The #1 Hookset Mistake Anglers Make! School Of Hard Knocks

[@JP-dj1ow]

Out of all the channels fishing related you are my favorite but you are also the most interactive content creator that I've noticed. You always reply back to people's questions and comments and that's huge. Thanks for everything.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i try to reply to everyone. getting harder as the channel grows but its one of the things i like the most about youtube...most of the time! i get a few mean comments here and there

[@shawn_r_schultzfishing4883]

It's alot like learning a frog bite and the patience of letting them eat it good rather than rip it out of their mouths, which I still have the tendency to do from time to time 😑

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@decemberfb]

dude, you are literally the best fishing KZbinr I've seen, keep up the amazing work man ❤

[@MattStefanFishing]

Wow thank you!

[@lucascarter2277]

Thanks for your hard work on the channel, Matt. I've learned so much from your videos!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome! glad to hear it!

[@jamesschnell4919]

You are doing so great with this channel helping so many fishermen and women with the information you give. We can't thank you enough Matt! This is a great video on a technique I also love to do!

[@MattStefanFishing]

I appreciate that very much!

[@dhjhawk]

Love it when you take us to the school of hard knocks. You should do a short school series.

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha maybe one day!

[@williamgould2470]

A very simple but good tip especially for beginners.. I would also mention that they should set the hook the way they are fishing the lure.. If sweeping sideways, set the hook sideways and fishing vertical hook vertical

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good point!

[@Ronjon86]

I just started using big worms and have lost more than a few fish this way. Learning the hard way lol

[@MF-Rell]

I just missed a tank our last outing bc I didn't set the hook properly. Listening to my friend saying I'm not a pro angler which caused me to lose my PB. Thanks a lot I'll try this tomorrow. 🎣

[@MattStefanFishing]

good luck!

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Great video!!!! Thanks for taking us to the school of hard knocks!!👊🏻 Sometimes we all have to be reminded what the proper way is. Saty Safe & God Bless!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed!

[@randomschmo5778]

Good info again by Matt... great channel. Fwiw to anyone interested, a small tip i might offer with pig&jig type baits, is to do the following right when it hits the water after the cast: imagine you are holding a fly swatter instead of the rod, and shake your wrist five quick, violent times after the splash when bait is sinking, like you were swatting five flies in quick succession. :). Then dead stick it for five or ten seconds.

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill give it a try thanks for sharing!

[@rvfishingyet]

Great series. Seriously valuable insight. Keep the School open!

[@MattStefanFishing]

will do!

[@rlperrin3876]

Thanks for spreading your knowledge around to the rest of us.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@rorimarston3385]

Superb video. Your explanation and then Watching your hands showed me how to do this. I was not aware of this technique with a jig. I will try it soon. Thanks Rori

[@MattStefanFishing]

go for it!

[@kenmartin7129]

This is an awesome tip. As I watching it, it had me thinking what other times I need to follow this. Then you covered it! Thanks Matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnrayner5599]

That seems like basic knowledge but in my case I get pretty jacked up when I get a bite and find myself leaning into them so, great reminder on what to do!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Exactly!

[@jerrykotula2751]

Great tip. Your videos are loaded with tips! Thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you like them!

[@tommyhighhook3689]

Had this experience last weekend. Thanks for the tip

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it helped!

[@aarongreenlee7867]

In the moment sometimes it is hard to not panic hook set! Good reminder tip!

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed!

[@EdwardClarkIII]

I've certainly done this wrong. Thanks for the tip

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help

[@fishingmarinewarehouse2471]

Love the Channel! You did 2 lake breakdowns for me and they both are paying off BIG TIME!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats awesome! glad I could help!

[@lennymachowski5660]

Thank you for another excellent "on the water" lesson".

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Vinny190]

Love that you gave us so much info

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnnyblaze2620]

🤣 That exact thing happened to me on my Mini Max Chatter about an hour ago. Got me at the top of popping it through and I set the hook in the wrong position and lost my Fish. Great vid bro 👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Oh no!

[@johnnyblaze2620]

@@MattStefanFishing I don't have money on the line like yourself Brotha. No sweat ill get her next time:)

[@nnamrehck]

Excellent advice!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@jeffaugustine6071]

Any suggestions on how to get a good hook set when they are headed towards the boat with the bait? I loose some many, especially smallmouth

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep reel down until you feel them and then set the hook

[@shawntitsworth4878]

Thanks for another great tip Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@basskirkster]

Phenomenal tip 👍 thanks for another awesome video

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@garyhanna2388]

I’m a cross there eyes type and need to learn that’s not always the best great video sir

[@MattStefanFishing]

You got that right

[@nelsonchiro]

Thank you! Super helpful!

