Fish Jumping At Boat And Spitting Hook

[Schuyler co]

Lost a number of bass including 3 nice bass at the boat this morning, as a i brought them up to net them they jumped and spit the hook. Was throwing a seibert dredge brush jig so it's not quality of hook. i know it happens sometimes, just frustrating. Any advice would be appreciated

[Raul]

Set the hook harder, use the appropiate rod action and power, use the appropiate line.

[Schuyler co]

Set the hook harder, use the appropiate rod action and power, use the appropiate line.

I'm using a med heavy rod and 12lb seaguar Abrazx ....

[everythingthatswims]

I'm using a med heavy rod and 12lb seaguar Abrazx ....

12 is too light IMO. #17 is the lightest I will go for jigs. 

 

At the moment I am fishing jigs on a MH with #20 fluoro. I can really drive the hook home without worrying about my line. 

 

With jigs I tend to boat flip them rather than waiting for a net because they are notorious for shaking their head at the boat and spitting the hook, since you overpower the fish when using jig equipment they still have a ton of energy when they make that jump/headshake at the boat.

[Ozark_Basser]

I'm using a med heavy rod and 12lb seaguar Abrazx ....

Either you were having some bad luck, or you weren't setting the hook hard enough. Braided line helps with jigs and setting the hook. I always tie on a fluoro leader.

[chelboed]

Keep the rod tip low and pull sideways.

[iceintheveins]

I usually just call those a quick release unless it's a tournament, then of course they don't count. The main thing I've found is to keep the right amount of tension, a low rod tip, and to use the proper rod so they don't get slack, along with premium hooks. Even taking all those steps though, sometimes there isn't much you can do.

[SirSnookalot]

There isn't a fisherman alive that hasn't lost a fish of any species on a jump or head shake, it's just a fact of life.  IMO the main reason is not keeping a tight line, give a fish a split second chance and it's gone.  As a fish jumps or head thrashes it's not unusual for hole in the fish's jaw to enlargen, all the more reason for a tight line.  An argument can be made for better hooks, stronger line and different rod, I still put the main cause allowing the fish to get away.  You can reduce the amount times it's going to happen, you cannot eliminate it completely. 

[scaleface]

I fish jigs on 12 lb test . Thats not a problem . Could be just bad luck on that day. We have all had days like that.You  migh twant to play the fish a little longer  . On  jumping fish ,there is always a good chance the lure will come unbuttoned .

[OkobojiEagle]

Since I don't know your age, I'm unable to give you appropriate counsel.

 

 

oe

[Schuyler co]

Since I don't know your age, I'm unable to give you appropriate counsel.

 

 

oe

38....lets hear it oe.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

[OkobojiEagle]

Appropriate advice above... keep adequate tension on the line.  Use the bow in the rod to provide the tension and give you a visual cue how much tension is being maintained.  A medium power, medium fast to fast rod is plenty of rod to land average to above average bass and will provide a deeper bow.  Take your time playing the bass and maintain that deep bow of the rod into the net.  There, you have everything I can bring to the subject from my dementia riddled mind.  Did I mention it's all about keeping the bow in the rod?...

 

 

oe

[Steveo-1969]

As someone who has lost countless fish on jigs when the fish jumps, I agree with most of the posters above.  12# fluoro line and a MH powered rod is plenty to drive the hook past the barb.  I lose fish because the hook widens the hole in the fishes mouth and when he/she jumps I don't keep tension on the line and they throw it.  When you feel the fish coming up and about to jump, keep the rod tip low and to the side, keep a bow in the rod and the line tight.

 

You'll still lose some fish, but not nearly as many.

[WRB]

I fish jigs more than most anglers and use 10-14 lb FC depending on the depth during the day time.

You when you are hook setting too hard, you break off the bass! Sometimes bass engulf the jig and crunch down hard, you hook set and don't move the jig because it's against the inside of close mouth lip. If the jig is designed to be fished more verticle and has a weed guard, the jig rolls sideways and when the bass comes up and opens it's mouth...out comes the jig.

You can give the bass a insurance second hook set during the fight, sometimes works. I use longer shank 5/0 hooks with forged smaller diameter wire that require less hook setting force to penetrate mouth tissues easier and always check the hook point for sharpness. Plus I don't use weed guards, sparse cover in rock structure allows me to use a hitchhiker with worm section as a weed guard.

At night I use heavier 15-20lb mono when bass tend to be in brush cover and use heavier wire jigs with a weed guard. Night bass also tend to be closer as I make shorter casts, rarely over 60', day time often over 90', if that is what it takes to get strikes.

Try a secondary hook set after the bass makes a turn and keep the rod loaded up during the fight.

Tom

[scaleface]

  Plus I don't use weed guards, sparse cover in rock structure allows me to use a hitchhiker with worm section as a weed guard.

 

Do you remove the weedguard , buy them that way or make them ?

[WRB]

Do you remove the weedguard , buy them that way or make them ?

I make my jigs without a weed guard and buy jigs with a weed guard when needed. You buy GYCB football heads without a weed guard, with Gamakatsu or Owner hooks and add a CPS or Hitchhiker spring to the hook eye. I use a 2" length of a finesse worm, split the tail so the hook point insert into the split after screw onto the spring, works good!

Tom

[wnybassman]

Sometimes bass engulf the jig and crunch down hard, you hook set and don't move the jig because it's against the inside of close mouth lip. If the jig is designed to be fished more verticle and has a weed guard, the jig rolls sideways and when the bass comes up and opens it's mouth...out comes the jig.

 

 

This was going to be my reply as well, much like jigging spoons and smallmouth.   The bigger they are, the harder they clamp down on the bait.

[papajoe222]

I would take a long, hard look at your netting technique.  I'd venture a guess that as you got the fish up, you immediately attempted to net them.  That last jump on a short line will do you in more often than not.  I don't attempt to net a fish until I can lead it to the net rather than take the net to it. 

[benthinkin]

solve all your problems, bump up to heavy line and BOAT FLIP EMMMM