Air Bass

[Koz]

My son and I went bank fishing for a few hours today and we both had a good day on the water as we each landed 5 bass between 2 and 4 pounds. But the interesting thing was that every single bass we pulled in today breached the water and got big air. I mean they all launched themselves a foot or more out of the water as we reeled them in. I'm no stranger to having a fish breach, but it was unusual that it happened with every single one.

 

The biggest one that I hooked today didn't count as a catch. He breached for the third time right on shore and thudded on the bank and popped the hook out. As I went to grab him he flopped back in the water. It was probably 4-6 pounds, but it's hard to tell if you don't pick it up or weight it.

 

Anyone else ever have a day where every single fish acted like Michael Jordan?

 

The other interesting thing about today is we son and I caught everything on the same bait. They were crushing a white/gray KVD spinnerbait with a Keitech Swing Impact FAT soft bait. The only downside is the bass ripped up the Keitech every time they hit it. It was a one fish, one bait kind of day.

 

After an hour or so the bite stopped and no matter what or where we threw on that small lagoon nothing would bite. It was really, really, really windy out their today so I couldn't throw anything light like a Ned rig.

 

I also had a gator chase me off "his" lagoon today. He was on the opposite bank and when he saw me he came right at me full speed. He didn't even slow up when he got in my vicinity. He just kept coming right up the bank. Needless to say we fished another lagoon after that.

[Gundog]

Weather a bass leaps in the air has more to do with the angler than the fish. I've found that letting a fish fight the rod and not trying to bring it in too quick will stop them from jumping. Also a properly adjusted drag helps by letting the fish take line. If you keep a very tight line on the fish it will come to the surface and jump. 

[Koz]

After making the post above I got invited to fish a lagoon in our neighborhood. How could I say no? Only one jumper there, but in 90 minutes landed 10 largemouth and a catfish. The best part is that they were hitting on topwaters for the first time this season and the Whopper Plopper was on fire. A couple of 4.5 pounders and the rest between two and three. Turned out to be a great day fishing.

5 minutes ago, Gundog said:

Weather a bass leaps in the air has more to do with the angler than the fish.

Normally I'd agree with you, but I'm pretty experienced on the water and bass fishing. As I said, both the ones I caught and the ones my son caught all jumped in our morning session. In the evening it was back to "normal" catching.

[Scott F]

8 minutes ago, Gundog said:

Weather a bass leaps in the air has more to do with the angler than the fish. I've found that letting a fish fight the rod and not trying to bring it in too quick will stop them from jumping. Also a properly adjusted drag helps by letting the fish take line. If you keep a very tight line on the fish it will come to the surface and jump. 

Ha! I'd love to watch you keep a smallmouth from jumping if he wants to. For me, they seem to jump more in warmer, shallow water but I can't predict it. Some days they stay down and some days they want to go air born. I was on a week long, river trip last summer and was getting a lot of hits on my #4 Mepps spinner. Over half the fish took to the air which nearly every time meant my lure was getting tossed back at me.  I replaced hooks, did everything I could but the only thing that worked was switching to a whopper plopper that was harder for them to throw.

[Gundog]

24 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Ha! I'd love to watch you keep a smallmouth from jumping if he wants to. 

I can. When you feel him starting to come up just give him slack or bring the rod tip toward him and he'll not jump.  Now I can't say I've done it always. Sometimes the excitement gets to me as much as anyone. But it can be done. Try it the next time you hook up with one.

[Scott F]

When a fish is close to the boat, this might work, but 30 or 40 yards out, you just don't have that kind of control.

[TnRiver46]

I love watching them jump! Thanks for the post 

[TOXIC]

Bassmaster Classic Champ Woo Daves once told me that if Redfish would jump, he would never fish for another Bass.  I love it when  a 4lb smallie launches 3 feet outta the water.  Get's the blood pumping.  

[jr231]

I hate when big ones jump.. anything under 3lbs I would be fine if they all jumped... But anything over 5 , I'm praying the whole time they don't jump... I'd say at least 75 percent of the fish that have gotten away from me did so with a jump... Not much is worse than grinding all day, hooking up with a nice one, watching her jump and spit that lure right back at you..knowing good and well she isn't gonna bite again that day. Makes me sick thinking about the big ones I've missed lol. 

 

At least they stayed hooked for ya. Sounds like good fun for you and your son. My daughter is almost of age where it's time to take her out. Pretty pumped about it. 

[OCdockskipper]

4 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

I hate when big ones jump...

Some of the strongest memories burnt into my brain are when large (over 7 lbs) bass get their massive head out of the water & shake.  Rarely do these fish completely breach, rather they just wallow.  For me, there is something stunning seeing that huge mouth wide open and doing everything it can to throw the hook.

 

If they don't jump, the memories are less.

[jr231]

I don't know.. my best memories of bass are the ones Ive held.  Losing a big bass is humbling.. yet very bitter. Anytime I hook into a bass over 5... I'm praying she doesn't break the surface til I'm lipping her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Armtx77]

On 4/23/2018 at 6:53 AM, TOXIC said:

Bassmaster Classic Champ Woo Daves once told me that if Redfish would jump, he would never fish for another Bass.  I love it when  a 4lb smallie launches 3 feet outta the water.  Get's the blood pumping.  

I catch a lot of Reds down here and I would agree with Woo. Can you imagine a run on 30-40" Reds that breached?!?! 

[J Francho]

On 4/22/2018 at 5:22 PM, Gundog said:

Weather a bass leaps in the air has more to do with the angler than the fish.

Not all the time.  There are times you can control the fish, there are other times, when you can't control them from leaping, but you can control the flight pattern.  Also, *whether.