Why cant i hook my fish??

Question

Okay I'm always cat fishing and i have everything perfect, im always getting bites. Ok but whenever i get a fish to give me a pursuing bite i never can hook them. Idk if its my hook sharpness(tried 2 diff hooks)

Idk if im yanking the pole to early or not yanking it hard enough.

Giveee me exactly what to do.

Answer 1

Catfish will "taste" first. So the hits you are getting, but be them just bumping into the bait. Wait until its a little more of a pull. Then yank on the pole. Don't use a small hook, because the lips of the catfish are very tough. If you are going to catfish, use a bigger hook, this way you get around the lips, and hook in.  

Answer 2

it's a really good thing that you're getting lots of bites, but its even better to get those cats in your cooler (or not... if you plan on releasing...).

1. like the other people said, you don't need a huge hook.

2. try Owner hooks... i personally believe they are the best

3. see what others are catching at those lakes (ex: if others are catching small fish you might think about downsizing your hook.)

4. catfish are not going to be extremely aggressive and completely swallow your hook. calm down and wait a few seconds after you feel a bite before you set the hook and reel in

tight lines

Answer 3

two things that will give you more hooksets:

one) use a stiff tip rod. I am sure your rod tip is weak and flimsy!

two) when you feel the bite take up the slack point the rod tip at the bait (and hopefully the fish) be patient when the hook gets taken in the rod will lunge. that exact second....SET THE HOOK (try and rip the face off the fish) take your rod tip from in front of you to up over your head as fast as you can and start reeling in during that motion.

That is how you set the hook mate.  

Answer 4

alright when im fishing  and i get a bite i wait about 2 seconds after they bite so hopefully the hook is in the mouth then pull to the side and it usually stays in. so basically wait till u get a bite.. reel in about half of a rotation then pull :D

Answer 5

yes, dean is correct, usually u dont need a really big hook to get a fish, catfish are stubborn when it comes to feeding, so be patient, once u get that first nibble wait a couple seconds, then slowly pull ur rod up, if u feel alittle bit of tention, then set the hook and set it good, but the main thing is hook size and patience! Good luck

Answer 6

Just let you line out for longer. Catfish don't nibble on bait. They usually "smell" it first, then swallow it. I just wait for my pole to stay bent, then I set the hook and start reeling it in. Good luck.  

Answer 7

i had this same problem once. when i did hook the fish (5 worms later) it was a catfish.  catfish tent to do this to you. you will try to set the hook many times on a cat fish.  wait a couple seconds before setting the hook.  also, try a smaller hook.  i was perch fishing one day. i was catching nothing but nibbles for the longest time. i switched to a smaller hook, and i was catching them like crazy.  

so be patient with catfish, and try a slightly smaller hook

Answer 8

the surest thing- circle hooks!

you don't set the hook the fish hooks itself when it swims off.

they almost always hook the fish in the corner of the mouth and hardly ever "gut hook" a fish.

i know what i'm talking about.  

Answer 9

1st maybe ur jumping the gun & setting the hook 2 early. but u prob no that.2nd, about the hook... dont know if its true but some1 once told me a hook can be 2 big, but never 2 small.