Lost a nice one today...and should have known better!

[DaubsNU1]

Yes, I was out of the game for 10+ years until I started back fishing last summer. But that is no excuse for violating one of my basic principles of bass fishing...heck, fishing in general. 

 

That rule is:  Never grab the line when landing a fish. Always, I mean ALWAYS keep the rod tip up, and use as a shock-absorber if the fish makes a run. 

 

My home lake is just a few years old, and holds a lot of small bass (<12"). Sure, there is the occasional 2-3 pound bass...but they are few and far between. I've been getting in the habit of grabbing the line just above the lure to land small fish. Easy. Convenient. Get that fish in the boat. Get the lure out. Keep fishing. 

 

Two weeks ago I fished lake for the first time...it's known for having big bass. Five and six pound largemouth. Guy at work claims his fishing buddy landed a 9 lb. bass from this lake. Okay, I'll give it a try. I fished for 7 hours and caught a few...one went 3lbs-6oz.  Nice fish. 

 

Saturday I gave it a another try. Wasn't doing great, just two fish in the boat, a 13" and a nice 2-1/2 lb. bass. Fishing was slow. I decided to start pitching a Senko under boat docks (not a technique I'm super familiar with, or even good at). 

 

The sun was getting higher in the sky, winds calm, warm day...and I found a nice dock with plenty of shade and was relatively open back to the sea-wall. 

 

I casted the black and blue Senko and managed a perfect skip, landing the lure just a few inches from the wall.

 

I did not feel anything, but noticed the line moved just slightly to the right.  I reeled up the slack and set the hook. Bam, fish on!

 

I did make one good move...getting the fish clear from the dock I whirled around the trolling motor and got the fish clear. 

 

She made two good runs, peeling line from my reel...but it was all over pretty quickly. She surfaced and I could see the hook buried in her mouth...I relaxed (big mistake)!

 

Instead of keeping the rod in my hand, rod high...and lipping the fish...I reached down and grabbed the line. 

 

She thrashed once and I heard the "plink" as the fluoro snapped.

 

I just laughed, knowing the rookie mistake I had just made.  

 

It was a d**n good fish...I hope we get to dance again one day!

[Ski]

I respectfully disagree, If you have your rod loaded up and you are leaning over the side to "Lip" that fish and your lure disconnects from the fish you may find it lodged in your anatomy. If you do not "Swing" the fish in or use a net it is highly recommended to wrap the line around your hand once and lift. If your line broke I believe it is because of damaged line. 

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/grabbing-line-land-fish.html

[DaubsNU1]

I appreciate the link and the words of wisdom @Ski. I will certainly have a watch of Glen's video.

 

 

[GreenPig]

I always net them unless bank fishing and then I ease them up to the edge of the bank before lipping them. At least you got to fight her.

[PhishLI]

5 hours ago, Ski said:

If you have your rod loaded up and you are leaning over the side to "Lip" that fish and your lure disconnects from the fish you may find it lodged in your anatomy. 

100% agree. I wear cut proof gloves designed for handling wire lath which allows me to drag logs in using 20lb braid with zero fear of being cut. I grab the line every time, one wrap around, and I'm good. No way am I taking a hook in the face at high speed, or any other prized appendage, for the sake of a glory pic. I can't remember the last time I had a fish shake off once I grabbed my line.

[DaubsNU1]

I watched Glen's video, and can agree, grabbing the line is a good way to land fish, especially small & smaller bass.

 

I do not like the idea of walking hands up the rod toward the tip, regardless of fish size.  Watched a buddy snap a rod doing this very thing.

 

Ideal method would be to net big bass, and Northern Pike (which are prevalent in my home lake).  Or use this...

 

 

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

I’ve seen way too many people break off fish While lifting with the line. No thanks. When you are stuck on a log and you want to break the line what do you do? Unload the rod and snap it

 

also I have seen dozens of posts if not more about people breaking Florocarbon but I bet you a nickel it’s still the number one selling line

 

@DaubsNU1, you were right the rod is your shock absorber. Use it as such 

[DaubsNU1]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve seen way too many people break off fish While lifting with the line. No thanks. When you are stuck on a log and you want to break the line what do you do? Unload the rod and snap it

 

also I have seen dozens of posts if not more about people breaking Florocarbon but I bet you a nickel it’s still the number one selling line

 

@DaubsNU1, you were right the rod is your shock absorber. Use it as such 

 

Thanks @TnRiver46. I've landed several large Musky and Pike via the "shock-absorber" method and without a net...play them and work some energy off...then grabbed behind the gills...all while holding my rod high. My hands were no where near their toothy mouth.

 

And there is no way am I grabbing braid on one of these bad-boys.

 

For the bass above, I was fishing 10lb PowerPro braid to a 10lb fluoro leader. I won't be grabbing the line again...it will be either:

- net

- fish grip

- lip 'em

 

 

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

Thanks @TnRiver46. I've landed several large Musky and Pike via the "shock-absorber" method and without a net...play them and work some energy off...then grabbed behind the gills...all while holding my rod high. My hands were no where near their toothy mouth.

 

And there is no way am I grabbing braid on one of these bad-boys.

 

For the bass above, I was fishing 10lb PowerPro braid to a 10lb fluoro leader. I won't be grabbing the line again...it will be either:

- net

- fish grip

- lip 'em

 

 

Tournament anglers always want their hands on the fish, not the line. I’ve never been hooked while landing a fish but I’d rather do that than break off a nice one. 

[Bubba 460]

Bummer ~ Anything over two pounds I net. Any under I either swing up or grab the line and lift up. Not really wanting to lip a big bass with 9 hooks showing, belly lift.

[gunsinger]

There is a simple solution. Don’t catch big fish. That’s worked well for me ??

 

j/k. I swing ‘em or net ‘em. 

[David 7]

12 hours ago, Ski said:

I respectfully disagree, If you have your rod loaded up and you are leaning over the side to "Lip" that fish and your lure disconnects from the fish you may find it lodged in your anatomy. If you do not "Swing" the fish in or use a net it is highly recommended to wrap the line around your hand once and lift. If your line broke I believe it is because of damaged line. 

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/grabbing-line-land-fish.html

I’ve never thought about that, have been fortunate so far as this hasn’t happened to me.. yet. Plan on taking your advice and doing the hand wrap. 

[Tatsu Dave]

We love our Ranger tour series rubber dipped net, hooks don't tangle in net and big with a long handle. Scoop em' up and hold em in water or bring them in. Sorry to here what happened hope you get another shot at him again.