Skin hooked bass

[stk44]

I went out on a small local lake for the first time this year. The water temperature was 49 degrees. I was using jerkbaits, spy baits, and jigs with no luck. It was windy and the water was a bit stained so I switched to a fire tiger shad rap (5-9 ft diver.) After about 20-30 casts I had a bass on my 6'9 ML Avid X  extra fast with 8 lb flouro.  I know this isn't an ideal rod for this application but I only bring 2-3 rods with me and that's all I had to throw smaller crankbaits/jerk baits. The fish was just skin hooked inside the mouth. I fought him all the way to shore, he was about 5 yards on my right side and lost my first bass of the year. 

What can I do better my chances of landing a barely hooked bass? Should I keep my rod vertical or swing it parallel to the water to relieve some of the pressure? Loosen my drag a descent bit more to absorb more of the shock?

 

Thanks,

Steve

[David Whitaker]

I would loosen your drag a good amount while playing the fish and let it run when it wants. When it's at the boat, be ready for a run and lower your rod and strip line with your hand to loosen pressure. 

[Smokinal]

I don't know that I would look into changing anything just from 1 instance of losing a fish. I know it sucks but it happens to all of us. Now, if you lose your next 5 on that same bait/same setup...then we need to look at some more details.

Sounds like an early season, cold, lethargic fish with a tentative bite that didn't get stuck well. Keep at it man.

[flyingmonkie]

I lost my first fish of the year too... it happens. :/  I don't lose sleep unless it happens more often than not.

Treble hooks aren't designed to get deep/solid penetration and can rip out easy.  General rule of thumb is lighter power on rod (or stretchier line like mono) and good drag.  You were using flouro, but had a ML rod, so unless you were overworking the fish, was probably just bad luck.

[stk44]

On March 11, 2016 at 6:53 PM, David Whitaker said:

I would loosen your drag a good amount while playing the fish and let it run when it wants. When it's at the boat, be ready for a run and lower your rod and strip line with your hand to loosen pressure. 

Thanks. I'll give this a shot. 

I don't think I was overworking the fish. I went out today to try again. I had one bite on a drop shot in about 15-20 feet of water and that was it. Before you know it, they will be spawning and I'll think I'm a pro. Then I'll have some more requests for critiquing in post spawn LOL.