Somebody School Me - Catching Big Bass

[gunsinger]

Twice in the last month, I've hooked what would have been my personal best fishing a TR worm on a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook.  Twice the hook has simply pulled out of their mouth while swimming away from me.  Now the first one, I thought was my fault as the hook set could have been stronger.  I saw that fish just as it got off and I would estimate it about 7-8 lbs.  But on yesterday's fish, which was absolutely the biggest fresh water fish I've ever seen, I swung for the fences on the hook set and just knew I had her good.  I would not be surprised if she wasn't a double.

 

I am using a 7', med heavy - fast Daiwa Arid rod with a Lews 7:1 baitcasting reel. 

 

So, is it my technique?  Should i be double setting the hook?  Are my hooks are too small?  Or do the fishing gods just not like me?  Any thoughts on how to improve my catch ratio on bigger bass?

[ReelFysh]

Are the hooks bent when the fish gets off?

 

[A-Jay]

Always a bummer when we drop a giant - every time.

While I have no problem admitting I am far from being a Big Bass 'Expert'.

And while still losing a few, I catch a couple as well.

My advice revolves around the tackle.

Clearly, big fish are taken on the gear listed above all the time.

But there might be an equal number of "I lost it" stories as well. 

Many times the gear has nothing to do with that.

Other times it does. 

When I am specifically targeting plus size bass, I prefer to take my tackle right up to and perhaps even past "Overkill".  Meaning I am going Stout; especially when it comes to terminal tackle.

Powerful reels spooled with heavy line, mounted on heavy action rods,

are of little help if the business end can't handle and or transfer the horse power. 

So a somewhat heavier gauge wire hook can be beneficial.

I like to eliminate risk when and where I can, not just 'manage it'.

This approach may see a basshead literally skiing and or boat flipping

most everything else that strikes.

But there's a decent chance the gear might not be 'the reason'

the next giant that bites, is lost.

So there's sort of a trade off.

Fish Hard.

A-Jay

 

[GreenPig]

Rod and reel should work fine. You didn't mention the line or bait. Most mono and fluorocarbon's have a good bit of stretch. The lighter the line and longer the cast the more the line stretches, couple that with a bait that's too thick for a 3/0 and you've got a recipe for early release. Most of us have lost some Pigs. Goodluck.

[PressuredFishing]

1 hour ago, gunsinger said:

Twice in the last month, I've hooked what would have been my personal best fishing a TR worm on a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook.  Twice the hook has simply pulled out of their mouth while swimming away from me.  Now the first one, I thought was my fault as the hook set could have been stronger.  I saw that fish just as it got off and I would estimate it about 7-8 lbs.  But on yesterday's fish, which was absolutely the biggest fresh water fish I've ever seen, I swung for the fences on the hook set and just knew I had her good.  I would not be surprised if she wasn't a double.

 

I am using a 7', med heavy - fast Daiwa Arid rod with a Lews 7:1 baitcasting reel. 

 

So, is it my technique?  Should i be double setting the hook?  Are my hooks are too small?  Or do the fishing gods just not like me?  Any thoughts on how to improve my catch ratio on bigger bass?

For the issue of you loosing bigger fish, it just happens sometimes, like loosing smaller fish. Make sure just not to crank them in fast as they will throw the hook, play them a little. I know guys talk about bending out hooks but the only time I have bent out a hook (but still caught a fish) is when  I was fishing a size 12 ultra light wire bait holder hook and hooked into a 8lb trout. Moral of the story is don't worry about hooks bending out because with a thick standard ewg hook the odds are very slim, unless you hook into a 20 lber. As for smaller hooks it doesn't matter, I have caught a 5lber on a size 12 baitholder hook panfishing in winter and no issues. I would recommend keep doing what you are doing! That's my best recommendation for you, if anything just give them an extra few seconds to get the bait in their mouth because their mouths are larger than standard 1-3lb lmb

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, gunsinger said:

Twice in the last month, I've hooked what would have been my personal best fishing a TR worm on a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook.  Twice the hook has simply pulled out of their mouth while swimming away from me.  Now the first one, I thought was my fault as the hook set could have been stronger.  I saw that fish just as it got off and I would estimate it about 7-8 lbs.  But on yesterday's fish, which was absolutely the biggest fresh water fish I've ever seen, I swung for the fences on the hook set and just knew I had her good.  I would not be surprised if she wasn't a double.