[@MattStefanFishing]

glad you enjoyed it

[@itllkeal]

Sometimes I struggle with waiting until I feel the fish before I really lock it in. Especially on top water bites.

[@MattStefanFishing]

You can do it

[@clintperry799]

Nice solid tip ! Thanks !

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help!

[@commoncents235]

Great video. Thanks Matt!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you liked it!

[@mariomecanikmolina6948]

This is the way 🎣👍🏽

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@juleswinnfield826]

Good info, thanks for the vid.

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet

[@SpookyRedz]

Good one , this is my favorite way , I don’t drag ever , but just me

[@MattStefanFishing]

stick with what works for you

[@ukstorm2727]

Great tip , thank you

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@1_of_4]

Thank you excellent video

[@MattStefanFishing]

You are welcome!

[@CA-sl2xw]

Nice reminder Matt! Hey, do you ever catch a fish during your bankside tutorials? If that was my property, It would kill me not to tee up some drivers right there. Thanks for the content, best intro on the tubes!

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha! my little bro is always teeing up the drivers

[@charlescurryadventures]

Great stuff. I know I have lost fish because of this. It is so hard to break that habit.

[@MattStefanFishing]

it really is. natural instinct is to set the hook immediately

[@charlescurryadventures]

@@MattStefanFishing yes sir. Some times when I am dragging a Texas rig they hit when my rod tip is at the 12 o clock position and that leaves very little room to pull back to set that hook but I’ll be darned if I still don’t try. Haha

[@umami0247]

Great advice.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@michaelvice6805]

Good pointer.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks Mike!

[@Huntn_fish365.2]

Awesome!! 🙌 thanks 🙏

[@MattStefanFishing]

Any time!

[@charlieknight5065]

Showing LOVE for the channel thank you for another great video once again man. I'm a new subscriber but you've got my upt most respect for the channel point blank Sir. Thank You and have a blessed day everyone

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks so much for watching!

[@arthurdirindinjr1792]

Listen to Matt guys he's sharing facts. Started fishing soft plastic flukes rigged weedless worked as jerk baits first time this spring as the lakes I fish are 70% or more muck bottom weeds everywhere in spring then pads starting in late April early May Was setting the hook the instant I felt a hit regardless of rod position or how much slack line was out was experiencing at best a 60-65% hookup and about 35-40% of my bass would get off after first time going airborne which 99% of my bass do Used Matt's advice and changed to a tight line hookset holly hookup batfan my hookup rate went from 60-65% to 80-85%+ and I landed 90%+ of the bass I hooked up This also helped my sons and I while fishing Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits this spring This isn't just great verbal content but great visual content as well. Fallow Matt guys he will make you a better more consistently successful fisherman he most certainly made be better

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for the support

[@anthonybenoit222]

Great video learn some good tips

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed

[@floriantopalu5818]

Great tips, really appreciated the videos! Great advices! Came by chance on your channel, looking for pike fishing tutorials. Thanks ! 🇷🇴🤝🇺🇸

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome, thank you!

[@terrytresemer2864]

To late for me. I graduated the school of hard knocks decades ago. For your younger followers, listen to Prof. Matt!!! To lose that personal best is mighty painful. 😖

[@MattStefanFishing]

oh no!

[@davegilkes8715]

I’m good with those techniques my problem is with my frogs I’ve even got one with a stinger hook and I’m still missing the hook set lol

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats not good

[@rousefire]

Easier said than done . My reflexes take over and I do a Homer Simpson "DOH"

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha! I hear yeah!

[@gregorywhite6830]

Good stuff.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@LowBrowFishing]

Hooksets on jigs and Texas rigs are certainly unlike moving baits. I try to do most of my hopping or stroking motion from my wrist instead of swinging my forearm, I feel that keeps my rod tip down more. I try to never go past the 11 o'clock position with my rod tip. That makes it easy to reel down and set that hook like I'm snatching that fish's dentures from it's mouth.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@meef1610]

Thanks matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@kayakfishingwisconsin]

Great tip. Those fish hang on way longer than most people realize.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes they do!

