Jumping fish

[directlink]

Is there some kind of technique that can be used to keep a fish from jumping while he's hooked?  I usually just keep my rod up and my line as tight as possible when I know the fish is about to jump.  This usually does alright, but I'd rather he not jump.  Just if there is anything that you guys use to keep em down during a fight, please share it.

[CJ]

You must be tournament fishing?I like them to jump,unless I'm fishing a tournament.The only thing you can do is keep your rod down.I do know a couple of guys who lift there rod high in the air and ski the fish in when they come up.

[senile1]

CJBasswacker is correct.  Keep the rod down.  

[RoLo]

As BassWhacker said, about the only thing you can do is keep the line-of-pressure

low to the water, even plunging the rod tip underwater. Even at that, once a bass

has made up his mind to jump, there isn't too much you can do to stop him.

Then you've got Bill Dance, who intentionally applies upward pressure on the bass

to induce several jumps for the camera.

I've often read that it's best to bow to a jumping fish but lowering the rod tip during a jump

takes pressure off the fish. I do just the opposite, and apply more pressure when a fish

takes to the air. This makes it more difficult for the fish to shake the hook

out of the keyhole, and lessens the chance that he may fall on top of the line.

Since I'm not a tournament angler I look forward to a bass jumping and I'm disappointed

when they don't. But why is it always the biggest bass that come unbuttoned? >

Roger

[bassmasta7]

Lately almost all of my bass have been jumping. Almost every time I lose them so i dont enjoy them jumping.

[Ben]

I don't like it when they don't jump.  I hold my rod high and slow the retrive just to incourage them to jump/break water.  I  luv it when a big bass comes to the surface and just wallers back and forth.   Heck, if it wasn't for the jumping, I had just as soon catch strippers.  They pull a lot harder and longer than bass, plus it's nothing to get into them and catch bunches 8 - 16 pounds.  Fun to catch but doesn't compare to a big bass, because they don't break water.