Keep losing BIG bass, please help!!!

[BassinFLNY]

Starting to think since I fish this lure salt water to, that the hooks are somewhat rusted they are not hook as good?

[WRB]

54 minutes ago, BassinFLNY said:

Starting to think since I fish this lure salt water to, that the hooks are somewhat rusted they are not hook as good?

Most Fresh water lures hooks are not designed (plated/coated) to survive salt water.

Change the hooks using high quality Owner STX-58 good for both salt and fresh water, size 1?

Tom

 

[TnRiver46]

I agree with @WRB, the pole is the problem. A spinny pole has no place in the world of spooks in my opinion. That being said, I have thrown them on spinning gear plenty of times and had success, it just isn't ideal. You can gain line much faster with a baitcaster. I can throw a Zara puppy a long way with a cheap baitcaster, which has to be the lightest walking bait on the planet. Even with all the best gear a bass can throw a treble hooked plug at any moment, especially a big bass. They come off your hooks because they are extremely strong and jump a lot. Keep practicing and you will get the hang of it, sometimes we can overthink the whole process.  One thing I would try is Texas rig a floating worm or fluke and fish it like a spook. The odds of losing a fish on a single hook are far less than with treble hooks

[BassinFLNY]

Sort of off topic: how when I just fish a wacky rig senko I just get dinks but with the spook I just hook up with big ones?

[Nebasska]

For me when I get a big one I had to learn not to have fun and play with them and enjoy the ride....If you want to get a picture you need to smoke them into the boat and not get them any and I mean any slack...

[scaleface]

I'd quit using the Chugging Spook . I havent used a walking bait in years because of all the missed strikes  that comes with them .

[BassinFLNY]

8 hours ago, scaleface said:

I'd quit using the Chugging Spook . I havent used a walking bait in years because of all the missed strikes  that comes with them .

What are some good alternatives 

[scaleface]

1 hour ago, BassinFLNY said:

What are some good alternatives 

Buzzbaits for one .

[WRB]

You are getting strikes so the lure and your presentation is working. Change out the hooks and see if that resolves your problem. 

R2Sea Whopper Plopper is a popular surface lure today. There areal kinds of surface lures to choose from from Black Dog Lunker Punkers to a verity of Spooks, Sammy's and Vizen or Repoman. The Jackall Pompadeur is another big bass surface lure. Most of these lures are pricey and don't match up with your spinning tackle.

Tom

 

 

[BassinFLNY]

Resurrecting the thread: how would the Lewis laser be for the chugging spook? It is a 6'10 Mh rod, the reel has a 7.1:1 gear ratio only a 100$

 

I can also also get it as a 7'0 rod with a 6.4:1 ratio 

[BassinFLNY]

Also looking at the Mach slp combo

[Sifuedition]

On 11/27/2017 at 4:28 PM, BassinFLNY said:

Resurrecting the thread: how would the Lewis laser be for the chugging spook? It is a 6'10 Mh rod, the reel has a 7.1:1 gear ratio only a 100$

 

I can also also get it as a 7'0 rod with a 6.4:1 ratio 

Should be fine. That combo is a decent quality for entry level baitcasting. My personal preference would be the 7.1:1.

 

I recently decided to test using a left-handed retrieve and made a cheap combo in a local sporting goods store.

 

Abu Garcia Black Max ~$40

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/abu-garcia-black-max-3-low-profile-baitcast-reel#repChildCatSku=106268312

 

All Star Classics ~$38-50

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/abu-garcia-black-max-3-low-profile-baitcast-reel#repChildCatSku=106268312

 

This has surprised me with how well it fishes. Casts really well with 15 lb Yo-Zuri hybrid line. I'm not saying this combo is any better than the Lews, just saying there are options.

[BassinFLNY]

On 12/3/2017 at 8:30 PM, Sifuedition said:

Should be fine. That combo is a decent quality for entry level baitcasting. My personal preference would be the 7.1:1.

 

I recently decided to test using a left-handed retrieve and made a cheap combo in a local sporting goods store.

 

Abu Garcia Black Max ~$40

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/abu-garcia-black-max-3-low-profile-baitcast-reel#repChildCatSku=106268312

 

All Star Classics ~$38-50

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/abu-garcia-black-max-3-low-profile-baitcast-reel#repChildCatSku=106268312

 

This has surprised me with how well it fishes. Casts really well with 15 lb Yo-Zuri hybrid line. I'm not saying this combo is any better than the Lews, just saying there are options.

I ended up ordering the lews Mach 1 combo, the reel has a 7.1:1 ratio. I also want to use it in Saltwater, how would you guys recommend cleaning it for after Saltwater.

[Catt]

9 minutes ago, BassinFLNY said:

I ended up ordering the lews Mach 1 combo, the reel has a 7.1:1 ratio. I also want to use it in Saltwater, how would you guys recommend cleaning it for after Saltwater.

 

Sweet combo ?

 

After using my Calcutta is saltwater; remove all line, thoroughly clean with warm water, completely dry, & lube worm gear.

