Losing fish when they jump

[Jonny15678]

The past couple times I've had a fish i've lost them when they jump out of the water. Is there anyway to prevent this?

[Moto]

No.

[EGbassing]

4 minutes ago, Jonny15678 said:

The past couple times I've had a fish i've lost them when they jump out of the water. Is there anyway to prevent this?

Fish with barbless hooks for a while. You get really good at fighting the fish that way. Not to mention that they make releasing them much easier.

[Deleted account]

7 minutes ago, Jonny15678 said:

The past couple times I've had a fish i've lost them when they jump out of the water. Is there anyway to prevent this?

prevent, no. Minimize, yes.

[Glaucus]

Try to keep your rod tip low to keep the fish down. Release pressure if one does jump with a treble. 

[Jonny15678]

2 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

Try to keep your rod tip low to keep the fish down. Release pressure if one does jump with a treble. 

I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

[Steve1357]

yes, when you see the line heading for the surface, I sweep them back, and don't let them jump.

 

when they jump, they use the weight of the lure or sinker as leverage to pull out the hook

 

it was told to me long ago, when you feel them coming up to jump, set the hook sideways again...

 

[Jonny15678]

1 minute ago, Steve1357 said:

yes, when you see the line heading for the surface, I sweep them back, and don't let them jump.

 

when they jump, they use the weight of the lure or sinker as leverage to pull out the hook

 

it was told to me long ago, when you feel them coming up to jump, set the hook sideways again...

 

That makes sense 

[Spankey]

Make sure your hooks are sharp. Touch them up on occasion. Insure that they are and then there is not much to question. An airborne bass throwing a lure is pretty common.

[Jonny15678]

3 minutes ago, Spankey said:

Make sure your hooks are sharp. Touch them up on occasion. Insure that they are and then there is not much to question. An airborne bass throwing a lure is pretty common.

What is the best way to sharpen the hook, Sand paper?

[Spankey]

5 minutes ago, Jonny15678 said:

What is the best way to sharpen the hook, Sand paper?

No man. What they have out there to buy is this diamond stick that is flat on one side and grooved on the other. It's about 3 1/2" - 4" long and you can (file) touch up the hooks edges and point. I'm not BSing you. Touch up your trebles, worm hooks etc. They even have this one that is battery operated with a coned stone in it but I can't tell you squat about it. The diamond file works great. If you file, try to file into the hook, instead of filing away. The same as if you were touching up a lawn mower blade.

 

 They are cheap and fit in your tee shirt pocket. 

[Bass Turd]

I keep mine on a lanyard around my neck along with the Boomerang tool etc...

 

https://www.amazon.com/UEETEK-Fishing-Hook-Sharpener-Accessory/dp/B01HB7AXKQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1533248093&sr=8-4&keywords=fish+hook+sharpener

[diversity210]

1 hour ago, Jonny15678 said:

The past couple times I've had a fish i've lost them when they jump out of the water. Is there anyway to prevent this?

You could be loosing fish when they break the surface of the water for numerous reasons.  Id start with the most simple reason which is making sure you are using good quality and sharp hooks.  When you are loosing these fish are you using baits with treble hooks?  If you are using baits with treble hooks a rule of thumb is to use them on a rod that bends further down the blank.  Something that does not unload so fast when that fish does brake the water.  A moderate action rod is pretty much my go to when ever I am using lures with treble hooks.  Also next time you are out fishing make sure you are not setting the hook overzealous.  Give that fish time to take that lure.  You would be amazed at how much better you hooksets will be if you wait another sec when you feel the bite before setting the hook. 

[CrankFate]

I don’t get jumping fish. IMO, 99% of the fish breaking the surface comes from stiff rods and tight drags. Maybe fast gears, too. If you fish a soft, slow bendy rod like I do, with a drag tight enough for a good hook set they don’t break the surface. The trade off is a big fish with fight in it can literally shake the whole rod back and forth about two feet each way when you try to land it and create enough slack to get away. So I can’t say one is better. I just don’t hook up or cast as good with stiffer rods.

[Scott F]

26 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

I don’t get jumping fish. IMO, 99% of the fish breaking the surface comes from stiff rods and tight drags. Maybe fast gears, too. If you fish a soft, slow bendy rod like I do, with a drag tight enough for a good hook set they don’t break the surface. The trade off is a big fish with fight in it can literally shake the whole rod back and forth about two feet each way when you try to land it and create enough slack to get away. So I can’t say one is better. I just don’t hook up or cast as good with stiffer rods.