[@k1llerdir]

Nice advice. What is your take on using lighter wire and smaller hooks on straight shank and ewg hooks? Also what about hybrid hooks that have a wide but have an O'Shaughnessy bend?

[@MattStefanFishing]

i prefer light wire hooks and oshaugnessy are good hooks

[@rocketsurgeon1746]

More of these for folks like me that forget the basics during tournaments

[@MattStefanFishing]

you got it!

[@PistolPete3322]

Thx! I think I’ve been doing it the wrong way.

[@MattStefanFishing]

give this a try!

[@provocation18]

How about heavy wire swimjigs for big pike? I lost 2 today after some good days. I keep reeling same speed when i feel a bite until i feel the fish weight then i set the hook real hard. I keep my rod almost pointed toward the bait or slightly to the left

[@MattStefanFishing]

if its a pike and a big hook hammer away

[@provocation18]

@@MattStefanFishing I had some great succes using an underspin jig with a thick wire hook and 50lbs line. Only the last 3 days on the water things went South with some big fish. It was also because a lot of wind and the pike grabbing the lure at the last moment lol

[@shannonkirby9295]

I learned the hard way too

[@MattStefanFishing]

no fun!

[@maxcole3930]

What about trolling, do you ever set hook then or just reel in?? I'm a kayak angler & when I'm heading to another spot or area I will troll a bait behind me. With my my pedal drive I have more than enough speed. Also helps me find fish in area I would have passed up otherwise. I don't set hook when I'm trolling I just start reeling at that point. Just curious how you approach that. Any other tips would be appreciated. Good tip as usual. Thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

no need to set the hook when trolling

[@mikeeller557]

Thanks Matt. The hardest thing to do is NOT to set the hook when you feel him.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep

[@rainbroao8919]

I’ve lost soo many fish because as soon as I feel a fish start biting I set the hook super hard. But I don’t get the fish. Am I supposed to set the hook as soon as I feel any type of biting or when I feel it take the hook and move away?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right away but not hard

[@danieldenney9159]

Same with Texas rigs?

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺.

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺Thanks for the tip of the day.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@josephburns7407]

I’ve been fishing my entire life Mostly bass fishing and crappie fishing and bluegill fishing and saltwater, but I can go ahead and tell you hook setting is never even necessary if the fish are hungry and they bite a trouble hook or whatever hook you’re using more than likely 90% of the time the hook should automatically go right into their mouth and hook them if you have to snatch a hook that hard 90% of the time ripping it out of their mouth or ripping their mouth off it’s pointless and I’ve went fishing with some people and they hook set like their life depended on it like they were trying to rip the fish out of the water is insane.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevinwolfe4632]

When your ripping a chatter through grass your doing this on fluorocarbon? I find on fluorocarbon I can't rip it out as effectively as I can on braid. The fluorocarbon is too spongy and doesn't rip the grass off as well.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i will depending on the grass thickness.

[@kbone87]

I feel like it's harder to judge the tension on the line created by a fish swimming towards you with fluoro. Lots of stretch too which makes hooksets for me awkward

[@MattStefanFishing]

stick with what works for you!

[@wolverinex4243]

First, you must learn hooksetting from bluegills, then trout, then carp, then bass in that order. Second, the equipment is as good as the fisher.

[@MattStefanFishing]

as long as it works for you is all that matters

[@PastorPeewee20]

👍👍❤️

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@nightshadehelis9821]

I'm losing my mind. The bass near me LOVE ned jigs and while they bite and I reel it in, they almost always spit it out when it's near me. I guarantee I'm doing something wrong.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Need to switch rods

[@tonyduran4764]

Pay Matt comment

[@MattStefanFishing]

thank you!

[@charlesbeall2589]

Casting and reeling with the same arm is not only a mistake but void of common sense. How 'bout we fight the fish from our DOMINANT side? I bought my first left side crank baitcaster in 1978, my second one in 1980.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i fish with both left and right hand reels. i only flip with left handers but am fine with fishing a right hander on casting baits

[@crowe1974]

I would feel the bit and start to reel it in without setting the hook. Don't do that anymore..

[@MattStefanFishing]

nice!

[@crowe1974]

I would start feeling it in without setting the hook. Lost a lot of nice bass that way. Don't do that anymore..

[@MattStefanFishing]

bummer!