Less Learned OR just an excuse?

[sawheeler52]

Hit Lake Dixon this AM
Got there late @ 0800 hrs.
By 0900 hrs, was too sun-exposed and freakin' hot to continue.
As I'm limited to lake pier fishing, threw the proverbial drop-shotted weedless 7" RoboWorm.
Had one "on" for a couple feet after attempting to set the hook on the first tap. I usually wait for the tap, tap.
Missed him.
When I inspected my rig, the worm was still hanging weedless and straight.
I think, having attempted hook set on the first tap, the hook was not yet in his/her mouth.
Lesson learned. Set the hook on the 2nd tap.
OR...maybe I just suck.
Stephen

[sawheeler52]

Meant to titled this "Lesson learned..." not Less.

[camobass]

Mistakes/failures are just as valuable as success.

[CorsoEnthusiast]

Hit Lake Dixon this AM
Got there late @ 0800 hrs.
By 0900 hrs, was too sun-exposed and freakin' hot to continue.
As I'm limited to lake pier fishing, threw the proverbial drop-shotted weedless 7" RoboWorm.
Had one "on" for a couple feet after attempting to set the hook on the first tap. I usually wait for the tap, tap.
Missed him.
When I inspected my rig, the worm was still hanging weedless and straight.
I think, having attempted hook set on the first tap, the hook was not yet in his/her mouth.
Lesson learned. Set the hook on the 2nd tap.
OR...maybe I just suck.
Stephen

Other possibility is that fish ate your weight. It happens a lot more often than you think when you’re dropshotting

[otaymichael]

Or it was a 6 inch bass that only got half the worm in his mouth. That happens too. Be careful waiting for the second tap, especially jig fishing, that’s usually the fish exhaling the bait!

[JWall]

When in doubt…swing!!

[CorsoEnthusiast]

Or it was a 6 inch bass that only got half the worm in his mouth. That happens too. Be careful waiting for the second tap, especially jig fishing, that’s usually the fish exhaling the bait!

The tiny fish thing for sure. You get sometimes even a bunch of taps and a rod load but you swing on em and they come off after a couple seconds. Especially this time of year.

[sawheeler52]

Thanks all for your input.
Things I hadn't considered.
Went back out for redemption tonight and got a couple at twilight.
One I got on the second tap and the other I felt absolutely nothing but noticed my line racing toward me. Didn't hook this one in the targeted lip; but fortunately it was before his gullet and allowed a clean release.

[Mcfish]

Alot of times, it's bluegill messing with the tail of your plastics! Tap tap tap tap tap......

[StinkyPinky23]

Came to say the same thing, bluegill will aggressively grab the tail of a worm and it’s usually after you miss it you think back and realize it was probably a bg. When I was a kid I was taught “get bit, drop the rod tip. Let the fish take the little bit of slack to taught and let her rip”

[sawheeler52]

Came to say the same thing, bluegill will aggressively grab the tail of a worm and it’s usually after you miss it you think back and realize it was probably a bg. When I was a kid I was taught “get bit, drop the rod tip. Let the fish take the little bit of slack to taught and let her rip”

SP,
I can only agree.
Similar to my top water recommendation:
Never attempt a hook set on the visual.
Set the hook when you rod bends.
Stephen