Originally Posted by
vet
Rods in rod holders hook fish every day and nobody strikes with them. From this observation I now hold my rod tip up high during a retrieve so when the barra strikes it bends the rod and the recoil in the rod sets the hook much faster than my reflexes ever could. Whereas if you hold your rod low during a retrieve, when the fish hits it smacks straight into drag and doesn't bend the rod at all so you have to do all the work. Also noted that if you use a slower taper rod you get better hook up, possibly because when the barra strikes the rod bends and allows the lure to be inhaled further giving it more time to find something to stick into. Have started using my crankbait for soft plastics and not the harder imx and glx rods and have noted a reduced casting distance but a better hook up rate and landing rate at present. Also using lighter 5-7kg spin rods and having better hook up rates. All this obviously only works if you hold your rod up to allow the rod to bend during the strike.
Cheers, scott.