I usually let 'em chomp it quite a bit on worms or drift gear...but hit it pretty quick on a spoon...but unless I have a very direct line to my lure, which is not often the case if you are fishing it right, I'll give it a few quick cranks on the reel and then set the hook.

At that point it's all the same...I cross their eyes. Yes, I've exploded high modulus rods on the hooksets, and I've managed to pull muscles in my back and reel in fish leaned over sideways because I couldn't stand up straight.

Once they start ripping around it's harder to keep a spoon with a barbless hook stuck in a fish than it is with many other types of gear...that's why you use high quality hooks, stick 'em hard, and keep the line tight!

Fish on...

Todd