Fighting Big Fish

[preach4bass]

What are you supposed to do when they jump?

[Guest muddy]

I like to watch em do it, but the best way to keep them on the hook,is to put your rod tip under the water and keep your tension on it.

[preach4bass]

I like to watch em do it, but the best way to keep them on the hook,is to put your rod tip under the water and keep your tension on it.

Is the rod tip under the water trick supposed to keep them from jumping, or to keep them on while jumping?

Also, to keep the tension on it, should I continue reeling when they jump?

[Guest muddy]

If it's my spinning rod, and the drag is humming, I let the rod paly the fish and do not reel b/c that will give you a whole lot of twist. I keep the rod under as far as is safe for the rod and if the fish is big I really try to stop the bass from jumping this way.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

dropping the rod lowers the angle of attack, helps to limit the jump.

[Grey Wolf]

Low rod , more catches.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

What are you supposed to do when they jump?

Find your best redneck voice and holler..."OOOOOOOO Dang,...didja allll see that??

[Troutfisher]

x2  ;D

That's what I do!

[bigdog]

What are you supposed to do when they jump?

Find your best redneck voice and holler..."OOOOOOOO Dang,...didja allll see that??

thanks need to clean keyboard off now.

[Catt]

What are you supposed to do when they jump?

Find your best redneck voice and holler..."OOOOOOOO Dang,...didja allll see that??

I've heard LBH talk that would be funny  

[Popeye]

Mike Tyson 'em:  Bite off their ears!! Ahgagagagaga!!

[WRB]

Getting back to your basic question on fighting big fish;

1. Get a good hook set.

2. Keep the fish under control.

3. Your goal is land the fish.

Hook setting by "crossing the eyes" with a hard rod set is usually a mistake, unless vertically flipping or ptiching a lure into heavy cover.

Reeling down and sweeping the rod agianst tight line works much better.

Keep the fish in front of you, the rod loaded with line tension at all times and know exactly what the fish is doing. If the fish runs to one side, follow it to keep it in front of you. If you decide to lower the rod tip down into the water, keep the line tension tight and the rod bent. I rarely stick the rod under watert because you loose control of the fish. There is nothing you can do to prevent a big bass from jumping, if it is away from you 30 feet or so. All you cn do is get a good hook set, and the pressure on the fish and keep it under control at all times.

Remember your goal is to land the fish and not loose it. You can land the fish if you can't control it. Don't give the fish any slack line or let it run around, it will find something to get into to and get away.

WRB

[Guest muddy]

Hey Fellas No laughing, no friendship, no kidding around. This is like a work place now and we must behave and pay attention to the more knowledgable guys now

[tyrius.]

Hey Fellas No laughing, no friendship, no kidding around. This is like a work place now and we must behave and pay attention to the more knowledgable guys now

At least he answered the question with solid useful advice.   ;)

[Guest muddy]

So did posts 2,4 and 5.

[preach4bass]

So did posts 2,4 and 5.

Well, 2 and 4 are kind of questionable. ;D

Thanks for the information guys.  I'll try to put it into practice next time out.  I've lost 4 nice bass (between 6-9 lbs.) over the past few weeks on a Mattlures baby bass swimbait.  The bigger bass in the pond I'm fishing love the swimbait, but they sure do hate to stay on.  4bizz gave me some good advice about changing my rod and line.  So, I figure if I use the proper equipment and ya'll's advice, I'll start catching enough nice bass that I'll have to invest in a digital camera and show you my appretiation.

Thanks again,

Preach4bass

[Guest muddy]

Hey Preach4bas: then disregard my suggestions, those fish were all on EWG (single)hooks and plastics. I would imagine the wieght and size of the swimbaits and the treble hooks make that different.

Last year i went for Muskies for the first time, and I hooked but id not boat my first Muskie. We were using these large Plugs called SUICKS and when I got the fish close to the boat he shook the hooks right out and i had the trebeles hooked to my scalp by the time it was over.

[gobig]

Well said WRB

[roadwarrior]

When I initially started fishing Mattlures' Baby Bass I lost several fish, too. Matt told me not to "play" the fish but quickly and forcefully bring it to you. I haven't lost a fish on his swimbaits since then.

8-)

[senile1]

When I initially started fishing Mattlures' Baby Bass I lost several fish, too. Matt told me not to "play" the fish but quickly and forcefully bring it to you. I haven't lost a fish on his swimbaits since then.

8-)

I'm really a late adapter when it comes to using swimbaits but all of the video clips I have seen display this very thing.  The angler quickly works the fish to the boat.  

[Branuss04]

Set the hook

Reel as fast as you can

Get the fish on plane

Don't give them a chance to jump

You won't lose them that way

[bpm2000]

When I initially started fishing Mattlures' Baby Bass I lost several fish, too. Matt told me not to "play" the fish but quickly and forcefully bring it to you. I haven't lost a fish on his swimbaits since then.

8-)

I'm really a late adapter when it comes to using swimbaits but all of the video clips I have seen display this very thing.  The angler quickly works the fish to the boat.  

There is a big weighty chunk of plastic with a single jig hook pierced in the mouth of this bass - chances are it may not be in the hard part but the membrane as well - no sense in playing around and letting the hook work loose.  Skim that fish across the surface if u can  ;D

If you work a stinger setup like Fish Chris' then at least you have a more direct line to hook setup and itll be harder for them to shake it, but they still very well can.

[WRB]

When using heavier lures like swimbaits, you should match the rod to the lure weight. Most of the larger swimbaits weigh over 1 oz, usually between 2 to 6 oz, so the rod should be designed to cast the heavier weight and be long enough to control the big bass around the boat.

A good entry level combo is Okuma GS-C-710H heavy fast action casting rod and Induron IDx-250 series reel, approx. $200. Berkley Big Game 20lb green mono is a good line for most swimbait presentations, unless the water is ultra clear.

Soft plastic swimbaits like Matt lures tend to fill the basses mouth and the bass can hold onto the lure without getting hooked. Trap hooks help to find soft tissue when the bass tries to split out the mouth full of soft plastic. This is why it is important to let the rod load up, reel set and then sweep the rod back. This gives the bass a chance to turn with the lure, then when you give the second rod sweep, you finish hook setting when the lure has a chance hooking the basses mouth.

The larger 8"+ swimbaits like Huddlestons, then a trap hook is a good idea because the bass can grab the big lure like a dog bone and you  may miss hook sets without a trap hook.

WRB

PS; lures without trap hook hangers can be modified to add trap hooks with 46 lb sevenstrand wire leader and crimp sleeves. Keep in mind that lures modified with trap hooks, not design for them could nullify a record.

[bpm2000]

listen to WRB, and buy that okuma reel sitting in the classifieds...  

[Castamasta]

im in the same boat preach, i have lost at least 3 good 6-7 lbers because of them jumping and throwing my jig. I gotta start killin em on the hook set i guess