How to fight a large bass

[Jcj90]

What do you guys do to prevent a 5lb plus bass from shaking the hook when they come to surface and shake their mouths? I lost two nice bass in upstate Ny last week the same exact way, hooked the fish then they both came to the top and shook mouth and threw the hook

[Ski]

Rod tip down, tight line, That is why a fast reel is important.  After hook set the fish normally will come up to get it of the mouth. Point the rod tip down and tight.

[Choporoz]

It happens...sharp hooks...set hook well...try to keep her down...don't let her get any slack.  But at least now they're still five pounders

[jimmyjoe]

   1.) Some trebles are poor quality. Change the hooks.

   2.) Some lures, like treble-hook spoons and fat balsa lures, are easier to throw. Use something else.

   3.) Use a rod with a more compliant (softer) tip. That makes it easier to keep consistent pressure on the hook.

   4.) If you really, really, really need to, use this "trailing hook" method.

   https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/the-trailing-hook-method/

 

   Hope things work out.         jj

[Shimano_1]

Everything that's already been said. Realize that it's gonna happen.  The 3 biggest bass I've ever hooked all managed to get away. Maybe I'm not the guy to give advice lol. I always try to keep the rod tip down if they're coming to the surface and make sure I keep pressure on em.  Don't try to horse em in unless u have em on big heavy tackle. Good luck!

[roadwarrior]

Not me...

The fight with  jumps are my favorite parts of bass fishing., especially with

big smallmouth.  

 

[E-rude dude]

Rod tip down, under water if necessary. Keep reeling unless it pulls hard, then you let them have line, by using your thumb as drag. The important thing is never let it have any slack in line whatsoever.

Biggest mistake you can make is stop reeling when they jump. But, everybody does it.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Jcj90 said:

What do you guys do to prevent a 5lb plus bass from shaking the hook when they come to surface and shake their mouths? I lost two nice bass in upstate Ny last week the same exact way, hooked the fish then they both came to the top and shook mouth and threw the hook

Been a ton of great information offered here already.

When it comes to 'technique', I can't add much more in the way of useful advice.

When we're talking "Big Bass", the discussion of gear/tackle is always an important aspect.

Much of the solid techniques recommended in this thread will be more effective if the gear used is capable of 'Over Powering' the bass.  Face it, if & when we can control the fish more than it controls us, we usually have at least a fighting chance of landing her.  Still, there's times when while using even the stoutest tackle, a truly Mammoth Giant, in the right circumstances, will just take us to school and earn her freedom; often making it look easy in the process.  I am not a fan of that but 

I can respect it. 

So when using gear that tops out strength wise, at say mostly medium size fish, (relative term)

when a beast Mutant gets the bait, we're way under gunned, at her mercy and pretty much just along for the ride.

There's a few "Other species" here that have allowed me to visit that zone a time of two.

 Sort of fun but can lead to heart break.  Many bassheads totally prefer to leave the odds very much in the basses favor - not that there's anything wrong with that.

Personally much of my bass angling these days revolves around plus size bass, both brown & green, I do prefer to utilize tackle that is capable and up to that task.

And to be perfectly clear, I still lose a few bass every season that I was trying really hard to land.

Just the way it goes, but I don't have to like it. 

YMMV

A-Jay

[Deleted account]

Way too many variables for an easy answer, but keep this in mind, fish will pull 180 degrees opposite the direction you are pulling, and they will stop pulling if you do. If the fish does jump, reduce pressure but keep a bend on the rod. With practice a fish can be kept from jumping a majority of the time. I find I loose more smaller fish than larger fish. Slower rods and mono help keep them pinned. I find most folks loose big fish due to inexperience, and/or excitement at hooking a large fish. I've been pin hooking since I was 14, and loosing fish, specially heavier ones is a no no.

[Bubba 460]

Like everyone, I like to see a bass jump... that is unless it's a BIG bass and you don't want to lose it. I watch the line and if she's coming up to jump, I pull her over with the rod just as she breaks water and keep that line tight.

