I've only been into fishing fairly seriously now about 9 or 10 months. So far I've hooked up with two really decent fighters-that I assume had some good heft to them,and were lmb's- which I failed to land. Both times I was using #1 Gammies. I had them on for no more than a minute before losing them. They were taking line like crazy, pulling like freight trains, in open water, and they never surfaced. I tightened up my drag and then promptly lost them in both cases. Do you think it was the hook or the drag situation that caused me to lose these fish. Now I always use a 1/0 or bigger hook if I can and the next time I hook up with one of these hawgs I plan on keeping my hands off the dang drag. Any feed back you can give me on this would be helpful.
BTW-I start vacation Friday so I plan on doing a lot of practicing and I hope to fish for more than just bass. I'm hoping to go after trout, salmon, halibut, rockfish, and tuna before the summer is over.

How did you loose the fish. You didnt give enough info. You could have done a lot of things that could have caused the fish to get away. I always here people say that bass are not good fighters, well that just tels me they havent caught to many big bass. Those big old bass will find a way to get away. The may not have the most stamina but I believe they are the smartes fightingt fish there is.

www.mattlures.com

"I tightened up my drag and then promptly lost them in both cases"

thats the deal there,have your drag adjusted before you fish,i've lost fish too tightening up my drag during the battle and have learned not to do it during,as long as the fish isnt going to spool you completely let it run! he/she will get tired eventually and you will be in here posting pics of your monster bass.I know its hard not to tighten down on that drag especially during the basses run but most drags will lock up /sieze if adjusted while the drag is running.
hope that helps,
tight lines(but not too tight in this case),
brian :7

Don't ever tighten your DRAG during the battle,if anything loosen it and hang on.

"1/0" sounds way too small to me. For soft-plastics(I'm assuming that's what you were using?), for all but the smaller(less than 3") ones, I start out with a 4/0 Sugoi(GYCB's hook) which I use for 95% of those baits. For big Grubs, I'll step up to a 5 or 6/0 Sugoi.

As for messing with the drag while fighting a Bass, as others have said, don't do that. You should have adjusted it properly before the first cast. The only exception is when you get a bigger(5 lbs and up) close to the boat or shore; then a loosening of the drag may save a Bass if it make's a last second surge when it see's the boat and realizes it's hooked.

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

If your talking live bait use circle hooks you dont hurt the fish they set them selfs and hook great. For plastics use the biggest hook you can get away w/, say a brush hog 5/0 gammy superline hook 5" senko 4/0-5/0 superline bigger is better little hooks get swallowed too esially dont go w/ a 3" bait and 3/0 hook you will find if your fishing alot talking to guys at the lake and what not you will have this down in no time.

Hey let that Bass go I wanna catch her some day
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