Setting the hook on specs

[drewman]

this weekend i fished a bay side creek on the eastern shore for specks all weekend and had a blast. I caught 3 keeper flounder, blues fish, two striper and many others but i only caught one spec. I think they were hitting my gulps but i couldnt hook them. Is there any secrets (like your gonna give them up) to setting the hook on a speck.

[hookinfinger]

drewman,

What were you using for Speck's ?

MirrOlures, jigs, cut bait , Etc;

They have fairly soft mouths so depending on the lure and line( like braid) I find it can really vary with the hook set.




Dennis

[drewman]

i was using some 3/8oz jig heads and a 4" swimming mullet gulp

[hookinfinger]

Thing is, you may not have been missing any Speck's. As you know it is hard to tell what the heck is messing with your lure.

When using a jighead, you can increase your hookups by bending the hook out, say 1/8th to a 1/4of an inch . Speck's have a bone that you want to get in behind.

I have a hole drilled in the end of a board. I place the hook in the hole and bend it out then add the grub.


Dennis

[drewman]

and one more thing. how do you swimm a MirrOlure correctly because it always seems like i have to retreve it to fast

[ccx2]

Drewman, i find a 3/8 oz jig to heavy for specks in shallow water and only use 1/4 oz, seems to make a big differance belive it or not. Specks dont generally hit a jig hard, what you will feel is a slight tap or slight tap/pull as you hop it and let it mumble along the bottom in a soft current. when you fell the tap set the hook one time fairly hard and fast and reel back down to the fish quickly, then reel it in steady and smooth. Good Luck .

[hookinfinger]

Lots of factors like current, water depth Etc; come into play.

MirrOlures come in different varieties. Like deep diving, suspended, surface. Etc.

Generally a slow methodical retrieve and a twitching action will work.

Try slow. No luck , speed it up a bit. Lots of factors. You just have to keep playing around with it.

You have to find out if they are holding deep, mid-way, or closer to the surface. It is all trial and error.


You just have to work at it. I believe the ratio is 1000 casts per Speck.


Dennis

[ccx2]

ON the Mirror Lure, my favorite, if in shallow water,5ft or less, work it just fast enuff to keep it out of the grass on the bottom as the depth dictates. I cast it ,close the bail, take a couple guick turns of the handle to get the slack out of the line before it sinks to the bottom and gets fouled in the grass, then give the rod a QUICK one foot pop and reel the slack back out all the while keeping tension on the line untill you are to give it a pop again, usually 2 to 2 1/2 turns then POP it again and repeat untill the next cast. That POP is important, you gotta make the hooks snap or clack against the body of the Mirro Lure, dont pop the rod over your shoulder or make it big but give it a good quick controled yank and reel the slack out, after a while it will become automatic , and you will be doin it in your dreams seein that 10lber gettin ready to SNATCH IT to a stop. GOOD LUCK

[tenchi_the_fish]

I do pretty much the same thing. Cast, let it sink, i use my wrist and give the lure a quick pop and let it sink again, repeat till you get next to the boat (they follow the lure to the boat often)