Loosing More Crankbait Fish When Burning It?

[cjam93]

Hey guys so today I was fishing a squarebill and started burning it in. I mean I was fishing it as fast as I could turn the handle (5.4:1) and I on the same stretch of bank had two good bites. They hit the crank hard enough to knock my hand off of the handle. Anyways both times I started to fight the fish for maybe 5-7 seconds and then they were just gone. I know at times a bass will just not get the treble hooks when they hit it, but I have seldom ever had one pull back against me that hard and not get hooked. Sure I may lose them on the way to the boat if they shake it, but not that fast. It felt like if a fish hits a plastic and you start reeling them in without setting the hook, they may fight for a few seconds then they spit it out.

 

So my question is have you noticed when you fish a crank very fast, do you lose more fish? I have never fished one that fast, and I did it today just to try it because I saw a video with Takahiro talking about how that is how he always fishes his squarebills.

[papajoe222]

The problem I encounter when burning cranks or trolling, is very light hook ups.  By that I mean the fish are barely hooked on the edge of their lips and the first good head shake tears the hook loose.  I kind of solved the problem by switching to a med power rod with a moderate tip and mono line.  The combination of the two allow the fish to suck the lure further in their mouth before the speed of the retrieve pulls it out.  You'll still get those light hook ups, but more will be hooked inside the mouth.  The other thing I might suggest is to not reel when setting the hook, it only makes the lure move faster and possibly out of the fish's mouth.

[Kevin22]

Are you using a crankbait rod? If not they are probably ripping the trebles out when they make that big dig 5-10 seconds after being hooked. I ran into the same exact problem this year when burning it. The fish would slam it and with the stiffer graphite Med Fast rod there was just not enough give to keep them hooked up. 

[cjam93]

The problem I encounter when burning cranks or trolling, is very light hook ups.  By that I mean the fish are barely hooked on the edge of their lips and the first good head shake tears the hook loose.  I kind of solved the problem by switching to a med power rod with a moderate tip and mono line.  The combination of the two allow the fish to suck the lure further in their mouth before the speed of the retrieve pulls it out.  You'll still get those light hook ups, but more will be hooked inside the mouth.  The other thing I might suggest is to not reel when setting the hook, it only makes the lure move faster and possibly out of the fish's mouth.

That makes a lot of sense, I would bet that is what is happening. Thanks!

 

Are you using a crankbait rod? If not they are probably ripping the trebles out when they make that big dig 5-10 seconds after being hooked. I ran into the same exact problem this year when burning it. The fish would slam it and with the stiffer graphite Med Fast rod there was just not enough give to keep them hooked up. 

Unfortunately I dont have a crankbait rod open to throw a squarebill on. I have my slightly deeper cranks on my three crankbait rods. I have been throwing squarebills on a Bass Pro Carbonlite 6'6 medium rod with 10lb p-line fluoroclear.

 

I have been wanting to pick up the Tatula 7ft medium light cranking rod for a while. Now I may have more of a reason to haha