Missing a fish

[shaff1101]

Any idea on where most Bass flee after escaping your hook?  Do they run into deeper water, head for cover or go back to where they were hooked?  Wondering because I lost a few fish over the weekend and could not seem to relocate them.

[Choporoz]

I'm not sure, but I've been working on a theory for decades that they run back and warn every other fish within a city block

[Jermination]

16 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I'm not sure, but I've been working on a theory for decades that they run back and warn every other fish within a city block

i can confirm this theory with smallmouth. They definitely have some Paul Revere in them after you lose one. Not sure if they go back to the school and release some kind of pheromones or what, but typically if i lose one in a school they go down to let everyone else know the cops are here and the parties over

[fishballer06]

I think they likely head back to where they come from, but they don't bite again if they actually got the hook in them. 

 

From what I've seen from missed topwater strikes and/or jig bites, if the fish actually got the bait in their mouth and I ripped it from them, they never seem to want to bite again. But if the fish missed the bait or spit it before I could swing, I have a much higher chance of catching that fish on a follow up cast. 

[N Florida Mike]

I generally see them head deeper. 

But Ive caught the same fish a few times after hooking it or having it break the line. Doesn’t happen much , but it does happen. Theres another thread going on about fish memory... 

[RoLo]

 

On 6/1/2020 at 9:34 AM, shaff1101 said:

 Wondering because I lost a few fish over the weekend and could not seem to relocate them.

 

When we miss a hookset, the fish loses interest in our bait, the angler and his boat     

 

Roger

[MassYak85]

Generally if I actually hook the fish and fight it for a while, I don't get a second chance. But if I just wiff on the hookset or they just swipe at the lure I can usually get them on something else later. 

[WRB]

Those who think if you release a bass caught quickly it will turn off the bite are the same folks that believe a fish that got away turns off the bite.

Experience doesn't support either theory. I have experience a few epic bites catching and releasing and losing few over an hour at the same location, the bite continued regardless of my presence and catching bass. I have also experience releasing a bass and the bite abruptly stopped, releasing the bass had nothing to do with it IMO.

The bass will first seek sanctuary by running into deeper water, then return to it's home area within a few hours. The home area may not be where you hooked the bass.

Watching MLF were they release bass quickly doesn't turn off the bite, timing does.

Tom

[Koz]

I think each instance is unique. Some of it may also depend upon whether cover is available or not.

 

But I will tell you that if I get a short strike if I throw back in that general area there's a good chance I get another strike. If I'm reeling one in and lose the hookset I rarely get another strike on a followup to that same area.

[Bluebasser86]

I've had lots of times, especially with smallmouth, when I'm fighting a fish, it gets off, I let the bait sink a bit, and when I tighten up either the same fish has it again, or another follower has taken it. I don't really care either way.

 

Some fish lost probably run for the hills, I watched a spotted bass at Truman Lake get hooked 3 times on a wacky rig before the hook finally held and it made it to the livewell. Can't lay a blanket expectation on how each fish will react to being hooked.

[Catt]

They will go right back where they were caught, even if they were moved to a tournament weigh-in.

 

A few years back two 10# plus bass were caught on the south end of Toledo Bend, brought to a weigh-in at Toledo Tackle, DNA samples collected, & released.

 

A month & a half later both bass were caught again, brought back to Toledo Tackle, weighed, DNA samples taken.

 

From Toledo Tackle to where both bass were caught is 20 miles as the crow flies.

[dodgeguy]

On 6/1/2020 at 11:30 AM, Jermination said:

i can confirm this theory with smallmouth. They definitely have some Paul Revere in them after you lose one. Not sure if they go back to the school and release some kind of pheromones or what, but typically if i lose one in a school they go down to let everyone else know the cops are here and the parties over

ive seen shows where they say they release warning pheromones and some guys live well them until they leave an area.

[Jermination]

5 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

ive seen shows where they say they release warning pheromones and some guys live well them until they leave an area.

i havent seen it on any shows but i definitely believe it's a real thing. depends if im in a tourney or not but ill usually troll 35-40 yards of off my spot and throw them back

[looking45]

My experience is 99% spotted bass, fishing anywhere from 15-50 feet.  When I release a fish, I drop them close to the trolling motor, so I can watch them on my electronics. Almost all of them head straight down to the bottom. If they are sending some kind of distress or warning signal, none of the other bass are listening, as the bite doesn't stop or slow down immediately after. I've released 30 bass in one spot while they continued to bite. 

[WRB]

32 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

ive seen shows where they say they release warning pheromones and some guys live well them until they leave an area.

This is a common belief and I bought into it for awhile then gave it up. I couldn't justify putting bass in the livewell stressing the fish more with no evidence it made it makes a difference. 

Tom

 

[RoLo]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

They will go right back where they were caught, even if they were moved to a tournament weigh-in.

 

A few years back two 10# plus bass were caught on the south end of Toledo Bend, brought to a weigh-in at Toledo Tackle, DNA samples collected, & released.

 

A month & a half later both bass were caught again, brought back to Toledo Tackle, weighed, DNA samples taken.

 

From Toledo Tackle to where both bass were caught is 20 miles as the crow flies.

 

Rather than a theory, that's a proven fact.

There is a limit however, to the range of a fish's homing instinct.

When this distance is exceeded, it's also been shown that some released bass very far

from their catch point may setup shop locally. This is one reason why it's always a good idea

to fish the area around the launch site, the area that anglers blow right over on their way to greener pastures.

 

Roger

[Jleebesaw]

On 6/1/2020 at 11:30 AM, Jermination said:

i can confirm this theory with smallmouth. They definitely have some Paul Revere in them after you lose one. Not sure if they go back to the school and release some kind of pheromones or what, but typically if i lose one in a school they go down to let everyone else know the cops are here and the parties over

I watch mark zona on tv sometimes and he puts smallmouths in the livewell until hes done at a spot. He makes comments about not wanting them to warn the others. He says it like its a joke, but ive seen him do it enough times to think maybe he believes it. 

    I have seen times where small mouths will follow each other right to the boat while im catching them. Release it and catch several more. They sometimes act like they are swarming and fighting for the food. Its a great thing to see! That said, the comments about releasing some sort of danger pheromones sounds logical. Could be something to that seeing as how they sometimes school up.

[Jermination]

2 minutes ago, Jleebesaw said:

I watch mark zona on tv sometimes and he puts smallmouths in the livewell until hes done at a spot. He makes comments about not wanting them to warn the others. He says it like its a joke, but ive seen him do it enough times to think maybe he believes it. 

    I have seen times where small mouths will follow each other right to the boat while im catching them. Release it and catch several more. They sometimes act like they are swarming and fighting for the food. Its a great thing to see! That said, the comments about releasing some sort of danger pheromones sounds logical. Could be something to that seeing as how they sometimes school up.

might be where part of my belief comes from, guy that i fish local tournaments with used to be a professional musky fisherman and is good buddies with zona lol