Losing Bass Could It Be My Rod?

[bigbill]

I been using the average fishing rods. Not the bass rods with the macho backbone and added upper power rating. I'm think about why I'm losing some bass in the fight I never should of lost. I can understand the longer casts is a risk over deep submerged weeds. But in the open water after what felt like a 15 minute battle and she bent my rod in half like no other fish ever did, call me a tow truck will ya? I know you guys/gals are reading my posts about buying rods lately. I'm moving up into the rods with the meat(backbone) at the lower section. That fish that bend my rod in half cracked the foam handle area. It's a Shakespeare Contender 6' it was. This one landed my PB of 10#. I'm just trying to figure out why I lose so many bigger fish. I'm thinking because I was using the wrong rod and couldn't set the hook with the force it needs to be set good enough with. Most of my lures are ok but maybe the hooks need honing / sharpening too? How often do you sharpen your hooks?

I understand that some fish can be very aggressive fighters

and they can refuse to be caught sometimes. But the bigger ones feel to be like it's in slow mode as I fight with it.

Could it be;

1. I'm using the wrong action and power rod?

2. My hooks aren't sharp enough?

3. I'm sleeping or weak on the hook set?

4. A combination of all the above?

I just up graded all my spinning rods and crankbait rods to more backbone (thicker) and more power at the top. On my heavier setups I have mainly 12#, 14#, 17# copolymer line & braid too on my punch/jig setup.

I'm just trying to figure out what my problem is. Bill

[Nibbles]

How'd she get unhooked?

 

Head shake? Or did the line just suddenly go slack? Some other way perhaps?

 

If you are losing them after they reach the surface, there's no discounting the possibility it is due to a hookset issue, but it could also be a matter of remembering to keep your rod tip low.

[bigbill]

You could be right I keep my rod up. I need to keep it lower. The line went slack during the fight. I do remember holding the rod up.

[Raul]

My man, fighting a fish is done with all the resources you have: rod, reel, line, drag settings, hook sharpness and your own fish fighting and hook setting technique, knowing when to pull, when to reel, when to let go. You don´t need no "macho" backbone rods all the time, macho backbone pool cue stiff rods are needed in particular circumstances. I´ve landed 5lb + fish with a UL rod and 4 lb test line.

[motodmast]

ya its not the rod, its what you do during the fight.

[motodmast]

and also, ive never sharpened a hook, you'd probably be better to just tie on a new one

[smalljaw67]

There are a lot of things that can cause the loss of a fish but if you are using a single hook lure and your rod is bending in half like in a parabolic way then the action of the rod is way too soft regardless of backbone. In fact, don't look at how thick a rod is at the butt section, newer rods have thin blanks, especially the decent rods, instead look at power and action of the rod. Another reason is you are using a soft rod with copoly line, a line that has stretch with a soft rod equals a lot of lost fish when using baits like T- rigged plastics and jigs, even spinnerbaits will present a problem on a long cast, Try using a medium heavy power, with a fast action, based on the info about the rods you currently use, a fast action rod is going to feel pretty stiff in comparison.

[eatlessfish]

100% with smalljaw67. Try upgrading at least one of your rods to a MH fast tip for single hook baits. You should start to see bigger fish being caught and not lost. But pretty much smalljaw67 nailed it!!

[LMB ANGLER]

the only contact between you and the fish is line and hook, so it has to be one of those or both, so my guess is, maybe a harder hookset or the hooks are not sharp enough... It cant be the rod or reel. i have gotten fish (mexican style) line on a pepsi-cola and a hook, and still catch fish. 

[BobP]

Big bass have harder mouths and require harder hooksets and sharp hooks to penetrate.  Even pros using flipping sticks get flummoxed by that sometimes.  When you set the hook, you usually don't know the size of the bass on the other end of the line so I think a sharper hook is more important because a giant hookset can tear the thinner membranes in the mouth of a small or medium size bass and then come out on a head shake.  I wouldn't expect a whippy rod to apply enough force to penetrate the roof of a big bass's mouth.  And it also sounds like your flexible rod may be causing extended fights when a big bass is hooked.  Give a big bass too much time to fight and it will eventually find a way to beat you.  Long fights also exhaust bass and cause increased mortality.  I can't conceive of a fight with any size bass taking more than about 30 seconds, with the right equipment. 

[SirSnookalot]

ya its not the rod, its what you do during the fight.

Bill I've read many of your posts, your problem is simple, you over complicate things and do not react naturally. The problem is user error, not the rod, reel or line, if your hooks are dull that's user error too.  You need to perfect your own way of hooksetting, fighting and landing a fish.  From various price ranges in rods, to different powers and tips and everything else that distinguishes one rod from another, those are merely excuses for not landing a fish, not reasons.  A good fisherman is going to be successful with any rod, a higher quality rod will only help if you already know what you are doing.  That said, no one lands them all.

[*Hootie]

Bill I've read many of your posts, your problem is simple, you over complicate things and do not react naturally. The problem is user error, not the rod, reel or line, if your hooks are dull that's user error too.  You need to perfect your own way of hooksetting, fighting and landing a fish.  From various price ranges in rods, to different powers and tips and everything else that distinguishes one rod from another, those are merely excuses for not landing a fish, not reasons.  A good fisherman is going to be successful with any rod, a higher quality rod will only help if you already know what you are doing.  That said, no one lands them all.

 

 

THIS!!!

 

Hootie

[JayKumar]

The reason bass pros use heavy rods and line (a lot of the time) compared to recreational fishermen is that they want to keep the fight as short as possible.

[bigbill]

I did mention it could possibly be my fault on the hook set too by not being hard enough or quick enough to set the hook. But my rods could be way too soft power wise too?

I guess it's mostly operator error too.(My fault) I need to be more aggressive on the hook set.

[mjseverson24]

I would say it is more the rod than anything else. If your rod Shakespeare rod is bending too much it will not have the ability to recover quick enough to keep tension on the fish if it decides to come towards you all of a sudden. I would assume this is your problem since the fish just get off after a while. longer heavier rods and heavier line with good sharp hooks will definitely help the cause. good luck.

 

Mitch

[Catt]

My man, fighting a fish is done with all the resources you have: rod, reel, line, drag settings, hook sharpness and your own fish fighting and hook setting technique, knowing when to pull, when to reel, when to let go. You don´t need no "macho" backbone rods all the time, macho backbone pool cue stiff rods are needed in particular circumstances. I´ve landed 5lb + fish with a UL rod and 4 lb test line.

Yelp & I would tend to think operator error

[crazy cranker]

Just a couple of thoughts - you didn't mention what technique you were fishing when everything went awry. Different techniques require different rod ratings (power, taper, etc.) Your problem may ultimately be a result of line stretch. Find the specs for your line in a technical review if possible like tackle tour. As it relates to the rod breaking, even the best rods can and will break if you high stick them. If you mention what technique you were fishing I'm sure there are many here that can help you solve the problem. Hope this helps.