. Otherwise its probably mudcats.

[SKP]

If it goes under, HIT IT!!

Here is an example why:

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/062521284.jpg

This fish dunked my bobber, and I promptly inserted the hook into the jaw bone - notice the blood! This fish is still alive and kicking at this point. I had not had a chance to whack it yet. :grin:

However, don't forget the not obvious bites. For example, your bobber starts moving in the wrong direction, set the hook!

Also, I have had this happen a couple of times: I've had my bobber all of a sudden lay on its side. That's because a fish went UP with the hook in its mouth, causing the weight to not hold the bobber upright. This happened the last I remember two years ago. The bobber all of a sudden laid down on the side. I immediately set the hook, and 10 minutes later, I had a nice chrome chinook in the net. :grin: :grin: :grin:

SKP

[PapaHog]

Jennie,, Thanks for asking these questions.. If I ask the same questions I would get a answer from one or two ifishers. You ask and WOW, the board lites up. That is very good as I learn a lot from your questions.

Now to the set the hook question. When in doubt I like to move it and stick the hook and then reel down and double set the hook. When I move it to stick the hook I know if it is a salmon or not. If I dont stick the hook with this movement I continue the drift. I have had salmon really hit 5 seconds or so later. If this is a different fish or the same fish thinking the eggs/sandshrinp is getting away or just the slight sticking movement triggers a strike I dont know.

In all the bobber down, no doubt about it situations SET THE HOOK. WOW FISH ON get the net Bill.

[Get Bit]

Jen,

Reel down until you feel the fish, then set the hook! The bobber doesn't need to be down to use this technique. Sometimes fish will twitch a bobber just like a pogie will. If you can have the discipline to reel down and the fish lets go, chances are very good the fish will bite again on the next pass through. Remember 80lb. Tuff
line and 50lb. leaders!

Get Bit

[Nanook]

Originally posted by Shane S:
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[ 10-14-2002, 09:58 AM: Message edited by: ****** ]