I can see from your post you don't fish for smallmouth. I'm not sure how the fish would know how stiff your fishing rod is or how your drag is set. A jumping bass is trying to shake the hook that is in his mouth. If he wants to jump to get rid of it, you can't stop him unless he is very close to the boat and there isn't much line out.  I had someone else here say you could keep a bass from jumping but with a smallmouth caught in a shallow stream or river at a long distance, they often don't have any other place to go but up. If you can keep the line tight even in the jump, they may not be able to shake the lure loose. If they throw your bait, smile, and go back and catch another one.

[WRB]

If a bass is more then 50 feet away from you there isn't anything you can do to prevent it from jumping. Enjoy the fight and try to keep the fish under control with you rod loaded and the fish in front of you.

Tom

[Todd2]

Keep the rod low and bowed. Survive the first jump. If you make it that far, you've got a good shot.

[islandbass]

8 hours ago, Steve1357 said:

yes, when you see the line heading for the surface, I sweep them back, and don't let them jump.

 

when they jump, they use the weight of the lure or sinker as leverage to pull out the hook

 

it was told to me long ago, when you feel them coming up to jump, set the hook sideways again...

 

That is a good way to picture it. I translate that to this, which is what I try to do, and that is to maintain the tension on the line between the fish and me such that they won’t have a chance to jump. 

 

If they do manage to jump, then I release the tension so that hopefully they don’t throw the lure. I am also ready at the call to reestablish tension when they’re back in the water. 

 

I am not fortunate enough to experience fish jumps often, but when I do, I have Dos Equis in hand. Stay thirsty, mis amigos, lol. 

[Brad in Texas]

11 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Try to keep your rod tip low to keep the fish down. Release pressure if one does jump with a treble. 

I'm with most of the others on this aspect of controlling a jumper: keep tension on the line.

 

How much? To the point that as it comes out of the water, you'd be moving the fish toward you while still in the air or at least attempting to do so. If you release the pressure, regardless of the sort of hook you are using, it is then that the weight of the lure/plastic gives them a bit of leverage to toss it loose.

 

And, a bass jumping is rarely a surprise, most of us can feel and see it developing. Be sure to take all slack out of the line, then once they are in the air, pull back, reel in line fast as they fall, say a prayer.

 

Brad

[Glaucus]

1 hour ago, Brad in Texas said:

I'm with most of the others on this aspect of controlling a jumper: keep tension on the line.

 

How much? To the point that as it comes out of the water, you'd be moving the fish toward you while still in the air or at least attempting to do so. If you release the pressure, regardless of the sort of hook you are using, it is then that the weight of the lure/plastic gives them a bit of leverage to toss it loose.

 

And, a bass jumping is rarely a surprise, most of us can feel and see it developing. Be sure to take all slack out of the line, then once they are in the air, pull back, reel in line fast as they fall, say a prayer.

 

Brad

I was taught to stop horsing them in with trebles once you know they're gonna jump. Works for me. Lost fewer fish.

[NHBull]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

If a bass is more then 50 feet away from you there isn't anything you can do to prevent it from jumping. Enjoy the fight and try to keep the fish under control with you rod loaded and the fish in front of you.

Tom

This......Truth be told, if it isn't a large one, I enjoy watching the jump, but if I really want it in the boat, anticipate the jump and try to sweep and redirect the head as he rises. Anecdotally it seams I have also had better with faster reels. Fish are more successful with large bait that provide more leverage

[mattkenzer]

Acrobatic Smallmouth

• Recreational Fishing ..... 8 out of 10 stay hooked
• Tournament Fishing ..... 5 out of 10 stay hooked

The Lord will Test your Faith

[TOXIC]

First thing....Try to keep them from launching.  That's why you see the pro's ski them across the top of the water if they can.  Keeps the fish from getting the tail leverage to jump or shake their head.  Also depends on what you have hooked them with.  Some presentations are more prone to coming unbuttoned when they jump.  

[rejesterd]

I don't think hook sharpness has much to do with this. If they're jumping, that means they're hooked. If the hook wasn't sharp enough and not fully set, you would never get to that point in the fight. 

 

Watch the line at the point where it's crossing below the surface. When they're about to jump, you'll see it move away from you. When that happens start reeling very fast and yank the rod back as soon as they break the surface. 

[geo g]

In shallow thick weeds, don't allow any slack in the line and keep the pressure on and them coming to the boat.  Don't allow any drag in the reel they will wrap you in a heart beat.  Strong line and a stiff rod are must at getting them in successfully in the swamp.  Head control is key.  The head must be up!  If you do get stuck on something , be patient and let them swim themselves out, and immediately put the pressure back on.