When fishing with a hammer, what is the best technique to use? My girlfriend says to cast then reel in, stop , reel in, stop, reel in, stop; and you know the rest..... I cast and continually reel in at a medium speed...... I hooked on one hali. at Dana Point sat. but did not set the hook and lost it. feel free to give me any tips to improve my catch...

>When fishing with a hammer, what is the best technique to
>use?

It all depends on where the fish are holding. In my experience, I have found that if you cast out and get hit on the fall 90% of the time it's a calico bass, they hold in the mid water column. If the lure sinks to the bottom without a strike, I try to sloooowly reel the lure back to the boat with a couple winds then stop, repeat, etc. Most of the time you will catch sandbass this way. They tend to hold closer to the bottom.

I usually put one rod in the holder with the clicker on (dead stick) and drift the lure over the bottom then I fan cast the second rod. This way you cover both the bottom and the mid column and its really exciting to get bit on one then the other or both at the same time.

Experiment with different techniques and you should start to see a pattern that works.

Depends on the application.

From the surf or in my tube in less than 7 feet of water I almost never let the swimbait hit the bottom. It's either a straight in retrieve, straight in with occasional stops, or straight in with occasional jerks of the rod tip.

In my tube in more than 7 feet of water I will usually let the bait hit the bottom then using the reel quickly hop it with two or three quick cranks, stop, hit bottom, repeat.

Check out these articles:
http://www.calfishing.com/saltwater/halibut/index.html
http://www.swimbait.com/techniques/halibut-edwards.htm
http://www.swimbait.com/techniques/halibut-wolf.htm

I've heard of two different ways to set the hook on swimbaits. One is to wind down until the tip is loaded and then set the hook. The other is to simply winding through the bite and the fish hooks itself. Anyone have a preference and why?

I used to be pretty into the "winding into it" idea. If you have a lot of line out, it is necessary to wind into them a little before setting just to get the slack out of the line. But for inshore halibut and surface calicos and any time where you don't have too much line out, I have just gotten to where I set the hook more like I'm freshwater bass fishing. I figure the hook is riding up on the swimbait so when I set, I set straight up. I used to set to the side and it made me lose a lot of fish. I think when you sweep to the side the lead head turns in the fish's mouth and the fish can spit it or the hook can tear out more easily. A straight up hard hookset nails the roof of the mouth and you usually catch those fish. Keep in mind that doing this, you need to have a rod with some backbone. Glass rods are hard to do this with. Larry Heron has converted me to the 8' graphite and composite rods and they work very nicely for ripping head. I still like my 9' noodle rod but my 8' Rainshadow's are winning out recently.

Yep, straight up and hard (sounds nasty doesn't it :)). I agree, in shallow winding into it is not always necessary but helps a lot when your fishing deeper. I would never just wind and expect the fish to set the hook though.

Don't forget. When at the rail on a crowded partyboat, ALWAYS wind up & swing for the fences in a low, hard, sideways hookset. That ensures that you will WHACK the unwary Fishslayer across the face.

Seriously, tho, I have seen many, many of these sideways hooksets miss the fish and yes, they whack me across the face. Personally, I've joined the "wind wind wind" school of hooksets.

If you wanna see a SERIOUS hookset, just put a video camera on any deckhand. :7

Fishslayer

I wind quickly when bit until the rod is loaded and set upwards. I don't pump but keep the rod loaded and just wind it in. Pumping wears a hole in the mouth and the hook may come out (especially live bait fishing). Also, I never drop the rod tip on the swing or during the fight as this allows the fish to turn its head and get going into the rocks. If you drop the rod tip on a good bass even 6 inches it may be enough for it to get behind a rock. I fish zero-give drags for this same reason.

For a detailed and expert description of the use of swimbaits for calicos (and sandbass) read the Calico 555 article at this site.

Good question.

The way fish to fish a plastic depends on many variables like the condition of the current, water temp, environment (bay harbor, structure, kelp, hard bottom, ect) the area in the water column the fish are feeding, the type of fish you are targeting.

As mentioned Calicos like to eat the plastic on the fall. Sandbass and halibut towards the bottom ussually on a slow retrieve or drifting towards the bottom in the current. I've notice that sea bass like the faster steady retrieve by letting sink towards the bottom and then winding it through the upper part of the water column.

Another good method that I have found works well is to slow troll a swimbait. Another method I've had success with is just to hold a swim in faster moving current.

You need to adjust the size of the lead heat to match these variables. Different sizes will produce in different conditions. The goal is to keep the bait in the strike zone.

As for hooking fish I wind fish on when I'm fishing the bait on a fast retrieve. I swing on fish that eat the plastic on the fall If I miss I drop it back instantly and hold the line with my thumb. If I miss a second time I drop back and put the reel in gear do slow wind to see one will jump on it. I wind them on that point if nothing happens I kick the back out of gear and continue the drop. I swing on fish when I'm fishing shallow water.

You have to find what works for you and don't be afraid to try different colors and sizes. Of course we all have our old favorites that seem very consistant but you can get stuck in a rut and miss out on finding some baits that might work really well under the right conditions.

Good luck,

jerryG