I like the sweep set idea but I am always trying to get their head up and mouth open. Can you get their mouth open as well pulling to the side as when pulling up?

I recognize that a fish exploded on my bait, hesitate, and swing, it is quite a short amount of time. I am not counting to 3 or disengaging the bail and letting the fish run. Should I set as soon the fish hits it?

If your using 3/0 stingers wouldn't the XH rod help sticking them? I think that the hook gap on a 3/0 is different than spook fishing, right? When I hook a fish they are hooked too well, I have never ripped a fish off.

Actually the xh rod brings up an interesting question. When I am hooking fish on the wakebait, they usually head shot it, and then the bottom treble pins them again, limiting their movement. This is awesome from a landing and safety perspective but I feel bad when that second treble hooks them in the pec fin or through the outside of their gills. There is always at the least some bleeding, but I have not seen a fish I caught die, yet.

I feel bad for the fish but like the benefits of the second treble. Although if I kill a big bass I would be very upset. Should I take the back treble off and use a single treble hook at the same size or larger size by the head? Or should I just toughen up and if I kill a big one chalk it up to bad variance?