 

I am using a 7', med heavy - fast Daiwa Arid rod with a Lews 7:1 baitcasting reel. 

 

So, is it my technique?  Should i be double setting the hook?  Are my hooks are too small?  Or do the fishing gods just not like me?  Any thoughts on how to improve my catch ratio on bigger bass?

How many fish have you set the hook on in this time, and how many have gotten off. We may be looking at an actual problem with either tackle or technique, or just perspective. Also, when folks not used to hooking up with big fish, do get a good one on, they often unconsciously do things differently, which is not what you want to do, and can lead to lost fish. 

[TnRiver46]

Them biguns just know how to get away 

 

the typical knee jerk reaction is to claim the brand of hook/rod you were using was garbage and never buy that brand again. I prefer blaming the weather! 

[Spankey]

You can blame this or that 7 ways to Sunday but most likely it was not your fault or the terminal tackle. It happens. 
 

Doesn’t take much of a let off in pressure, slight twitch, break of the wrist and gone. 
 

If it were a small fish it would be like who cares. But I feel for you, I’ve experienced it. It hurts when it beats your personal best. 
 

Go back for it. Get her. 

[Mike L]

All good and correct answers. 
Since you didn’t say what size worm you used, the only thing I would change is going to a 4/0 hook if you used anything bigger than a robo worm sized plastic. 
 

If you feel the need to double set then your hook IS too small or not sharp. 
 

Your gear is not the problem. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[islandbass]

Sometimes you hook them and sometimes you don’t. It’s even possible that the fish was holding the bait and the hook never got set. 
 

Other factors like line and even hook type as already mentioned. I’m betting it was an EWG, lol. Your distance from the fish is possibly another. The farther you are, the harder it will be to set the hook, especially if there is slack in the line. 
 

Just chalk these up as the fish winning those rounds. You’re sure to win a round soon.

[Boomstick]

As others have said, your gear is definitely not the problem. I'm usually able to hook them on a M/F rod on a weightless T-Rig, so I couldn't imagine a MH being inadequate. A MH/F is kind of the do it all T-Rig rod if you will.

 

The fact of the matter is sometimes you hook them, and sometimes you pull the bait out of their mouth. One thing I can think of is what kind of hooks were you using? EWG hooks are very prone to this, since the hook point is inline with the eye which doesn't give it much room to swing out.

So what is your solution?

 

This year I have been trying the Owner Wide Gap plus hooks as recommended by A-Jay for this very reason unless I am on a lighter rod with lighter line where I use the Owner J-lights, and so far so good. They have a little bit of added grap between the hook which helps your hookup ratio. These run larger than normal, so use 3/0 for most worms and 4/0 for larger creature baits. They're also pretty stout so they would be difficult to bend, good for a Medium Heavy rod with slightly thicker line.

 

Other people don't use EWG hooks at all for this reason.

[Darth-Baiter]

Are you penetrating the worm with the point of the hook?  I try to make the sharp tip as easily accessible as possible. Buys me some snags sometimes but whatever.  
 

I go thru the plastic and come back in and just barely skin hook the tip. 
 

Monday I didn’t do this with the new Zman craw. The big one and I missed and awesome strike.  My bad. 

[scaleface]

I feel your pain .

[the reel ess]

Might your drag be too tight? I like to use around 2/3 of the line weight for drag. If you're using braid, just do 2/3 of the equivalent diameter mono. If the fish bent the hook out, 2 things: Get some superline hooks and your drag was indeed too tight. The superline hooks help in this situation. I mean, I fish in a lot of heavy wood cover with jigs and T rigs. I set my drag so tight sometimes I'm winching the fish out. If I had my drag set at 2/3 I'd lose those fish. But the jig hook or superline EWG won't bend out on me.

 

And then sometimes they just get off. You can get a great hookset through just a little skin inside the mouth. And big ones got big by not being caught or landed. I landed a bass once that had only one point of a Chug Bug treble in its nose. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

[FishinBuck07]

I can't help with big fish questions...... I live in Ohio!!!?

