OK so here it goes,

I was fishing my usually pond. And it was almost dark. Fishing a Rage Tail Shad in Smokey Shad. I hate a bite earlier but missed it.

So my next bite I hear and see the bass come up and take the bait. I lower the rod tip, wait feel weight and set the hook, next the bass starts swimming at 45 degree angel from me towards the bank, I was like sweet  he's on and coming in , then we he reaches the bank he takes off and my reel and rod start bending like crazy, 2 seconds later he jumps in the air and my bait comes out.

Questions, My drag was set on full. I relined it earlier and never backed it down. Could this be a reason I lost the fish.

Second the fish never felt "hooked" is it possible he had a piece in his mouth and not the hook? and when he went up he spit it out?

Or, since I've only caught small ones, 2lb and under, perhaps this was a larger bass, I haven't caught many of those, 1 actually above 3 lbs. And I didn't know how to react?

I'm shocked and dissapointed, any help is good.

I have had this happen to me on many occasions, hell just last week I had a good 2lber hit on my rage tail shad and I got her all the way to the boat and even lifted her in the boat without lipping her. When I went to get the hook out I lipped her and the hook had never even slipped through the bait. This fish was just so hungry I couldn't even pull the bait from his mouth when the hook wasn't in her.

I was told that braid works best and so far thats right for me

Backwoods,

To stop the bass from jumping put the rod tip into the water.

Did you set the hook with a lot of power? Did you cross her eyes???  ;D

As for your drag, it may have been a little too tight. I try to use Roadwarrier's suggestion (sorry if this is not Roadwarrier's suggestion but it is from one of the mods) to use about two and a half pounds of pressure to pull your line off the reel to set your drag.

Also, since he was swimming towards you (I hate when that happens) it is always difficult to keep the line tight with pressure.

So there are many things that can go wrong, including what NitroMan said.

All I can suggest is to go back and try again!

Have had that happen, even pull drag. It was the main reason I changed from mono to copoly. Thought it was the stretch of the mono :-/. Happened to me once 3 times in a row (hate to admit this :-[). After the first time, thought "I'll show you", tried to cross his eyes!!!

                              As Ever,

                               skillet

I agree with Skillet, Use a line with very little stretch if any and after load up-slam'em. Keep your line tight and if they are trying to come up on you, lower rod tip and slow retrieve slightly unless your in the sticks. The key is the hook set, many folks slap their chest on the hook set but when possible, I am a fan of sweeping the rod to the side as you cover a much greater distance with your rod can usually provide better hook set.

Good fishin

Big O

www.ragetail.com

For me, I always loosen the drag before I land a fish incase it makes a sudden dash. Sorry you lost that fish.

With any top water bait when you see the strike point you rod at the fish, feel for the weight of the fish, & set hook.

I can promise you Mono aint your problem hook set technique is.  

For me, I always loosen the drag before I land a fish incase it makes a sudden dash. Sorry you lost that fish.

Yes.  This is what I have learned to do and it works. I have been bank fishing my small neighborhood lake at night using a Car. rig.  I cast with the drag tight, set the hook then lift the rod up and let the fish go where he wants to initially.  Then when it has made its move either to deep water or towards the bank, I loosen the drag. I don't really crank the handle as much as I just lift the rod slowly and pull the fish and then lower the rod and take up slack.  With the drag loose when the fish gets to the bank, I let him make his runs and the reel lets line out to follow him.  The fish will finally give up a little and THEN is when I start getting him close to lip him or if he is smaller to just swing him up.

Working drag has become VERY important to me.

Catt is right - mono is not the problem. Sometimes they just get off so you have a story to tell.

Ditto. It's not the line.

Take your time when the fish is close. Fish on a short line (close to hand) you should be a little more careful with -not to pull too hard. A short line provides less stretch and the rod angle is steeper so mistakes are more critical. I'd venture that most fish lost are done so on a short line at boatside -the hooks popping free.

The trick is to keep the rod bent enough to keep the hooks in, not pull too hard, be ready for sudden bolts. When he's tiring, and coming in, you should also lead or guide the fish's direction with the rod. When he's moving smoothly and calmly at the surface, guide him to your thumb, net, or swing him aboard.

Also, if you want to be sure that fish is in hand, don't let it jump. I snub down jumps by pulling the rod low to the water. I don't seem to have to bury the rod tip in the water, I just pull low and to the side. I pull pretty hard too trying to snub their intentions and keep slack out in case they do jump or head thrash. But, of course, I'm careful not to pull the hooks out, and this depends on the rod, line, and hooks I'm using.

A big hook like the one you should be using is tough to set, you need a really stout rod and I recommend a long one at that, like about 7'