losing jumpers

[Swamp Girl]

21 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Best I got is upgrade your hooks to something lighter wire - maybe round bends which tend to have better hook up ratios - and use line with more stretch and lighten the drag a touch. 

 

I've said it before: Pat Brown is such a good teacher that he should have his own fishing show.

 

So much good advice in this thread. The only thing I have to add is I use a fiberglass rod with surface lures. I think it helps. Of course, I still lose jumping bass, but not as many. 

[TLHSS]

I don’t overthink it. Sometimes the bass need to win. I appreciate an opponent that fights back. Makes the hunt more enjoyable. 

[gimruis]

19 minutes ago, TLHSS said:

I don’t overthink it. Sometimes the bass need to win. I appreciate an opponent that fights back. Makes the hunt more enjoyable. 

 

Makes me feel a little better.  If ever so slightly.

[Tennessee Boy]

When a fish comes out of the water it looses it’s ability to swim and pull against you.  It gains the ability to shake its head more violently.   When the head is out of the water I want it moving toward me.  When the fishing is trying to jump straight up I want to change his launch angle to keep him as low as possible.  You have to be ready to make the sweeping action with the rod and the fish still wins sometimes.   I did a search on YouTube for smallmouth jumping in hopes of finding a good example.   I wanted to find a jump further from the boat but was surprised to see a familiar face in this one so I went with it.   You can’t see what this BR angler does when the fish jumps but the results are good.   The fish launches more horizontal than vertical and the head moves toward the boat.  

 

 

[softwateronly]

I've had a good run with jumpers recently by keeping a steady to heavy reel going if I can't knock em over with the rod.  Fishing grass, I had a tendency to set the hook and wait for the turn and head shakes, now I keep a steady pace and accelerate and drop the rod if I feel them coming up.  But even if they rocket up immediately, I'm always taking line or at least trying to.  Been hooking bass on light gear with spoons, which don't always have the best landing percentage for me.  Might be luck, but my results feel like they're getting better.  

 

scott

  

[Choporoz]

We are so handicapped handling jumps from a kayak.   I have a ton more confidence landing a psycho bass on the boat.  Somebody here once told me to always keep the head direction moving to me.  It translates well to many phases of the fight, even if not literally...that is, even when you get those violent lunges near the boat that don't breech, I'm still always thinking about maintaining control of the that face.  When they are coming up fast and I'm on the boat, I feel I can keep down by driving the rod tip down and away from them pretty well....not so much on the yak.  

  Aside....my buddy loves the jump and actually encourages it, to the point of telling me to 'let her jump'.  I need to get control of HIS head if we ever fish a team tournament...lol

[Buzzbaiter]

An ounce of prevention…

 

With smallmouth, I’ve found that they generally only jump if you let them. Keep calm, and keep them below the surface. Horsing smallmouth in only makes them go upwards. With largemouth and Florida bass, I’ve found that they jump whenever they feel like it. Lighter hooks for better penetration will probably help. As for muskie, I haven’t shaken hands with one yet. But if they’re anything like snook, then I’d be content to jump them, and ecstatic to land them.

[little giant]

This is a great thread! South Florida guy here. They jump, a lot! And I love it!! They're putting on a show of strength, fighting for they're life, really disappointed it wasn't real food!! Mostly bring them in, the ones I lose, I don't mind, It showed its skill, there's always next time!

Pete

[detroit1]

7 hours ago, TLHSS said:

I don’t overthink it. Sometimes the bass need to win. I appreciate an opponent that fights back. Makes the hunt more enjoyable. 

That's why i leave my net at home. 

[txchaser]

I don't think this solves your immediate hookset then jump issue... but maybe useful for others. The thing that has been most reliable for me is to stop fighting the fish. Stop reeling, bow to it a little bit. If I do that immediately when I feel the fish start coming toward the surface, more often than not they just stay at the current depth. 

I'd second the point about if it is coming out of the water for sure, trying to move the fish in the air eg no slack line, big sweep, etc. 

 

[gimruis]

12 hours ago, txchaser said:

I don't think this solves your immediate hookset then jump issue

 

Nope, it doesn't.  But there are good responses here anyways.

 

Sometimes I have to just accept that a sizable fish might get angry and jump free.  Its still a buzz kill though.

[Woody B]

IMHO losing jumping Bass is a double, triple, quadruple, or even whatever comes after quadruple edged sword.   Losing a Bass on a jump right after the hookset is probably either a hookset issue, or the Bass simply didn't take the lure in a manner were securely hooking it wasn't possible.   

 

With the exception of trying to get a Bass out of heavy cover, I think a slower rod helps keep fish pinned.  However, a slower rod isn't ideal for a solid hookset.  I also think the stretch in mono helps too.  The stretch, as well as a slower rod helps keep from getting slack in the line.   If you're using a noodle rod, and rubber band line the hook(s) have to be sharp.  

 

I think keeping the line tight is really important.  If you're in a canoe or kayak I'm sure it's tough.  If you're in a boat I believe your foot should be on the trolling motor pedal as soon as you set the hook.   Move the boat away from the fish to keep the line tight.   If you're on the bank, and have room step, walk, run away to keep the line tight.   

 

With timing, technique, and luck you and "surfboard" even a big Bass when it tries to jump.   If you pull, reel, and run away (trolling motor in boat) at the correct time you can flip a big jumper onto it's side and slide it across the top of the water.  I don't have weeds where I fish but I do fish a bunch of lay downs.  I'm surfed big Bass (5 + pounds, big Bass by my standards)   out of lay downs before they had a chance to get tangled.   

[A-Jay]

So much good info in this one.

I'll add a couple of things from my experience fighting brown bass in warmer water,

which is when they seem to go airborne the most.

First I am very will to invest in quality after market and usually upsized hooks,

both single & treble hooks.

Second, there's almost nothing I can ever really do,

that will prevent or discourage a 5 or 6 lb smallie from jumping,

especially out on the end of a long cast.

Decades ago, I started doing the 'bow to fish and drop the rod' when it jumps deal.

And to be honest, it's just instinct now and I always do it (video doesn't lie).

But I Do Not feel it has ever actually contributed to me actually landing a fish.

In the end, I try to have the right gear and just keep enough pressure on the fish

to hopefully keep it pinned.

Sometimes it works out, sometimes it does not.

I hate losing fish, but having them throw the bait is just part of it.

Not really the good part.

This one got some big air a few times. 

https://youtu.be/QB1VOTaQuvE?feature=shared&t=101

A-Jay

 

[MassBass]

Using two split rings was a game changer for me. Fish jump and just get hooked up more. I wish I knew this secret back in my smallmouth island days. Probably would have saved me a lot of heartache. 

[Swamp Girl]

6 hours ago, Woody B said:

If you're in a canoe or kayak I'm sure it's tough.

 

It is, my friend, it is.

[FishTax]

Have your experimented with your hook set? Sounds like the jump is almost immediate. Do you tend to yank up or sweep to side? 

Not sure if that's helpful but if you want to try something different maybe that's something. 

 

Personally I haven't had much luck stopping the jump. My favorite technique is to yell at the fish that they better not do it. Pretty sure I've seen one smile in mid air at me... 

[Zcoker]

Bass jump like tarpon. Wonder if "bowing to the king" has any relevance here? Have to give that a try one time. Works wonders with tarpon!