Keep losing BIG bass, please help!!!

[BassinFLNY]

While fishing a chugging spook I kept getting hammered. Thee fish managed to hook up, all three got off. The first jumped and got off. The 2nd and third just took off pulled drag then next thing I knew, they were off. Please help... it is driving me insane!

[DINK WHISPERER]

I always upgrade my trebles to triple grips or owners ST-36. You mentioned they pulled drag? What line are you using? I usually use braid with top water baits with the upgraded hooks. I set my drag pretty tight. With trebles you have to keep a constant pressure on them or they will shake you off. 

[Sword of the Lord]

One of the things you do is, DO NOT let them jump, if you can help it. Keep your rod tip low and try to keep them down.

 

Another thing is, don't give them any slack. Keep them tight. The hookset isn't as good with treble hooks. I could be wrong, but I've personally attributed it to the hooks being smaller and not getting as deep. 

 

You'll lose as many fish as you catch on treble hook baits until you get it down: Stay low, don't let 'em jump, keep it tight. And then even after you get it down, you'll still lose a good portion.

 

Also make sure they have the bait before setting. Instead of out right missing, you could be just barely catching them and thus they're easily off.

[Angry John]

Everyone has there favorite hook and i am a huge fan of the st-41.  I run them on my topwaters and it seems to get the job done for me.  They are strong sharp and just keep them pinned.  They have a slight inward bend which some people claim prevent good hookups but i dont ever seem to miss.  Most of my top water fishing is poppers so they eat the entire bait most of the time.  If your talking a big fish then i would imagine they take the entire bait in there mouth.  I run 14 Berkeley xl for top waters and most of the time a fast action rod.  I add the line and rod as they work as a team and your complete setup has to work for you.  Is your rod loading up to keep them pinned?

[BuzzHudson19c]

57 minutes ago, BassinFLNY said:

The 2nd and third just took off pulled drag

What are you running for rod/reel/line?

[BassinFLNY]

51 minutes ago, BuzzHudson19c said:

What are you running for rod/reel/line?

Shimano ultegra 4K on 7 ft medium light spin rod, 12lb mono.

the drag was set fairly tight(not locked down). The 3rd one was the one that really pulled and was biggest when it came up and shook its head

[BuzzHudson19c]

That's not bad. I was half expecting you to say something ridiculously light like 6lb trilene on a 6' med/light rod or something.

 

I'd start with what the other guys said change out your hooks and try to keep the fish down. Mono has some stretch so don't be afraid to set the hook hard either.

[BassinFLNY]

10 minutes ago, BuzzHudson19c said:

That's not bad. I was half expecting you to say something ridiculously light like 6lb trilene on a 6' med/light rod or something.

 

I'd start with what the other guys said change out your hooks and try to keep the fish down. Mono has some stretch so don't be afraid to set the hook hard either.

Okay with the spooks I'm afraid I'm going to pull it right out of there mouths. What would you guys recommend st-36 or st-41?

[Angry John]

With top waters i dont set the hook.  I reel down or feel the weight of the fish and just lean into them,  By that i mean once i have contact i turn 90 degrees and let the rod load up to max and just start cranking like mad...

 

[Mike L]

9 hours ago, Angry John said:

With top waters i dont set the hook.  I reel down or feel the weight of the fish and just lean into them,  By that i mean once i have contact i turn 90 degrees and let the rod load up to max and just start cranking like mad...

 

Ditto

Reevaluate everything. Your problem may not be that you need new hooks.

This is the best place to start

 

 

 

Mike

[NHBull]

I reel set most and if the line darts for the surface, try and time the jump with a firm pull turning the fish at the last minute.  This means that I am not housing the fish in.  This is one reason, I have gone to high speed reels........no slack especially when they charge the boat

[WRB]

ML spinning rod and a full size Chug 'n Spook is way to heavy (1oz) for your spinning outfit.

Change the rod to a MH 7' Mod/fast and line to 30 lb braid, no more missed hook sets.

If you ever manage to hook a big bass your changes of controlling it on a ML spinning rod is very low. 

You could also use Chug 'n Spook Jr (1/2 oz) and change the line to 30 lb braid using your ML rod, still have a problem controlling a big bass.

Tom

PS, 4000 size reel that weighs 10oz you need to go with MH rod, use the ML rod with a 2000 size reel.

[bigbill]

Losing big bass sounds like me. I been cursed ever since my PB of 10lbs was caught. I have lost probably four or more bigger bass. I can't control them. I just can't land them. There like hooking a freight train. Every time I change the rear hook on my baits I go up one size larger.

 

the one in my picture is 6lb 1oz. I was watching a fish tearing up the pads within my reach from shore. I casted away from the weeds to draw the fish out. It worked I landed her. As she was in my hand the action in the weeds continued. There was another bass in there. This was around early September. I hit this spot again in November just before thanksgiving. It was snowing lightly. I fished near the pads again. I could just see my money minnow doing my dying minnow twitch presentation. All of a sudden fish on. She bent my rod like it never bent before. She's a big one. The fight lasted a little while then the heart break began she spit the minnow.

 

i been so close to a new state record. I won't record it to the state not to report where I caught it, I don't want the place hammered.

[BassinFLNY]

22 minutes ago, bigbill said:

Losing big bass sounds like me. I been cursed ever since my PB of 10lbs was caught. I have lost probably four or more bigger bass. I can't control them. I just can't land them. There like hooking a freight train. Every time I change the rear hook on my baits I go up one size larger.

