Most Likely Lost My Pb Today! Avice Needed

[das028]

My home lake is surrounded by some pretty dense forest, so there is an abundance of cover all around the shore line. There are paths around the lake, but the tree line often times comes right to the edge of the water. I've found a lot of success this year popping  out of openings in the tree line and pitching a jig to whatever cover I think the bass will be at, and often time bass will be caught feet from the shore, even at this time of year. Lots of vegetation too.

 

Well, I was having a slow day, when I pitched a jig at a tree that had fallen over into the water. Just like bass sometimes do, it picked my jig up and just kind of casually swam off with it. When I set the hook, all hell broke loose! It took off straight into cover pulling my drag with it, and Im trying to fight this thing. Well long story short, this fish got itself into deep cover, to the point my line just felt snagged. It most of gotten my line all tangled on that tree in the water. Either that or it had spit my hook out and I was actually snagged. I'm being totally honest when I tell you fellas, that I've never felt a bass this heavy on my line before, but once it had buried itself it just felt stuck.

 

I tried letting some line out and waiting, hoping it would swim free, but eventually my line snapped. I was using 30lb braid, by the way. Now I don't consider myself a newbie to bass fishing, but I've just recently in the last few years begain to take my fishing a bit more seriously, and this is the first time I've ever lost a fish this size in cover like that.

 

So besides the obvious thing of having my drag set right, and heavier test line, is there anything else I should of done to land this thing??

 

I gotta say, this one is really bothering me

[00 mod]

Sometimes the bass just win.  Get back after em!

 

Jeff

[Darren.]

Agree with Jeff 100%! Don't let it get you down. I've lost two in the past few weeks that could have been beasts, I'll never know, but I can tell you they pulled like recent 6 pounders I've caught.

 

Both broke my line after a good struggle, drag was set correctly, I played them right, no snags, no objects in the way, they just won those battles just before breaking the surface.

 

Sad, but now the hunt is on!

[NEjitterbugger]

Events like this drive me to get back on the water and get a HAWG!

[MarkH024]

Sometimes the bass just win. Get back after em!

Jeff

X2. You won't win them all. Get after 'em

[edfitzvb]

Most of us have been there. Nobody wins all of them. Fish enough and you'll catch some that you shouldn't have to balance things out. Chin up

[das028]

Agree with Jeff 100%! Don't let it get you down. I've lost two in the past few weeks that could have been beasts, I'll never know, but I can tell you they pulled like recent 6 pounders I've caught.

 

Both broke my line after a good struggle, drag was set correctly, I played them right, no snags, no objects in the way, they just won those battles just before breaking the surface.

 

Sad, but now the hunt is on!

 

 

Yep, the thing that gets me is I'll never know. I caught my PB on this lake this spring at close to 5lbs. Just a few weeks ago, I caught what would of been a new PB but I didn't have my scale or my phone(camera) on me, and that one was clearly larger then the 5lber I caught this spring. The one I lost today felt so much heavier then the two of those fish I can only imagine. I'm usually pretty calm, but this guy had my heart racing!!!

 

But I definitely will be back at it ASAP. I cant wait to get my kayak, so I can get to these pigs with a different angle

[ClackerBuzz]

unfortunately it happens but to help minimize it, the proper rod, reel & line jig fishin wood and/or heavy cover is necessary...fishing that kind of cover you need a solid rod with backbone & high gear ratio reel to move that fish up, out & away ASAP, so it doesn't get too much opportunity to wrap you up or get buried...me personally, i'd never jig wood with 30# braid or anything less than a MH stick with 50# braid...

this^^

and you are shore fishing which really requires the 'right' tackle ie heavy.

in a boat/kayak/canoe etc you at least have a shot of paddling over and trying to work the fish from above.

from the bank you just flat out need horizontal winch power.

great story and i hope you stick another one soon

[Bankbeater]

While fishing from the bank last year, I had a bass that went maybe 4 or 5 pounds tangle my line in a tree.  I spent 15 min. trying to get that line loose before I gave up and just broke it.  Sometimes you get the bass, and sometimes the bass gets your bait.

[CPBassFishing]

Go back there with a heavy rod and 50 or 65lb braid.

[BassinLou]

It happens. I know it stings, we have been there at one point or another. I know for me personally it has happen a few times. Take the advice of the BR members and tweak your outfit and line to "try" to minimize the occurrence of that situation again. I emphasize "minimize" because it's true sometimes the bass does win.

[das028]

^{I'm using a Revo S reel with a 6:4:1 gear ratio}

 

^{A 6'6"MH mojo bass rod in fast action}

 

^{I think my rod has plenty enough back bone, but I'll be definitely spooling some 50lb braid ASAP. Either way I'm gonna have to make it work, because I cant afford anymore gear anytime soon. Maybe bonus time, but that's not until march.}

[Bladesmith,]

Here in OK I fish heavy brush a lot. You mentioned the fish pulled out your drag. When the fish are in heavy brush I tighten my drag tight. I want to be able to pull a fish out of the brush quickly before he can hang me up. If he can pull out the line against the drag he can hang you up no matter how stiff your rod is. I use 50# Power-Pro for jigging and I'm thinking of going up to 65#. Another thing to consider is you want a strong hook. I've noticed some jigs have thin hooks. Get a quality jig like Siebert's and you'll be able to pull them out of cover, no problem. Just remember you have to react quick or they will hang up for sure.

[GeorgiaBassBros]

Sounds like you have a good excuse for some new gear, you really NEED that 7'6" extra heavy rod with 85# braid so next time you can winch in the fish and the tree 

[lmbfisherman]

I had that happened to me this year from my small boat (inflatable) I was using a squarebilland it was big I know, but will never know how big.  I played it right and had everything set right, it was dragging me around and notice it was starting to head for heavy cover timber.  I tried with everything I had to turn it away, but to no avail.  Tangled me on some timber and it was over.  It's a tough feeling I know!  Like others have said.  Sometimes they just get the best of you.

[das028]

Sounds like you have a good excuse for some new gear, you really NEED that 7'6" extra heavy rod with 85# braid so next time you can winch in the fish and the tree 

 

Sounds like I need a kickstarter account haha jk. In all seriousness, I think my gear for jigging is good enough. I feel it is. And if you could see where I fish, a rod that size wouldnt be a good idea. Yhay mojo bass is pretty d**n stiff, and I like the size. Going to Dicks today, to get some heavier braid, and some baby brush hogs. Alsways wanted to try those out as a trailer