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Home > Learn to Fish & Boat > How To Fish > How to Catch Fish
You must know how to set a hook to catch fish. Because different fish require different methods - like how setting the hook on trout differs from setting the hook on catfish - we’ll just review the basics.
Simply put, it is the act of planting the hook into the biting fish. You might be thinking, well, how hard can that be? Fish takes bait, reel in. But how can you be sure? A fishing pole or fishng rod setup for beginners may only contain a common bobber. How do you tell the difference between an actual bite versus a nibble or bump of the line? Follow the steps below to learn how to hook a fish every time.
A good rule of thumb when learning how to fish, is to wait and feel the weight of the fish before setting it. If the fish is cautious and just tapping your fishing line and bait lightly, and not biting it, it's best to wait. Let the fish take the bait, and then set the hook after you feel its weight. For best results, be sure to use the proper fishing hook setup. For example, the use of circle baits when fishing catfish often eliminates the need to set the hook, as it generally gets caught in the fish’s mouth automatically.
The more you know about the fish species you’re after, and the more time you spend on the water practicing, the better you’ll get. So grab the proper fishing hook setup and maximize your catches!
Now that you know how to set a hook when you feel the fish, then next task is reeling it in! Visit our how to reel section to learn more about playing the fish
The largemouth bass is the most popular freshwater game fish in the U.S. Learn more about how you can identify a largemouth bass, where to catch it and what bait and lures to use.
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