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Boomstick said:

Other people don't use EWG hooks at all for this reason.

I don't use them because the hookup ratio with them is like a Dyson vacuum  cleaner. 

 

Another thing I thought of is that you can get a pretty good idea as to what happened by how the plastic looks on the hook after the strike.

[Mobasser]

Good advice by all here. About the only thing I could add would be once you set the hook on a good size fish, keep the line tight at all times during the fight. Hooking and landing a bigger bass can happen very quickly. These fish may have gotten just enoupgh slack.line to gain leverage and throw the hook. With a large bass it doesn't take much.

[islandbass]

1 hour ago, FishinBuck07 said:

I can't help with big fish questions...... I live in Ohio!!!?

Western Washington is of no help either. Big is between 5-6lbs, lol.

[Bigassbass]

I lost a huge bass a few weeks ago, wasn't equipment failure or me not knowing how to land a big fish, she was a smart big fish, ran into the weeds at the bank and bumped the hook right out I watched as she slowly swam off, she didn't even say goodbye.  It happens to everyone, the thrill of catching another huge fish will come!

[gunsinger]

5 hours ago, ReelFysh said:

Are the hooks bent when the fish gets off?

 

They are not.  It's like it just doesn't penetrate enough.

4 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

How many fish have you set the hook on in this time, and how many have gotten off. We may be looking at an actual problem with either tackle or technique, or just perspective. Also, when folks not used to hooking up with big fish, do get a good one on, they often unconsciously do things differently, which is not what you want to do, and can lead to lost fish. 

I hooked and caught 7 others yesterday and the same setup.  Now, I will admit, when I saw how big this girl was my eyes got big and my level of excitement escalated so I cannot say I didn't do anything different from what I normally do.  I probably tried too hard to overpower her.  If I'd have just played it cool...no big deal....maybe the result would have been different.

3 hours ago, Spankey said:

You can blame this or that 7 ways to Sunday but most likely it was not your fault or the terminal tackle. It happens. 
 

Doesn’t take much of a let off in pressure, slight twitch, break of the wrist and gone. 
 

If it were a small fish it would be like who cares. But I feel for you, I’ve experienced it. It hurts when it beats your personal best. 
 

Go back for it. Get her. 

Oh I absolutely will.  ?

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

All good and correct answers. 
Since you didn’t say what size worm you used, the only thing I would change is going to a 4/0 hook if you used anything bigger than a robo worm sized plastic. 
 

If you feel the need to double set then your hook IS too small or not sharp. 
 

Your gear is not the problem. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

It was a 6" Culprit Fire 'n Ice worm on a 3/0 EWG hook.  I think I probably double set out of fear.  I never do that on smaller fish.

[gunsinger]

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Are you penetrating the worm with the point of the hook?  I try to make the sharp tip as easily accessible as possible. Buys me some snags sometimes but whatever.  
 

I go thru the plastic and come back in and just barely skin hook the tip. 
 

Monday I didn’t do this with the new Zman craw. The big one and I missed and awesome strike.  My bad. 

Yes, I skin hook the worm....just barely.  The hook was new though I didn't take Glenn's advice and sharpen it ?

[Skunkmaster-k]

Ouch . That's rough ! Last weekend I had the same issue , but they dang sure were not double digits. 

[gunsinger]

Thanks to all who responded.  You make a lot of excellent points.  My biggest worry was that the 3/0 was just too small to get good penetration on a bigger fish.  But, I think this may have just been one of those things that happen.  

I feel a lot better about my equipment based on y'all's feedback.  I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and your willingness to share.

[Darth-Baiter]

6 minutes ago, gunsinger said:

Thanks to all who responded.  You make a lot of excellent points.  My biggest worry was that the 3/0 was just too small to get good penetration on a bigger fish.  But, I think this may have just been one of those things that happen.  

I feel a lot better about my equipment based on y'all's feedback.  I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and your willingness to share.

I’m hardly a pro. But I also use a 3/0 hook for that application.  I’d go smaller sometime for the thinner hook, just so it’s stabbyer. If that makes sense. 

[Catt]

Straight Shank Round Bend Hooks