Landing Big Fish

[Mr_Scrogg]

Just not my year I guess. Ive had one heck of a time getting big fish in the boat. Losing them boat side or close to the boat is a recurring nightmare.

Ive lost a possible state record Saugeye, and today, 2 Smallies that was close to 5lb.

I let the fish do its thing and not muscle it. But apparently thats not working.

Ideas, tips, tricks?

[Khong]

Sharp hook and a good hook set.  Keep line tight and reel it in fast.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Saugeye was on a Series 2 RC square bill, smallies on a 3/32oz #2 thin wire hook. Light line.

[1234567]

It depends on what style your fishing. Def wouldn't horse a giant bass on a drop shot.

[PABASS]

I find with smallies and I have yet to lure one anywhere near 5#, even with an open hook you still need to give them a nice hook check, nothing hard but still a hookset.  I cant stress sharp hooks enough, even thin wire hooks need to be sharp and after a day of fishing on the susky's bottom hooks get dull and need sharpened and or replaced.  Allot of people mention checking the line for frays, rarely do I see people checking the hook for a point which I do allot.  Also what type line/rod action/power are you using?

[AK-Jax86]

I feel your pain but the big ones know how to get off hence why they are so big they've been around the block. Basically a nice hook set will increase your odds of getting her to the boat. I'm a bank fishermen so it's very frustrating losing fish at the bank and watching them swim off, or having the fish on land and it comes unhooked or you drop it and watch it go into the water... This use to happen to me a lot

[AK-Jax86]

a net would help the matter...

I figured all boat fishermen carried nets lol

[Fishes in trees]

Not so, especially when you are fishing by yourself, a net can be a challenge to stow & deploy.  I carry a hibernet in my boat.  It is a handy tool and works great when there are two guys on board.  Good luck trying to deploy the hibernet when you've got a decent fish on.  Other nets may be easier to deploy, but more of a pain stowing them, yet keeping them available when needed.  It is a compromise that every boater has to work out for themselves.  Me, I found a gripper, similar to a bota grip only it is 30" long.  I use it on all fish that are too large to swing into the boat.  Just work the fish to the boat, get it to the surface with its mouth open and then deploy the gripper.  Sometimes, the fish are reluctant to cooperate, but once the gripper is locked on to the fish, it isn't going anywhere.  The few times I've encountered fish with teeth, ( not a common occurence in Missouri ) the gripper has come in handy.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Rod is a Powell Max M/XF Spinning. For the presentation I was utilizing, light wire jighead hooks are essential.

I have a net, and both times, a co-angler.

Im wondering if I should be loosening the drag a bit and let them run a bit more to tire. The Reel is a Shimano Ultegra Advance S, Shallow Spool, So I don't have a ton of line to work with, but a little.

[J Francho]

I don't let them run, if I can. If they're pulling drag, and it's set to your maximum comfort point, then you have no choice.  But my general theory os more time on the line = greater opportunity for the fish to get off.  I've learned this horsing (as best as I can with 4-10# line) big salmonoids in tight quarters, stream fishing.  With experience, you learn to anticipate their moves, and use that to your advantage.  It really just boils down to experience.  If I had to point to one mistake I see, is high sticking and not utilizing side pressure to subdue the fish. An by "horse them in," I mean move the fish gently (though keeping max force on them) with the rod, and reeling the rod back into the pressure.

[travis23]

I used to lose a ton of fish (spring, early summer), but I have upgraded all of my hooks and trebles as well, and to be honest I cant remember the last time I lost one.  I remember in the spring I couldn't stop losing the big girls after fighting with them for a couple minutes.  I searched on here and the hooks seemed to be pretty important, but I didn't change yet.  Lost some more and I really got sick of it so instead of buying a bunch of lures, I replaced all of my hooks and trebles and like I said, I cant remember the last time I lost one!!

[Mr_Scrogg]

Good info, John. I know you fish for all different species, with lighter gear mixed in.

I low stick to the side as much as I can. The fish will fight, pulling away, but then turns toward the direction Im trying to get it. A surge or 2, makes me change back directions. Then it will turn back that way. All of this usually within 6ft of the boat. They get close with me turning them, then surge down.

