Airborne Bass

[Busy]

I'm still fairly to new to fishing in Kansas for bass and I've been having a bit of trouble. Seems like since it's been warmer out the last few weeks about 1 out of every 2 bass I hook tries to take to the sky.

I fish from the bank and run jigs through medium to heavy weed patches that are underwater. It's working great so far with one caveat. The bass that bite near the bottom of the lake swim straight out and up. They do a flip out of the water and after they flip my jig is usually out of their mouth. What are some techniques that could prevent losing fish this way? I'm thinking that when they hit the water top to either let the line out or pull down on the rod instead of up. When they get inverted the pressure i put on the hook my be pulling the hook out of the fish.

Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

[fatbass]

Keep the rod tip down near the water and don't give em' any slack.

[Use ONLY Stren]

First make sure you give it a good, hard, hook set over your head. When your fighting the fish keep your rod tip as low as possible but you still have to keep good tension. Im not sure what kind of line your using but if your fishing in alot of thick cover, Id say try and use flourocarbon and if the waters not too clear try braid.

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

well your on the right track. theres 2 things that can be done here. If you feel or see the bass getting ready 2 surface you can either let hum surface and possibly him throw the hook or try to keep him under the surface.

To keep a bass under the surface; drop your rod tip to you side and as low as you can get, then you can either reel or pull causing the fish to pull or dive

If the fish surfaces I do the following; ''Throw a light 2 handed punch'' straight at the fish. Keep the rod tip bent the same way and lightly push your hands 2 the fish. Be sure not to give slack but not a 100% tension. You want just enough preassure too keep the hook in the same spot.

Remember ''You will always lose a fish''

JJ

[grimlin]

What equipment are you using for jigs?

As much fun as it it to see a bass go airborne,you really don't want it to.They usually go airborne shaking their head to give them slack to throw the hook.Like others said,keep your rod tip down.

[Busy]

Jig may have been the wrong word there.  I use big spinnerbaits like Strike Kings generally or Booyah.

I use Sufix Siege 10lb mono line and a Quantum spinning reel on a 7' medium rod.  I don't have a lot of money for a good set up but if all I could afford was a stick and some twine you couldn't keep me out of the water yet.

I don't have any line problems at all and really dont pull up grass with the spinnerbaits.  I just very slowly hop them up and down off the bottom and weave them through the weeds.

I'll try keeping the rod tip down near the water also.  I was thinking myself that would help but it's hard to break bad habits.  That's why we keep practicing

[bigfish88]

keep the slack out of your line with your rod to the water, also make a big hookset over your head.

[Busy]

Thanks for all the help guys.  Yesterday I went out and applied this information.  I only caught 2 smallmouths but it was good because I didn't lose a single fish.  That and I was fishing muddy water so I'm pleased.  Thanks again!