When a Bass Jumps ......... 2024

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

what is the proper thing to do???

I've always pointed my rod (down) where they are jumping. This doesn't seem to be cutting it over the past couple years. I lost what would have been my first descent bass of the season today. I bet I lose 1 to 2 bass for every 10 with jig when they jump. This seems to be the only troublesome lure. I am anal about sharp hooks so that's not the problem.

brian_d reply :

i always keep my rod tip up, dont let the line slack. loose line enables the fish to shake the jig, and maybe with that added weight of the head they can throw it.

rocknfish9001 reply :

I am completley aware that i fight a fish kinda weird. But it must work, i lose very few fish i get a hook into, and have very few jump on me. What i do is set the hook to the side, and i keep the rod fairly low and to the side for most of the fight. I dont move my rod much, and keep it fairly low the entire time. If they jump, there isnt much you can do, i guess.

Redlinerobert reply :

with the weight being at the opposite end and fixed, the bass' shaking head acts like a pendulum - more than likely why you lose some on a jig.

Set the hook so hard you cross his eyes - that may help

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Quote
Set the hook so hard you cross his eyes - that may help

No problem there. There has been known to be "flying bass" around my boat at times. ;D

Here's they way I think and why I do what I do (lowering the rod tip during a jump):

If you give a bass some slack line while it jumps, it has no "leverage". For example, let's say someone ties a rope around your hand and you want to try to get your hand free of that knot. If the other person does not pull back (slack line) it will be very hard for you to get free. Now if that other person does pull back a little, you now have some force in the opposite direction which will help you get your hand free.

Make sense??

Is that right??

flyphisher # reply :

I dont give them the chance to jump.

Flyfishing for bass so much when i was in college has something to do with it... A bass rarely jumps on the fly.

flyphisher # reply :

I dont give them the chance to jump....or i dont make them jump....

All the flyfishing i used to do has something to do for it.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Quote
I dont give them the chance to jump.
.

I try not to especially when fishing a jig because of my problems over the past couple years. But sometimes there is nothing you can do.

When fishing other baits though I don't care as much. That's part of the fun of fishing.

5bass reply :

I understand what you are saying with the rope around the hand thing but that is something totally different as your jig is not around the fishes head like a noose......or is it? ;D

On a jig bite I tend to set the hook as hard as I can and when the fish starts coming up,I keep the rod real low.....not necessarily "in the water low" but near it and I keep a tight line at all times. One other thing I do if I have time is to turn the fishes head if I see it rising up to jump.....that helps sometimes but you have to have the time to react (which is not always possible) and be quick about it.

Another thing to consider is the type of jig you are using.If it is a recurring problem with one certain type,try a different head style or maybe a jig with a bigger hook. I feel the most solid hookups are when the hook goes all the way thru and out the other side.....maybe your jig is blowing the fishes mouth open and you are hooking alot in the roof of the mouth. I'm just throwing scenarios for you to think about.

And dont forget.....sometimes they just get off no matter what you do or what you use. That is exactly why they jump - to shake the hook! Sometimes it works,sometimes it doesnt.

BucketmouthAngler13 reply :

Every time a bass jumps, the angels up above hold their breath.

.ghoti. reply :

What's the proper thing to do?

Well, there's really only one thing to do.

Yell YEEEHAA at the top of your lungs.

I love it when they jump. It's even better than a topwater bite.

Cheers,

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Quote
I understand what you are saying with the rope around the hand thing but that is something totally different as your jig is not around the fishes head like a noose......or is it? ;D

Is that not the way you do it? ;D ;D ;D

I guess I will try to keep the pressure on them. I realize that some fish will get off. That's just part of fishing. But I would like to take that number down from 1 or 2 out of 10 to more like 1 out 20.

Sam reply :

Fivebasslimit is correct.

Set the hook when fishing a jig so hard that if you miss the fish you go backwards, out of the boat and into the water.

Keep the line tight with your rod tip pointed towards the water to help keep the fish from jumping.

Remember, sometimes the bass will swim towards your boat so it is imperative that you have a tight line and you are using a baitcaster that can reel-in the line fast to keep the line tight.

And think about the type of line you are using. If it is a braid then there is no stretch and you pile drive the hook into the bass' mouth. If it is mono or fluorocarbon you have some give and you need to set the hook strongly or else the fish can throw it.

One more thing, check out your trailer. I have seen trailers get turned around and interfere with your hook-set. So make sure the trailer is on the hook properly by visually checking it every few casts.

Are you using a strong backbone with a fast action tip rod? You need that fast action tip to set the hook and a strong backbone to get the fish out of the structure.

