Setting A Spinning Lure Hook
If you're a salmon spin fisher and think that salmon are just taking short when they continually drop off then you're kidding yourself on and you will continue to squander quality hooking opportunities while spinning.
Most of the time that happens is because the spinning reel clutch is far too loosely set.
Setting The Hook & Riverbank Movement
Overall, from what I've seen over the decades there's a definite minority of really tactically aware spin or fly fishers on the salmon rivers of Scotland who have consistent hook setting procedures or good & thorough riverbank movement techniques. To my mind those two attributes are the two most important points in salmon fishing and far more important than the aerial elegance of a fly line as a salmon is less bothered by that than fishers may think! Ultimately catching salmon on most salmon beats in Scotland takes patience, understanding & a consistent effort so it's always much better if there's a positive outcome where often hard earned salmon 'take' opportunities are converted into landed salmon which keeps all parties happy including the local economy!
Raising Salmon Fishing Skill Set Levels
Atlantic salmon fishing in Scotland is one of these rural pursuits where anyone can just buy the equipment & a permit and go out there which is great however there needs to be a good understanding & ability for true fishing day value to be achieved so any logical tactical assistance should in my opinion be grasped & appreciated by any angler who's given these little gem snippets of information that can assist them to hit objective and stay in the game! You'd never be allowed on the hill with a stalker and .243 rifle without first demonstrating your ability to hit a target. In Scottish salmon fishing there's no basic skill test so most anglers operate on hearsay which can often be complete misinformation.
Listen To Fishing Logic And Forget Preconceived Notions
I've seen it so often on the River Tay where great salmon hooking opportunities were missed by anglers who repeatedly loosened off their clutches even after being properly briefed. Personally I get frustrated when anglers turn up on a beat and don't listen to the Head Ghillie's instructions as professional 'time on the river' and river observation experience would suggest the angler should be listening. Any big salmon hook needs set properly and any thoughts of a salmon taking off like a bonefish on an instant powerful & unstoppable 100 yard run when hooked are not relevant to salmon fishing as there's always time to set the hook then loosen off the clutch before the fun & games of battle commence.
The Monteith Copper Sprat Spinning Lure
I've always been a huge fan of the ABU 'Salmo' 30g spinning lure and I only ever used to use 2 colours and they were firstly the silver & copper and secondly the black/gold/red & copper. I'll fish down through a pool with one colour then switch and fish back up through the pool with the other (when there's no other anglers to consider) and I know salmon are present. The upstream effort salmon will not see coming until it's right on them and in a different colour which usually upsets stubborn fish enough to have a go! Having been frustrated for decades that professional salmon anglers have to take what they're given by the tackle manufacturers I decided to creat my own version of the old ABU Salmo in the 27g (livelier action) Monteith Copper Sprat. There is/was however an unfair stigma attached to these salmon lures about being bad hookers which is nonsense and only due to anglers fishing them with too slack a spinning reel clutch setting for the hook to be set effectively early into contact. Ridiculously, the old tackle dealer (non professional ghillie) remedy was to recommend adding an additional split ring to the hook (to counteract leverage!) but think of the logic of that codswallop which actually moves the hook further away from the target! Here's more info on my revolutionary Monteith salmon lure range.
Sufficient Hook Set Pressure Is Vital
The majority of the inside of a salmon's mouth is fairly tough tissue therefore those bigger spinning lure hooks are not going home properly unless a good firm bend on the rod is administered where that vital early 'hook set' energy is not negated by the sound of a light clutch setting. Tightening your clutch up to set the hook should make perfect sense and then once you know that salmon hook hold has been properly achieved (after 5 to 10 seconds of firm contact) then loosen the clutch off slightly to play the fish. You want the initial clutch setting on your reel not full on but not far away where line can be pulled off the reel spool but only with a reasonably 'strong' pull. Remember at 20 to 50 yards there's stretch in your mono line and the action of your rod (if using braid) to counteract hook set pressure so don't diminish hook set pressure further via a slack clutch.
Spin Fishing Hook Point Pressure
Don't think the big hook on a 30 gram Toby 'Salmo' is going to set itself when the salmon grabs it and pulls against an overly slack clutch. If you do then I've some bad news for you and I've watched this for so many years and even with ghillies who've continually dropped hooking opportunities whether 'harling' or allowing their guests to spin with lightly set spinning reel clutches. All hooks logically require sufficient pressure to be set and if they are not set fairly quickly while spinning you're guaranteed to get your lure back minus the fish!