Fishing 101: What to do when the fish jumps 2025
tubefishing reply :
A really basic question; sorry if this has been asked but I could not find it in the archives.
What is the thing to do when a fish jumps? Give slack or keep the line tight?
Other. reply :
Keep the line tight! If your line has slack in it.... That's going to be one fish you never landed.
CJ reply :
I like to watch em' jump!
Keep your line tight ,as Other mentioned, and get your rod tip down. It's about all you can do if your just making sure you want to land the fish but sometimes nothing works.
cajun1977. reply :
keep your rod tip low also, and if the fish still jumps then just enjoy it cause it is fun watching them go airborne sometimes
garry77 reply :
When you feel 'em coming up get your rod tip low and do what you can to keep 'em from jumping.
Most fly-fishermen say to put slack in the line,I dunno.
fishizzle reply :
Yes, Tight line, tip low and pull em back down and reel. some poeple put the rod tip in the water if they feel the fish coming up
Jake. reply :
Try to keep them from jumping if you can, especially with treble hook lures. Sometimes they will come up shaking their head, and it will be all over.
Cigarlover 1 reply :
Catch it. ;D
John J. reply :
QuoteTry to keep them from jumping if you can, especially with treble hook lures. Sometimes they will come up shaking their head, and it will be all over.
Ditto. It may be fun to watch a bass jump, but it's that moment that your line is slacked and the bass can easily spit the hook! So keep the line tight and to prevent spits, set the hook hard and properly in the first place!
Also try to prevent a bass from getting leverage (diving under neath the boat, etc.) it can feel which way the hook is in and it will get leverage by swimming in the opposite direction of the hook insert and be able to spit it also.
alger319 reply :
definitely keep a tight line, but i've learned that if you up your rod tip down when a fish jumps it actually slacks your line more than keeping your rod tip up. Although when deep cranking i keep the tip down to 'prevent' the fish from jumping, but if it does jump i put more tension on him by keeping the tip up.. also like some said before about treble baits, i sometimes roll the tip to get a extra hook in the fish if possible.
Bassin_Fin@tic reply :
I've been trying to figure out what to do when the fish swims clear under the boat and jumps on the opposite side.Crazy when that happens.
fishizzle reply :
QuoteI've been trying to figure out what to do when the fish swims cear under the boat and jumps on the opposite side.Crazy when that happens.
Have your partner net it ;D ;D ;D
roadwarrior reply :
Relax, enjoy the moment and hope she jumps again!
Giant leaps and tailwalking is what makes fishing so exciting,
especially when it's bronze and has stripes!
<-------------8-)
flechero reply :
QuoteRelax, enjoy the moment and hope she jumps again!Giant leaps and tailwalking is what makes fishing so exciting,
especially when it's bronze and has stripes!
<-------------8-)
Amen, brothaaa!! I usually go tip higher and pull harder to help them catch a little extra air!! Those are some of the most memerable and special moments!
Back when tourney fishing, I was a little more careful but I don't think I lose any more fish this way... but I rarely fish crankbaits.
burleytog reply :
This is why I always keep an 870 loaded with 7.5's handy.
grimlin reply :
QuoteRelax, enjoy the moment and hope she jumps again!Giant leaps and tailwalking is what makes fishing so exciting,
especially when it's bronze and has stripes!
<-------------8-)
Catt reply :
Smile big & pray hard 
RoLo reply :
There's no two ways about it, a bass that jumps triples his odds of escaping.
What can you do to prevent a jump? I've tried everything and have found no reliable deterent, especially if it's a smallmouth bass.
What can you do to prevent a jumping bass from coming unbuttoned? I've tried everything here too, and have not found any reliable preventive.
It's like I tell my wife...the fish have to win once in awhile too 
Roger
Mattlures reply :
Its only fun when the fish is "normal" sized. When you have a giant on its terrifing to watch them jump. If you have the gear you can controll them. When I feel them coming up I swing hard to the side and turn their head just before they break the surface. They stll splash some but I usualy keep them from getting a good head shake. BTW dont try this on regular gear. the fish will break you off.
fourbizz reply :
im with matt.
after errantly letting a big fish throw my bait earlier in the night, when my now PB came up to jump about 15 feet from the net i swung so hard and grinded her so fast that she hydroplaned all the way to the net, lol.
"knocking them off balance" this way seems to be the only thing that helps. When you see a real big fish with a hugely heavy bait on the outside of her head jump, wetting yourself is a real possibility 
MALTESE FALCON reply :
Since I don't fish tourneys anymore, I just enjoy when those smallies jump. My wife is disappointed if they don't jump. She acts like an olympic judge and grades their jump.
Falcon
.ghoti. reply :
If the fish wants to jump, there is not much you can do about it. Except enjoy it. I like it when they jump and tailwalk. Gives me a little extra charge.
When they jump and spit the hook, I just call it a professional quick release. I've already gotten the best part of the game: I fooled him into taking my offering.
LooksLikeSinbad reply :
Quotesometimes nothing works.
Welcome to my world!! LOL!
Del from philly reply :
just watch where the line meets the water. If they are deep enough, you can tell when a fish is gonna jump, and you will have enuff time to slow them down
i always "dip my tip" when they are about to jump...but the trick is you gotta do it before they really start to surface
you really need to learn how to watch where the line meets the water...thats the key.
You will eventually know exatcly where they are in the water column, and know exactly when to keep them down.
senile1 reply :
I love to watch a bass take to the air. Heck, I jump with 'em.
jrhennecke reply :
Tight Line with the rod tip down.
Rob G. reply :
Lower your rod tip quickly, then jump, try to jump higher than the bass, thus keeping tension on your line. Works most of the time.
RoLo reply :
QuoteLower your rod tip quickly, then jump, try to jump higher than the bass, thus keeping tension on your line. Works most of the time.
I tried that once in an old rowboat, but when I came down I busted through the bottom of the boat!
Rob G. reply :
QuoteThis is why I always keep an 870 loaded with 7.5's handy.
Mr. Burley, we need to hook up. LOL
CGH reply :
I turn about 90 degrees from the fish and try and keep y line tight as RAISE my rod and reel up any slack.
Works about 60 perecent of the time.
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