Now, go out and practice every afternoon and all day Saturday!

skillet reply :

I would like to jump to this but don't know if I'm going to explain it right :-[. I'm all for crossing their eyes when using jigs or soft plastics. I really like to throw both of them into places that I'm thinking the whole time "Man, if you hook a fish, you'll never get him out." So not only do I try to cross their eyes, I want them looking in my direction after the hook set!!

If you've got pressure on the line and line watching you can tell when a fish is headed for a jump. IMHO most of the fish are not only using their strength. They are using your pressure on them to kind of make you a fulcrum. When I know or feel this (before they get to the surface) I don't give them slack but if your rod is high you can lessen the pressure and lean into them. That way they can't use their strength AND your pressure. Sure that hope doesn't sound like a wheel barrow full of BS

As Ever,

Skillet

BTW MY wife has the number for the Home for the Chronically Bewildered if you think it is needed!

Michael H reply :

I have always held my rod up high, no reason behind it though. But this may help i was just watching vandams dvds proven spinnerbait techniques and pitchin to heavy hitters and it seems every time e gets a fish he holds the rod high up. But It could be since he is not fishing a tourny he dosen't really care if they get off.

Shakes reply :

About 90% of the time, I set my hook to the right side really hard. Its at about a 45 degree angle. I don't really keep the rod high or low. I'm just neutral. I really don't think it matters as long as keep the line tight. In a spinnerbait situation (which I fish more then anything else,) I've noticed that a 1/0 trailer hook basically guarantees my hook set. Fish can jump all they want but I got 2 hooks in em, and they're not goin anywhere.

Grey Wolf reply :

In my humble opinion you have to have tension on the fish at all times when fighting a fish.

I've lost a lot of fish by allowing slack in my line. Live and learn.

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
What's the proper thing to do?
Well, there's really only one thing to do.

Yell YEEEHAA at the top of your lungs.

I love it when they jump. It's even better than a topwater bite.

Cheers,

GK

8-)

RecMar8541 reply :

Rod tip high and a steady crank. The problem for me isnt the jump, its the landing. when the fish is going up the reel will keep the slack out, but when he comes down, if the rod tip is down, that can give them just enough slack to throw ya. If that makes any sence. I have a pretty good hookup/landing ratio and lose few. Keep that rod tip high, and the weight of the fish will keep him hooked, just my opinion.

gatrboy53 reply :

when fishing a single hook bait,jigs included ,because of the size of the hook i want to set it hard to get good penetration.the very next thing i want to do is get his head up.a fish w/ head up has very little leverage.i always set the hook high and keep rod high untill i get them close to the boat.personally, i never point the rod toward a fish,i want constant pressure and if i feel them trying to jump i apply more pressure.i try not to ****** on a fish i feel this can rip a hole or cause slack.a big fish i'll run around the boat w/ rod high untill it wears them out.

BD reply :

If you get a GOOD hook set, let 'em hop. Otherwise I put my tip IN the water with no slack.

-hydrillagorilla- reply :

I am with most here, my tip is DOWN. When that fish makes the move for the jump I literally pull his head back down and crank. You can see it happen. His/her tail usually lands on the oppisite side of the head. Kind of like a cartwheel.

georgiabassfisherman reply :

well i am a little bit of both i guess i set the hook so hard that one day i think i fish head is going to land in the boat instead of a fish but i keep my rod high and line tight while fighting the fish and if i feel him getting ready for a jump i stick the rod under the water and pull em away from the surface.

GBF

frog reply :

last week i've had a long conversation about this subject with one of our top bass fishers. on my opinion the most important thing is that during jump you must hold the rod tip up and never let bass to feel that your line is loose. other thing that is crucial is that you must keep the same angle of retrieval as it was during hook set. otherwise... :'(

he told me that every bass that he cought had jumped just once and that he forced bass to do that. purpose of that is to pull the bass out of the water and after that he slides bass on water surface. that is a pretty good technique because you don't pull the bass on force from the deep water, he comes by his own will. after that is easier to slide the bass on surface than drag it thru the water.

MyKeyBe reply :

up, down...

It don't matter.

KEEP PRESSURE ON THAT FISH!

Mr. Big Bass goes up, keep the rod tod tip down.

Mr. Big Bass goes down, keep that rod tip up.

Keep pressure on the fish and you will land the fish.

Randy Beasley reply :

i fish a weightless rig and believe it or not i smash the barb down to get a better hookset and soon a i get him hooked i stick my rod down and keep pressure. The whole time yelling "GET THE NET"

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When a Bass Jumps ......... 2024

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