Major Stumpage

[Siebert Outdoors]

I had one bass probably 5-6lbs come out from under a log, inhale the lure and start swimming off.  I put the hammer down and got him close to the boat.  He never jumped but when he opened his mouth the lure came out.  The hook never made it through the lure.  That is not the only time I had that problem.

Tackle used

7'1"  BCR854 (heavy)

line  15lb pline cxx

length of cast 20-30 ft max

Hook  x point 4/0

lures  soft Plastics

I know its not the tackle its something I am doing, or something I am overlooking that has changed.

Side note,

This lake I always seem to have this problem,    Any other lake really not an issue.  Just this lake.  Its got me stumped.  It seems that every fish that is big when it bites, you never feel it.  and where you had cast the lure the fish has picked it up and is gone.  Haulin tail to deep water.  Its instentaneous too.  Not like a bite then you can see your line moving.  They all most alway run under the boat too.  This is the only lake I have ever fished that the big ones act like this in majority.  

Here are a few things I can think of that might be effecting me.

I am standing in an aluminium boat,  makes me closer to the water then I'm use too by about 1 ft.  Also I am not use to a hand control motor.  Plus the AL boat is light and the wind pushes me around alot more.  I did notice I seemed to correct this problem more if I ran the boat backwards and made it where I fished out of the front(actually the back).  I seemed to have more all around control of the way I made a presentation and hookset.

Any help is greatly appriciated and I hope this makes some sense.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Ok, a couple observations...

First, could the fish be swimming toward you when you are setting the hook? This could cause you to not be getting as much pull as you think you are.

Second, take a look at your trolling motor, under the head unit. There should be a machine screw and nut holding the top portion onto the shaft of the motor. You can unscrew that, turn the hand control around and then mount the motor to the front of the boat. This will give you the ability to control the boat a little more effectively.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

You may also want to experiment with a drift sock or using your anchor(s) to keep you in place while you work an area over.

I know they are a pain in the butt, but they will cause you less headaches than attempting to control your boat, fight a fish and land it all while being blown into the trees on the bank.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

Just grabbing at straws, I really can't imagine why fish in a particular lake would be giving you fits. So, here's my best guess and suggestion: If your normal jig/ soft plastic hook-set is a Bill Dance "cross their eyes" motion, try a "snap-set". After reeling down while dipping your rod, snap your rod at the tip, mostly with your wrists without bringing the butt up. This action/ motion will drive a sharp hook home.

[Matt Fly]

With jigs and all plastics, I rip some lips.    I hold nothing back with jigs.

Also, if not fishing heavy vegitation, I tex-pose my hook into the plastic.

What kind of plastics are you rigging?

Matt.

[gatrboy53]

some things ive experienced...the bigger the bass the stronger the jaws.a big bass will clamp down on you lead or line and the strength and force of their jaws can cause the hook not to set or set weakly.plastics especially curly tails are notorious for wadding up on the hook point and not getting into the fishes jaw.any object in the water that can cause slavk between your rod and hook can cause non hookups.many times you will never feel a bass pick up your bait and by the time you realize you have a bite, they have created slack .also, a moving boat position is working against you not for you.i have found the bigger the bass the more that can and will go wrong.from many yrs.saltwater fishing for big fish,every facet has to be right or that fish will exploit your weakness,and if you dont know what they are they will expose them when you get them on.the same w/ big bass.hooking and losing big fish should makes us all better anglers

[Siebert Outdoors]

I was throwing soft plastics, beavers and tubes.  

After thinking about this all day and reading you guys posts I wonder if I am setting the hook to hard or improperly with these new x points.  I might be setting the hook so hard that I am ripping the fishes mouth instead of penetrating it.  

Thinking more about it when I got a little upset I really hammered down on them and it seemed like I missed more.  The snap hookset might be better along with a lower rod tip then usual.  

These fish drive me nuts because it is the only place that I have this issue.  They behave different then anywhere else I have ever fished.  I know you guys think I'm a little nuts but I'm not joking.  Its mind boggling.

[Bud]

I would agree with RW.   I would think your cross their eye hook set is the problem.  With a real sharp hook you don"t  need it.

[Chris]

If you had the hook or weight pegged don't. I think the bass was clamped down on the weight and when it opened up its mouth it just let go.

[Brian_Reeves]

Yeah...a jig or soft plastic hookset is the same as attempted murder with me.  I try to kill them on the hookset.  ESPECIALLY if I have a jig with a fiberguard.

[basser89]

I had a similar problem earlier in the year using tubes. I corrected my problem by going up one hook size. If you can get away with it, that may be another option. I'd opt for RW's suggestion first though.

[flechero]

I might be setting the hook so hard that I am ripping the fishes mouth instead of penetrating it.

Doubtfull, or else you'd rip it out on the hookset.

I think the bass was clamped down on the weight and when it opened up its mouth it just let go.

This was my first thought as well.  Seen it happen many times, and like you one particular lake was like this more so...  I was going to suggest using a heavier rod next time to see if that helped you clear the jaw with the weight but the 854 should be plenty.

Sounds like your variable is the boat moving around... so maybe you are setting hook on more slack line than you are used to. (and setting it hesitantly since you are in an aluminum boat which would be less stable)

[Siebert Outdoors]

Sounds like your variable is the boat moving around... so maybe you are setting hook on more slack line than you are used to. (and setting it hesitantly since you are in an aluminum boat which would be less stable)

In day 2 of my pondering about this, I think this is the biggest variable. I think your right. The boat is skinny like balancing on a toothpick.  Plus add the easily moving boat along with the wobbles of unstability.  fishing out of my boat I dont have this problem.  Bigger and more stable. In turn I think I will have to change my hookset style.  I've been trying to go to the snap set like RW stated but sometimes I find myself in the old routine.  When I conciously think about it I try to use the snap set along with making sure there is no slack.  But its difficult to break the habbit.  I will keep working on it and hope that fixes my problem.

[Catt]

GMAN, Your answer is in your last post

I too spent many years fishing in marshes where only small boats are allowed. For years everyone used a 12 to 14' boats that had 32 to 36 bottoms, if you stood up this is very unstable. To cure this problem we now use 14 to 16' boats with 40 to 48 bottoms, a lot more stable. You are subconsciously not setting hook with enough force because of a fear of falling over.

The answer would be don't fish out of that boat any more  8-)