[Koz]

Most bass will fight the pull and try to break the other way, but you can keep the rod tip down and try and keep cranking, but if that bass dives and starts closing the gap towards you before the inevitable leap and shake you had better hope you had a solid hookset.

 

With a bigger, powerful bass it can be hard to keep up with the cranking when they close ground. All of the other advice given here is great, but a solid hookset is your best bet to stave off a breaching bass.

[Bluebasser86]

If a big bass wants to jump, it's going to jump. I don't care what you do, they'll get their head out of the water if you got the whole rod under the water. 

 

Best things to do is keep your hooks sharp and your line tight but don't horse them. Try to keep steady pressure without constantly changing the direction you're pulling from. Have a plan BEFORE you hook a big fish. So many big ones are lost because a person hooks them and then has the "What do I do now?" moment. Is your net out? What side of the boat/spot of the bank are you going to try to direct them to for landing? Are there any objects in the way that are going to be an issue? Have you retied recently? All things to think of, check, and plan for before that big one shows up.

 Try not to panic. It's probably impossible I know. It comes with repetition and experience. Myself and many others on the forum have caught enough big fish that we're able to stay calm while fighting them. Those are the guys you regularly see pictures of smiling while holding big fish. 

[OCdockskipper]

First of all, see if you can talk your way out of the fight.  Often fisticuffs can lead to someone pulling a knife or gun, which turns a minor altercation into a life or death struggle.

 

If the bass won't back down & really wants to fight, use the advantages you have.  Avoid getting swallowed whole, that is typically his best offensive move.  Use a lot of jabs, keep moving around and look for the opportunity to end the fight quickly with an uppercut.  His eye placement is such that he will never see it coming.

 

Remember also that bass are susceptible to distractions.  Toss a plastic worm or jig  past his head & he will look away from you & react to the lure.  That gives you the opening to tackle him or kick him right between the ventricle fins.

 

If at all possible, move the fight to dry land, you will have the odds in your favor.

[RDB]

5 hours ago, Bubba 460 said:

Like everyone, I like to see a bass jump... that is unless it's a BIG bass and you don't want to lose it. I watch the line and if she's coming up to jump, I pull her over with the rod just as she breaks water and keep that line tight.

I agree with this.  Lot’s of good advise to try to reduce jumps but they are going to happen.  The problem when they do is not only can they throw slack in the line but the head shakes can cause the bait to flop around.  That’s one reason why it’s harder to keep bass pinned on heavier lures like flutter spoons.  My best success is to keep the line tight and when they surface, pull the rod tip away from the fish as you continue reeling.  By pulling away, you can keep additional tension to reduce lure flop, lessen the slack, and pull the head toward you to get the fish back in the water.

[Biglittle8]

Like others have said, line tight... Always. One of the most common problems is dull or crappy hooks. Check em for issues often. That being said... You're gonna lose some fish.

[Catt]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

If a big bass wants to jump, it's going to jump. I don't care what you do, they'll get their head out of the water if you got the whole rod under the water. 

 

I don't care who you are ya can't stop em from jumping!

 

Go watch Paul Elias's record breaking tournament on Falcon, if he can't stop em you certainly won't.

 

My thought process is, stick em first, figure out how to land em second by whatever means necessary.

 

Lastly accept the fact ya gonna lose some.

[WRB]

Having caught more big bass then I can remember but do remember the few that got away.

1. A good hook set past the barb keeps fish hooked. Sharp premium hooks are essential.

2. Control where the bass is relative to where you facing...in front of you, not to one side. Keep the line and rod loaded.

3. Take your time, LMB can only fight 1 to 2 minutes max, Smallmouth a little longer.

4. I don’t believe in sticking the rod under water to prevent a bass jumping, you lose control. 

5. Sometimes the fish wins but usually it’s angler error losing control. Bass lures are heavy compared to fly fishing for example and head shakes can dislodge the hook or it tears out. The right hook for the lure is essential, that is your choice. Bass breaking off happens in heavy cover and sharp rocks, again you are in control of those factors.

