"Ken Blevins" wrote in message
...
Last week I lost two fair sized fish because I couldn't stop them from
going
airborne. I try to keep my rod tip down and keep the line tight but this
has been a reoccurring problem for me.This year alone I guess I've lost
maybe a dozen or so fish. At the first of the year I blamed it on poor
hooksets so I improved my hook set technique .[taking time to reel in
slack
before setting the hook etc]I guess every one looses fish that jump every
once in a while but it happens a lot with me .As always, I'm open to any
tips or suggestions
thanks for your time
Ken Blevins


I have had this problem myself. Particularly with crank baits and spinner
baits. I have found tha you can usually predcit when a fish will breach
unless you just have a mile of line out. The line will start leveling out,
and the point it enters the water will move away from you. I have gotten
down to this basic tactic. I move the rod so it is pulling directly away
fromt he direction the fish is pulling. I crank down and move the rod
towards the fish without pulling the fish towards me to much. As the fish
breaks the surface I will pull the rod away from him and crank in line to
keep tension on him no matter how he wiggles. Once in a while I will still
lose a fish, but not as often. Once in a while you can turn a jumping fish
into a skiing fish at this point. Particularly smaller ones.

The other thing I have done with those baits is go to medium and medium
light rods. I think with the rod absorbing shock I can pull and swing a
little harder and farther to keep tension on the fish. It also helps with
ahrd fighters that are surface hooked. I have had less fish tear loose
since switch to medium power medium action rods for those baits. The sad
part is I retired most of my medium and medium light rods from bass fishing
when I figured out how to use mediume heavy fast action rods for other
baits. Oops. Now I am making the swing back for crank baits, topwaters,
and spinner baits. Also small hook baits like casting/jigging spoons. I
also tend to use lighter line on these rigs.

You can use similar tactics for heavier faster rods, but you must be careful
not to over horse a fish when the rod can't give to make up for your
mistakes.

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