Fish not staying hooked on a jig

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

I’ve never had the issue of loosing fish on a jig before this. I normally hit them with a solid hook set, keep tension on the line and they end up in the boat. But today I was using a new 7’3 rod instead of a 7’0 and a faster reel than normal. I lost more than I landed. They all came off  right at the side of the boat when they went up to jump. The line and jig were exactly the same. Is it an issue with my new combo? What can I do? 

[PhishLI]

https://youtu.be/BoEj8GXkw2w?si=oLb77ycEEG2Tk572

[LrgmouthShad]

It’s the only thing you changed. Sounds like it’s the combo

[Craig P]

Sounds like you’re not sticking the hook with enough force which could just be the difference in rod length and the transfer of power.  Glenn has a great video on hooking with jigs, search his channel on YouTube.  In short, get a bite, drop the rod, reel slack, set the hook hard.  If you are already doing that, I would blame the rod.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

Should I just try hitting em harder tomorrow?

[dodgeguy]

Ever think maybe u just had a bad day ? I suggest a net also.

[king fisher]

Blame it on the moon.  Better luck next time.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Some days the fish can be a little shy so I wouldn't get too worked about it. 

First check the hooks and make sure the brush guard is the way you normally fish it.

 

[WRB]

What presentation are you using?

Casting the jig horizontally or pitching a shorter distance?

Tom

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

What presentation are you using?

Casting the jig horizontally or pitching a shorter distance?

Tom

I was casting and working it along the outside grasslines 

[Functional]

only 3 inches but that might give you a softer tip. I'd do the reel down and set hookset method but I'd give it a bit more oomph on the sweep.

 

 

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

7 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Some days the fish can be a little shy so I wouldn't get too worked about it. 

First check the hooks and make sure the brush guard is the way you normally fish it.

 

That might be the issue, the ones I landed were hooked in the lips, they weren’t swallowing it 

[swhit140]

I would also check your weed guards on your jigs, they are usually too long. It is a minor thing that can make a big difference. 

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

38 minutes ago, swhit140 said:

I would also check your weed guards on your jigs, they are usually too long. It is a minor thing that can make a big difference. 

If it’s too long should I trim it to where it’s just above the hook?

[JackstrawIII]

43 minutes ago, August said:

If it’s too long should I trim it to where it’s just above the hook?

 

Yup, that's what I do. 

[WRB]

5 hours ago, August said:

I was casting and working it along the outside grasslines 

When casting a jig I use the reel set with firm rod sweep works very good. Keep the rod tip down and reel fast to load up the rod then sweep back firmly keep reeling to control the bass.*

Rod hook sets sometimes doesn’t move the hook point because you move enough line.

Shortening a fiber weed makes stiffer, better to simply spread it out about 1/4” or cut out 1/3rd of the fibers.

Tom
* Greg Hackney has a video why I don’t miss jig bites

[FrnkNsteen]

So you were swimming it like a swim jig or spinnerbait?

 

Is the new rod more sensitive and/or faster than the old one? I'm wondering if you are feeling them inhale the jig, but if it's a faster rod,,.... could be allowing you to pull it out of their mouth before they fully close down on it. Sounds like that is a possibility if they are hooked in the lips. 

 

I like a little bit slower rod for my moving baits, including swim jigs, for just that reason.

[MickD]

17 hours ago, August said:

Should I just try hitting em harder tomorrow?

Watch the video to see if you're missing something, like lowering the rod, taking up the slack.  If you do have slack line then it won't matter how hard you "hit them." 

[fishballer06]

Are you using a different line? Perhaps one with more stretch? Perhaps your drag isn't locked down?

[swhit140]

6 hours ago, August said:

If it’s too long should I trim it to where it’s just above the hook?

 

I just leave enough to cover the tip of the hook, I'll also spread the weed guard out a bit wider.

[dave]

On 6/25/2024 at 8:42 PM, PhishLI said:

https://youtu.be/BoEj8GXkw2w?si=oLb77ycEEG2Tk572

A good friend and one of the smartest fisherman I've ever met, owned a tackle shop years ago.  When customers would come in, some would inevitably ask, "how can I catch more fish?"   He would reply, first asking them to not think he was being a smart aleck,  (pardon the old guy word...) "sharpen your hook".  Years later, fishing with a client, we were on a spinnerbait bite.  I landed every bite and he landed just half of his.  Exacerbated, he asked me what I thought he was doing wrong.  I told him that it might sound dumb but, sharpen your hook.  He said that it was brand new out of the package.  I told him to check it for sharpness.  Then I took it from him and sharpened it.  Checking it after, he couldn't believe how much sharper I was able to get the hook.  He didn't lose any more fish.  He is in his 70's and having fished all his life, never thought sharpening the hook made that much of difference.

[WRB]

Back before Gamakatsu invaded our shores we lived with battery operated hook hones and fine flat files to sharpen every hook we used.

Today we have excellent sharp hooks by Gamakatsu, Owner and Tokar plus others.

I don’t know if an over the counter spinner bait that uses sharp Japanese hooks but someone makes them.

It always a good practice to check hook points before tying the hook or on and while fishing.

Tom

[MickD]

One of the mistakes many of my friends over the years have made without knowing it is dropping the rod too much as they "pump/reel."  This gives some slack line as the rod goes down.  One aspect of longer rods is the tip moves farther for the same imparted motion, so maybe you are losing tension in the line partially because of the longer rod.  Action and power could get into it with respect to this issue.  One thing I would recommend is to not pump at all, just keep steady pressure with the rod always bent.  If the rod ever goes straight, you have lost tension on the line.

[Bigbox99]

On 6/25/2024 at 7:38 PM, August said:

I’ve never had the issue of loosing fish on a jig before this. I normally hit them with a solid hook set, keep tension on the line and they end up in the boat. But today I was using a new 7’3 rod instead of a 7’0 and a faster reel than normal. I lost more than I landed. They all came off  right at the side of the boat when they went up to jump. The line and jig were exactly the same. Is it an issue with my new combo? What can I do? 

Does the new rod have a softer and faster tip?  Is an XF rod? 

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

25 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

Does the new rod have a softer and faster tip?  Is an XF rod? 

The rod is much higher quality than my old one, almost double the price so it’s more sensitive than the old one