Strike Time?

[Bombasstic]

Just got home from the Breede KBT. I had a gr8 time but I'm very peed off with myself for blanking on both days. :blue-evil:
The fish were there . . . I know this because I got hit twice like I've never been hit before. Both times on a June Bug Fighting Frog.
The rod almost gets pulled out of my hand, the fish takes line and then nothing.
This all happened in a split second.
The question is - when is the right time to strike a Smallie? In my experience, a largemouth almost always hooks himself without a strike even being necessary but a Smallie is a different kettle of fish :roll:
I've never had the pleasure of being on waters where there are so many fish that one can experiment (does such a place exist in the cape :blue-question: )

[nutt]

Its a little place called Clanwilliam!

[jmgravenor]

In my experience, a largemouth almost always hooks himself without a strike even being necessary but a Smallie is a different kettle of fish :roll:

Largemouth hook themselves?
Maybe you've been lucky to land the largies that you have enticed to bite...with both species you normally strike. At least that's my opinion.

Depending on the technique you are using, whether it is a crankbait, jerkbait, plastic, Carolina, Mojo, Texas...the plastic applications such as texas, pitching a heavy texas, Mojo and especially Carolina require a hookset. When I went to Clan and was introduced to Carolina rigging for the first time, I tried striking the fishes jaw off but they'd just shake me off. You want to reel down as far as possible and pull hard into the fish, then reel down again(Don't give slack) and strike him a 2nd or 3rd time if need be.

Weightless, Mojo and texas also require strikes with a medium heavy to heavy rod. Personal preference. Spinnerbaits also require a strike to hook the fish.

Crankbaits, jerkbaits etc are used on more supple rods. When feeling the weight of a fish while cranking, all is needed is that you pull into the fish. A supple rod is used so that the hooks won't tear out of the fishes mouth as you pull into him. Stiffer rods normally just rip the Crank out of their mouths...

And I think it would be quite challenging to determine whether a smallie or largie has hit your bait(Let's take the Breede for example), if you get hit and start trying to think if you should strike or not because it might be a smallie or it's just a largie. You'll end up losing the fish :blue-neutral: Don't try and determine whether you just got hit by a smallie/largie, worry about that during the fight! Then you'll know for sure if it's a smallie

Then again, this is just my opinion. Maybe others think differently of the matter...

[Floatie]

True JM, Striking is for free and if you miss him, throw in the same spot again.
My opinion on fish that picks up and runs, is that they running from another fish in the area that also wants that bait. Always worth while to cast a few times in the same area if you miss a fish.

[Bombasstic]

Thanks guys - I think this is the reason behind my many blank outings. :blue-idea:
As I've mentioned before - I come from a long history of Rock and Surf fishing for Kabeljou and Sharks. The technique was - Big bait like mackerel head or full fillets - Feel the bump - Give time for him to swallow the bait and take some line - only then strike up to 4 times.
I think I have (subconsciously) been giving time for the bass to swallow the bait . . . not thinking that we are not using "bait" - We are using lures, and if given any time the bass soon discovers that it is fake and spits it out - unlike a shark who at least believes it is real until it is too late.
PS - I gave up R+S fishing because of this mindless slaughter of sharks. At least the Kabeljou were eaten after weigh in . . . . the sharks were thrown away at the dump. I believe things have changed now.

[dreamfish]

I think it was the late Charles Norman who said "if it hits me I hit it back"