 

I do occasionally open it up to check for water but it's hard for water to get in a Calcutta.

 

I do a deep cleaning & lube at least 4 times a year!

[RogelioFishnTX]

Here because I lost a fish that was probably my PB out at Meridian State Park, TX. They were crushing this square bill in the shallows and I hooked up on a tank around 8am. It charged my kayak, slack got in the line, and then it jumped and shook the lure off only 3 ft from the kayak. Broke my heart. Thanks to all who have contributed some tips. I will probably start changing out my hooks and try to turn them when they jump to keep them on. I'm also going to invest in a telescopic net. Also helps to know that others have felt this pain as well. Best regards and fish on! 

[Zcoker]

23 hours ago, RogelioFishnTX said:

Here because I lost a fish that was probably my PB out at Meridian State Park, TX. They were crushing this square bill in the shallows and I hooked up on a tank around 8am. It charged my kayak, slack got in the line, and then it jumped and shook the lure off only 3 ft from the kayak. Broke my heart. Thanks to all who have contributed some tips. I will probably start changing out my hooks and try to turn them when they jump to keep them on. I'm also going to invest in a telescopic net. Also helps to know that others have felt this pain as well. Best regards and fish on! 

 

Man, I feel your pain on losing these big fish. Just the other day I was tending to a wind knot while my plopper 130 floated 10 feet from my yak. Yes, floating there, just bobbing up and down. Next think I know the line shot off! Fish was 8-9lb class, too. She gave me hell for about 15 seconds and then the lure slipped out. Uggg that sinking hollow feeling and bad dreams to come lol Sometimes I think in a kayak things are a bit different, meaning that the force exerted is not the force seen on those hooks in the fish's mouth. Because, maybe so, the yak moves in or gives in to the hookset and hardly penetrates. That seemingly hard hookset translates into nothing but a lame swing. 

[GTN-NY]

33 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

 

Sometimes I think in a kayak things are a bit different, meaning that the force exerted is not the force seen on those hooks in the fish's mouth. Because, maybe so, the yak moves in or gives in to the hookset and hardly penetrates. That seemingly hard hookset translates into nothing but a lame swing. 

Hmm maybe that’s why I’m not getting good hooksets

[Zcoker]

18 minutes ago, GTN-NY said:

Hmm maybe that’s why I’m not getting good hooksets

 

Well, at least that's been my thinking. Makes sense when you really think about it though. I've been trying to be conscious of my yak position when fishing, usually wanting things to happen off the sides of the yak instead of up front to help with force. Lot harder to move a kayak sideways than from up front, relatively speaking. Regardless, I usually smack them double triple strikes to imbed those hooks. In the example that i posted, I simply wasn't ready for things to happen and didn't smack her that good. 

[roadwarrior]

36 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

I usually smack them double triple strikes to imbed those hooks. 

TERRIBLE habit. Many if not most bass are thinly hooked and double hooking

will dislodge those hook-ups.

 

                                                        

[Zcoker]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

TERRIBLE habit. Many if not most bass are thinly hooked and double hooking

will dislodge those hook-ups.

 

                                                        

 

Speak for yourself on those terrible habits lol In a kayak, I get more fish in by giving it to them good as opposed to a pull and hold hookset or a babying it up hookset, especially the big ones 7lbs and up. And in most ALL instances I need to use pliers to get the hooks out. Like I said earlier up, a kayak moves when force is applied, so adjusting for that movement has worked out very well....for me, at least. The one I mentioned in my post, I simply wasn't ready for her.  

[cyclops2]

I found that the removing of the barb allows for a very easy hookset. 

[WRB]

5 year old thread but hooks and sets haven’t changed.

Treble hook lures have 3 points per hook that contact skin tissue, not hard Cartledge or bone or gullets. Hard hook sets only tear out hooks from skin hooked bass. The reel set and firm rod sweep is all anyone needs using sharp hooks. 

Bass sometimes win the contest and shake out the hooks. Big bass with big mounts that only get 1 hook point in tissue will tear out that hook the closer it is to the boat if the angler fails control the fish or has the drag set too high.

Angler error or just the way is sometimes.

Tom

[J Francho]

4 hours ago, Zcoker said:

Because, maybe so, the yak moves in or gives in to the hookset and hardly penetrates.

You can test this easily.  Have a friend hold a crankbait while in the water, and you set the hook.  Report back about your trip to the hospital to remove hooks from you're not friend anymore's hand.  In other words, while a fish may move you around, you aren't missing hooksets because of it.

[gim]

36 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Have a friend hold a crankbait while in the water, and you set the hook.  Report back about your trip to the hospital to remove hooks from you're not friend anymore's hand. 

I volunteer you @J Francho.  I'll set the hook and you hold it.  LOL

[Zcoker]

45 minutes ago, J Francho said:

You can test this easily.  Have a friend hold a crankbait while in the water, and you set the hook.  Report back about your trip to the hospital to remove hooks from you're not friend anymore's hand.  In other words, while a fish may move you around, you aren't missing hooksets because of it.

Now that’s some amazing and intelligent advice you got there lol Care to volunteer?