 

the one in my picture is 6lb 1oz. I was watching a fish tearing up the pads within my reach from shore. I casted away from the weeds to draw the fish out. It worked I landed her. As she was in my hand the action in the weeds continued. There was another bass in there. This was around early September. I hit this spot again in November just before thanksgiving. It was snowing lightly. I fished near the pads again. I could just see my money minnow doing my dying minnow twitch presentation. All of a sudden fish on. She bent my rod like it never bent before. She's a big one. The fight lasted a little while then the heart break began she spit the minnow.

 

i been so close to a new state record. I won't record it to the state not to report where I caught it, I don't want the place hammered.

Same I lost probably my pb yesterday. Same happening on Ned rigs, I got an 8 pounder on it and have lost multiple ones close to that size since

[DINK WHISPERER]

23 hours ago, BassinFLNY said:

Okay with the spooks I'm afraid I'm going to pull it right out of there mouths. What would you guys recommend st-36 or st-41?

The st-41 is a great hook but it's a 2x strong. Which means it weighs more and can affect topwater baits. 

[Angry John]

I don't seem to have any weight issues with the st-41 bUT if you are also going to upsize it may become an issue.  Each lure may be diffrent in how they react to hook changes.  

[BassB8Caster]

Didnt notice if anyone mentioned it, but possibly setting the hook a little too early? With topwater, or really any lure we can see get bit, we may get over anxious and set too early, hooking the out side of the mouth or a spot tjat is easily shook loose when she jumps. I know im guilty of it way too often. Would think we would learn the more we fish. Just get so excited. Def want some backbone in the rod for topwater hooksets

[WRB]

Premium hooks will not help the op's problem, wrong rod for the lure weight.

Tom

[BassB8Caster]

A little of topic but on topic....i have 2 baitcaster combos. First ever is a black max with vengeance mh rod. Second is a lews laser speed spool with laser stick (i think) mh rod, $99 combo. I have gotten by fine for 2.5 years. Have 30lb braid on the lews and 12lb mono on the abu setup. I have lost some good fish on the abu set up where i just didnt get a good hookset, even though i felt i set it pretty hard. For the heck of it i decided to respool both. However this time i out the braid on the abu and mono on the lews. What a WORLD of difference. I liked the lews rod previously with the braid set up. But by switching line, the braid gave the abu rod a little more strength and mono on the lews was better as the rod has more backbone (although both are mh).  Goes to show that your rod makes a huge difference. Just because company A says mh rod, it is not going to be the same mh as company B. Get a stouter rod and you will be a MUCH happier and successful fisherman!

Edited October 9, 2017 by BassB8Caster
Mistake in post

[BassinFLNY]

The first one was maybe 5 or 6 pounds, I fought it for a while then it jumped and threw. Could that have been the result of a bad hook set?

 

I also look at the rod again. It's not a med. light rod, it's just medium 

[Fishingmickey]

Bass,

     Here's my quick two cents. Bass when they jump and head shake with a large spook type bait with trebles can easily throw the lure because of the lure's weight being "flung around in their mouth" by the head shake. That's where keeping the line tension up and trying to keep the fish from jumping come into play.  Early hook setting is or can be a real issue too! Like the one's you described that just pulled off while they were pulling drag.

     Big bass didn't get big by being dumb. A lot of learning is time on the water fishing and learning to wait that extra beat before swinging on the hook set. Also with top water lures I sometimes feel it is much better to use a sweep set instead of cranking down then swinging for the fence.  

Fishingmickey

[WRB]

On October 7, 2017 at 6:47 PM, BassinFLNY said:

Shimano ultegra 4K on 7 ft medium light spin rod, 12lb mono.

the drag was set fairly tight(not locked down). The 3rd one was the one that really pulled and was biggest when it came up and shook its head

What part of medium light spin rod is incorrect? Post the rod make and model number along with suggested lure weight range and line lb test. Your lure, if you correctly identied it weighs 1 oz, has size 1 treble hooks, is big top water lure. Your 4000 reel is more appropriate for inshore spinning rods, but a good choice for 12 lb mono.  Your problem is the rod!

Tom

 

[IndianaFinesse]

Definitely the rod, ml is way to light for chuggin spooks.  Mh or maybe even heavy would be better. I'm shocked you haven't broken it yet just trying to cast a 1 ounce lure.

[BassinFLNY]

The rod: pinnacle platinum plus im6 7'0 line wt.10-20 lb. lure wt.: 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz

 

doesnt say if it's a medium or not I was thinking of another 7'0 rod that's a medium 

[WRB]

22 minutes ago, BassinFLNY said:

The rod: pinnacle platinum plus im6 7'0 line wt.10-20 lb. lure wt.: 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz

 

doesnt say if it's a medium or not I was thinking of another 7'0 rod that's a medium 

Can't find that rod searching the Internet. There is a baitcasting rod that meets your discription except 1/4-1 oz lures, medium heavy fast. Based on the bait casting rod, your s would be rated heavy, definately not medium lite even for off shore use.

Pinnacle is a site sponsor so a few members may be familiar with your rod? 

This is why not having any power rating standards gets frustrating.

I assume the hooks are hanging on splits rings and not direct to the lure hook hangers?

Changing the line to 50 lbs braid or 15 lb Big Game should help get a firmer hook set.

Sharper hooks would also help.

Tom