I dont catch alot of bigger fish. When I do, its on a Slammer with 1/0 & #1 Owner Trebles, Hollow Frog with 65# braid, etc. Its always bigger/stouter gear.

I rarely swing fish, and definately wouldnt with lighter line/hooks/rods.

Maybe netting at first chance with the handle extended is something I can try.

[Mr_Scrogg]

I will be looking at better hooks for this application. Matzuo is what I currently have, and Ive seen them bend is with a solid hookset. Eagle Claw are like pewter. Looking at Mustad, or Gammys.

[J Francho]

I use Owner Mosquitos, Gamakatsu Split Shots, VMC Spin Shots, and I even used Matzuo Octopus hooks - all with good results. 

 

If the hook bends, the drag is too tight.  out of all the hooks mentioned above, I'd say the Owners are the strongest, though I have broken them salmon fishing, with heavy gear.

[MarkH024]

I figured all boat fishermen carried nets lol

I never use a net. Not because I won't, I just don't have one. lol

[WRB]

The key to landing trophy size fish or any hard fighting fish is learning to control it at all times. If the fish runs around in an uncontrolled manner, the fish is in control. If you are in a boat, you need to keep the fish in front of you, your in the front so control the boats position. If you are a back seater, the front angler needs to help by controlling the boats position to keep the fish under control. Sometimes you must follow the fish to keep it in front of you and under control. This applies to every strong game fish from Marlin, tuna, musky or bass. Lose line = lost fish, tight lines = caught fish. Everyfish is a little different, bass do not have good endurance or long hard fast runs, they pull hard and turn quickly and can jump out of the water, a minute long fight is about all they manage....give them a minute if that what it takes to control them and land them. Big tuna and marlin can take hours, so a minute or less shouldn't be too hard to manage.

How you choose to land your fish depends on what you prefer, me I like to land bass by hand, unless using multiple treble hook lures, then I use a knotless net, when boat fishing.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Well I was in the boat for the saugeye, it was an absolute giant. I talked to Cbass about the smallmouth on the drive home Thursday and I think we both felt that you probably should have put more pressure on the fish and maybe would have landed them, maybe you would have lost them just the same. I always put as much pressure on a fish as I can unless I have a reason to take it easy on them (frayed line, barely hooked). The longer you let them fight, head shake, and stay in the water the longer they have to try to get loose. Unfortunately it's part of fishing, I watched a smallmouth that may have challenged the state record jump and toss my jig at Melvern a couple years ago. I did everything right to land the fish, but it just wasn't meant to be. 

[SirSnookalot]

Technique is what lands fish and that comes with experience.  I don't blame not having the right equipment when I've lost a fish, it usually happens due to my own error.  Sure there are times I've had a fish get wrapped around the engine or trim tabs and been cut off, but no one lands them all.

 

 

Everyfish is a little different, bass do not have good endurance or long hard fast runs, they pull hard and turn quickly and can jump out of the water, a minute long fight is about all they manage....give them a minute if that what it takes to control them and land them. Big tuna and marlin can take hours, so a minute or less shouldn't be too hard to manage.

I agree, as far as I'm concerned the difference between a 1# fish and 100# one is 99#, the bigger one just takes more time to land.

You want to learn how to land bass, practice on more formidable fish. 

[coryn h. fishowl]

Sharp hook and a good hook set.  Keep line tight and reel it in fast.

x2

[Lil'Gunner]

I went to Gamakatsu hooks this summer and find my loss rate is way, way down. For hard baits, I keep an eye out for those sporting Gammy's, and that's a selling point (no pun intended, but I'll take it..) for me.

 

I don't let fish run around. I don't want to horse them in so fast that there's no fight, which I could, but if a bass wants to walk right into the boat, I let her. I only "give back" to the fish when it makes an honest power run, of which there may only be one or two, or none. I do make a little exception for crankbaits, which seem to pop out easier when I press too hard.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Is the drag too tight?  It almost sounds like the hook is pulling free when the fish turns to run.  Fishing cranks or small hooks I know I have to take my time and finesse them. 

 

I know when I trout fish with those size 18-24 hooks that I can barely see or tie on one minor mistake the hook pulls free.  For me bass fishing or walleye with the 1-1/0 hooks I have found the same.  A lighter drag but keep the line tight works great for me.