Tom

 

[CrankFate]

All I can say is don’t reel too fast. The reels we fish with today are fast. Once you’re pulling in 30-36” or more per turn and turning fast, the fish is going to come to the surface. So slow it down, just don’t slow down enough to get slack. I do not see fish breaking the surface when I reel them in, so I am going to say you can prevent them from breaking the surface by reeling slower. And also by using a less rigid rod, when the rod absorbs the bounce and shake, the fish do not come up. 

[TnRiver46]

Very carefully ........

[Big Hands]

I totally depends on your setup and the conditions you're fishing in. If you have hooked a big one on light line, you're gonna have a battle on your hands, and it could go on for several minutes.

 

I had a battle with a 10 lb 10 oz LMB that lasted for at least five minutes because I had it hooked on 6 lb test with a relatively finesse style hook. It took quite a while just to get it up to the surface. . . the first time. Then it still had more runs in her before I was able to net her.

 

OTOH, I hooked a 12 lb 4 oz  bass trolling an AC Plug at nine colors with 27 lb lead core line with a 25 lb trilene XT leader and literally water skied that fish on it's side to the net with no fight whatsoever. Bass ALWAYS ate the front hook on those plugs. We used a 5/0 3x  front treble and sharpened them well. If you get one going like that, you better keep her coming like that all the way to the net if possible.

 

Those are at the polar extremes of the battle spectrum and need to be approached as such. On the in-betweeners, I will try to pull them over to the side just as they are about to break water to jump. This can mess up their attempt to jump fairly often, but not always. As they come toward the surface, I lower the rod tip and try to get a bit of a side angle on them if possible. 

 

The type of bait and hook(s) being used also factor in. Smallish trebles can pull out with too much pressure which makes it more sensible to use a regular or moderate action rod with those baits. Heavier baits can be used by the fish to shake it free when they jump.  

 

And as much as I prefer they didn't come up to battle on the surface, sometimes it's better than letting them stay down where you hook them if they have cover or structure to foil you with. I'll take my chances on top rather than let them wrap me up in a tree.

 

The only constant I can offer is to try to keep the butt section of the rod more or less perpendicular to the fish and keep pressure on the fish to keep the rod loaded. 

 

Sometimes, no matter what you do, no matter if you have the best setup possible, the fish just wins. The more mature response at that point (after muttering some possibly profane things you won't be proud of later) would be to say "Well done sir and thank you for playing!"

[fishingtx]

Set the hook really good. Keep pressure on the fish. When you start to feel or see it coming to the surface, put your rod tip down and keep pressure on the fish. 

[uglyasheck]

Sharp Hooks, Slack out of line, Soft rod tip,  Keep your head in the game, and a lot of Luck. Sometimes it just bees that a way. 

[blckshirt98]

All the tips people have mentioned but you also need to accept that sometimes you don't get barb penetration or you hook them in the lip where you create a hole where the barb doesn't do much good.  Just part of the game.  A 100% bite/hookup/land ratio is the dream nobody that fishes regularly hits 100%.

[Bankbeater]

On 4/8/2021 at 8:38 PM, Bubba 460 said:

Like everyone, I like to see a bass jump... that is unless it's a BIG bass and you don't want to lose it. I watch the line and if she's coming up to jump, I pull her over with the rod just as she breaks water and keep that line tight.

This is usually what I'll do.  If you can break the bass' momentum as it is coming out of the water it can't shake the hook.

[islandbass]

On 4/8/2021 at 4:12 PM, Jcj90 said:

What do you guys do to prevent a 5lb plus bass from shaking the hook when they come to surface and shake their mouths? I lost two nice bass in upstate Ny last week the same exact way, hooked the fish then they both came to the top and shook mouth and threw the hook

Sufficient tension must be kept at all times. If they were able to shake it off and you know you had a good hook set, then the tension on the line wasn’t sufficient.

 

Also, sometimes they win. ?