spitting out the crankbait

[garland]

Twice recently, I've had a good size bass hooked on a crankbait cruise straight at the boat and come unleased right as it cruised under the boat. Anyone with similar experiences and or solutions?

[T-rig]

There is no solution, this happens to everyone!

[CJ]

Loosing bass on any lure featuring treble hooks,is inevitible.

However the right rod,line,treble hooks,and the way you may play the fish and set the hook will cut down on lost fish.

[booneangler]

I cant figure out how they can hit a bait and not get hooked it amazes me. All those treble hooks and you still will miss some sometimes.

[Marty]

As has been said, everybody loses fish on crankbaits. Double -check that your hooks are needle sharp.

[Randall]

Not sure what happened without seeing it happen but a big bass can clamp down on a crankbait so hard that a wimpy cranking rod and stretchy line will not be able to move the bait in the mouth of a big fish to set the hook. My solution to this is to not use a crankbait rod but use a heavy action graphite rod and a loose drag. When the fish hits the bait the drag will slip a little allowing the fish to get the bait well. Then you put your thumb on the spool of the baitcaster and set the hook hard with a sweeping motion then release the spool and let the fish take drag. When you want to put more pressure on the fish put your thumb back on the spool. When you want to give a little line take it off. Takes some practice but it works.

[jdw174]

I regularly use a tailspin Bang-O-Lure for topwater fishing.  It has three sets of trebles that I replaced with Excalibur rotating trebles.  I can't even pick the thing up myself without getting stuck, yet I've had bass smash into it, pull the line tight, set the hook, only to get them to the boat and see the fish just open it's mouth and the lure float to the surface

If you really want an education, try and find a copy of the VHS tape "BIGMOUTH" that was filmed by Glenn Lau.  There are a couple of shots of a crankbait underwater that is totally engulfed by a largemouth (I mean sucked CLEAR IN), and it's mouth actually closes on the lure.  It's mouth then opens and the lure is spit out......and the angler never knew the fish was there!!!!  I can't remember the time limit on those shots, but it was measured in less than a second.

[slinging southpaw]

I probably spend more money each year on new Mustad Ultra point wide grip treble hooks than I spend on crankbaits(and I've got my share of crankbaits). It is funny( :'() how one fish will take you 5 minutes to unhook, then the next one spits it.

[captaininsaneo]

I found that I used to let the fish run too much on a crankbait because I was scared of losing big ones.  Dont waste any time, get em in the boat ASAP!

[RecMar8541]

I think my cranking rod has more tow capability than a salvage barge!  Generally when fishing cranks, I use my feet.  When the fish hits, I step towards them allowing a slight slack, sweep like I am swinging for the fence, then dont give them any slack and tow them in.  Objective is to put the fish in the boat, and I try to do this as expediciously as possible.

Recon

[J_pontius]

Yeah, I have invested a lot in the mustad triple grip treble hooks and have had more hook ups than in the past.  Especially on them darn rattle traps!  Love them, but hate them too.  Anyone that usues rattle traps knows what I mean.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

I have a completely different take on the hook-set. I simply raise the tip of my rod (forcefully) to move the fish forward and reel like a madman. Treble hooks embed themselves and continue to penetrate during the fight. Maintaining pressure on the fish throughout the battle is what I think is important. Too often a "Bill Dance" hook-set simply pulls the lure out of the fish.

[Banor]

Completely agree with RW.  On my trebles I try not to cross their eyes.  I'll react to the bite but not with a hard set.

B

[toledobasser]

I just happen to be watching Hank Parkers show on TV yesterday and one of his tips was about that very same thing.  Although he was talking about Rattle Traps, I am sure it would pertain to any crank bait you are having trouble with fish throwing.  I myself have a devil of a time landing fish on Rattle Traps.  He was saying that many years ago, Tommy Martin told him the first thing to do with a Trap is to replace the hooks with Mustad Triple Grip hooks. Hank said that by doing that he has cut his loss from about 95% to about 5%.

[J_pontius]

Good to know that I lost my 5% this weekend on the rattle trap, so now I should be golden for the rest of the year!     8-)

[Raul]

Loosing fish is a fact of life, loosing several fish on the same crankbait deserves a good kick in the butt, you deserve it for not having the bait 's hooks razor sharp.

In fishing razor sharp hooks are a must, with sharp hooks you don 't need to set the hook, the fish impales itself on them in the first run.

[Lightninrod]

As has been said, Mustad Triple Grip hooks will cover a multitude of sins .  They are superior to most 'out of the box' cr/bait hooks.

Having said that, get a tube of Megastrike Attractant and rub a gob of it all over the bait including the knot, the hooks, and the first 3 or 4" of the line.  This will accomplish two things; it will cover up any paint or plastisol odor and it will make the bait 'slippery'(reread Randall's post), allowing for a more effective hookset.  MS is not just for soft-plastics .

A too 'wimpy' rod and stretchy mono contribute to your problem too.  I use a 100% fluro for my cr/baits(and 95% of all my rigs).  You should not have to "cross their eyes" on most any bait with the exception of large swimbaits.

Dan

Dan