Fighting Big Fish 2025
preach4bass reply :
What are you supposed to do when they jump?
guest reply :
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 reply :
QuoteI 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 reply :
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 reply :
dropping the rod lowers the angle of attack, helps to limit the jump.
Grey Wolf reply :
Low rod , more catches.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteWhat are you supposed to do when they jump?
Find your best redneck voice and holler..."OOOOOOOO Dang,...didja allll see that??
Troutfisher reply :
x2 ;D
That's what I do!
bigdog reply :
QuoteQuoteWhat 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 reply :
QuoteQuoteWhat 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 reply :
Mike Tyson 'em: Bite off their ears!! Ahgagagagaga!!
WRB reply :
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 reply :
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. reply :
QuoteHey 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 reply :
So did posts 2,4 and 5.
preach4bass reply :
QuoteSo 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 reply :
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 reply :
Well said WRB
roadwarrior reply :
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 reply :
QuoteWhen 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 reply :
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 reply :
QuoteQuoteWhen 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 reply :
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 reply :
listen to WRB, and buy that okuma reel sitting in the classifieds...
Castamasta reply :
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
WRB reply :
Getting a good hook set with a jig doesn't always require a hard rod set, it can be very similar to the swimbait hook set; reel and sweep. However you must react instantly or sooner.
LMB engulf a jig, then crunch down on it to kill what appears to be a crawdad to the bass. The crunchers are located in the back of the roof of the mouth. The bass vacums in the jig and the jigs hook needs to be larger enough and sharp enough the penetrate the basses soft mouth tissues when it crunches down, thereby hooking itself for a moment. If the bass detects something wrong, it blows the jig back out so fast you don't know you were bit, unless the jig hangs up into the mouth tissue. If the jigs trailer folds over the hook piont or if the weed gaurd prevents the hook point from contacting tissue, your chances of a good hook set are very low if you try to rod set. However if you reel set, you pull the jig into the mouth tissue and start the hook point to penetrate, the rod sweep puts more pressure on the tight line, pulling the sharp hook passed the barb, then the bass is hooked well. 2 to 3 cranks on the reel handle equals about 40 to 60 inches of line movement and you can't do that with rod setting, unless the rod is pionted down at the bass to start with. Rods set work well for vertical flipping and pitching on a short line, because you are close to the bass, but if you cast the jig 30 feeet or more, reel set and keep the rod low when working the jig.
WRB
PS; smallmouth and spots will peck at the jig to declaw it, so let them load up before hooksetting.
Castamasta reply :
alright thanks for the advice. reel n sweep got it
Vitor Isaia reply :
Basically keep the line tensioned...
related General Bass Fishing Forum topic
previous topic
most viewed General Bass Fishing Forum topic
© 2025 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.