| The bass simply couldn't resist the enticing wiggle | | | | in weighing fish can help set drag tension more |
| of your lure and he struck, it's time to get that | | | | accurately. |
| baby in the boat! And here's the best way to do | | | | Backreeling |
| it. | | | | Backreeling is a method of playing a fish on a |
| Set The Hook | | | | spinning reel that bypass the reel's drag system. |
| Most lures especially a treble-hook lure will cause | | | | The drag is tightened down and the fisherman |
| the bass to hook itself once it strikes. That is in | | | | uses the reel handle to either take-in or pay-out |
| most cases, but not a 100%. You must keep in | | | | as the fish demands. With practice, the technique |
| mind how tough the jaws of bass are. It takes a | | | | becomes easier, but beginners will find this |
| stern impact and an extremely sharp hook point | | | | method difficult to master. The advantage of |
| to penetrate a basses skin. | | | | backreeling is that line twist is often greatly |
| If you are using a crankbait when the strike | | | | reduced because you aren't reeling while the bass |
| occurs, you will need to pull back the rod tip | | | | is pulling line against the drag. On light line, you |
| quickly and begin to reel until the line is tight. In | | | | must try to second-guess the bass when |
| most cases when a bass initially strikes the hook | | | | backreeling-anticipate its next move - never an |
| is set, but by maintaining pressure on the fish you | | | | easy tack. |
| can usually bury the hook deeper. | | | | Landing a Fish |
| With top water type lures, it's important to give it | | | | Bass have no teeth, as do many other game fish; |
| a few seconds before setting the hook. An | | | | therefore they can be easily landed without the |
| overreaction often results in pulling the lure from | | | | use of a net, with practice. Keep in mind that |
| the mouth of your trophy bass. | | | | landing nets may damage fish you wish to release. |
| With single-hook lures such as jigs, plastic worms, | | | | Lip-Landing Method |
| and spinnerbaits they require a solid intentional | | | | 1. When the fish is ready to come in, use the rod |
| hookset on your behalf. Normally the bass inhales | | | | to draw it close to the boat. Do not reel up a lot |
| the lure completely. It is a must that you drive | | | | of line. The rod's spring action will act as a shock |
| the hook point in deeper with a solid strike. | | | | absorber should the fish decide to make one last |
| DON'To Tighten down on the fish and then sweep | | | | run at the boat. |
| back with the rod tip. This will only turn the head | | | | 2. Draw the rod back over one shoulder an |
| of a big bass. | | | | extend your arm. Maintain pressure on your line. |
| DOo Set the hook using the slack line technique. | | | | Slowly pull the bass toward your grasp. |
| Upon feeling the strike, turn to face the bass with | | | | 3. Carefully press your thumb against the tip of |
| the rod between 10 and 11 o'clock. Then drop the | | | | the jaws if the mouth is shut. This will cause it to |
| rod top quickly and snap the slack out of the line | | | | open. Then firmly clench the lower jaw between |
| with a fast overhead strike. This will drive home | | | | thumb and forefinger. |
| the hook. "ALWAYS" set the hook with a strong | | | | 4. On a big bass, wait one second. Put down your |
| upward jerk. Keep in mind you are not trying to | | | | rod and use your other hand to grasp the jaw |
| hit a home run when setting the hook. If you | | | | also. |
| have your rig set right, the bass will practically | | | | 5. Lift the bass aboard. |
| hook itself. | | | | Net Method |
| IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DRAG | | | | Many bass are lost at the landing net. Net your |
| Your reel's drag allows line slippage. It's a | | | | fish carefully but remember that landing nets will |
| precaution against a big fish or obstacle breaking | | | | damage the scales, fins and slime coating of a |
| your line. | | | | bass. |
| DON'To Set the drag by adjusting the drag | | | | 1. Bring the bass alongside the boat. |
| setting, then pulling line from directly in front to | | | | 2. Put the net into the water, making sure the |
| the spool. This can bury line in the spool and gives | | | | netting is not tangled. |
| an inaccurate reading of line pull exerted from the | | | | 3. Draw the fish toward the net; the fish will |
| lure. | | | | usually swim into it. |
| DOo Adjust the drag and then pull the line from | | | | 4. Scoop the fish up, using a single, smooth |
| past the rod tip, or tie a heavy object to the end | | | | motion. Don't try to net the bass downward and |
| of your line and adjust accordingly. A good rule of | | | | do not swipe at a bass that is not ready to come |
| thumb is to set the drag to not exceed half that | | | | aboard. |
| of the pound test of your line. A spring scale used | | | | |