Licensed To Reel

Many a bass is lost when the fish first jumps and throws the lure from its jaw. When a bass’s head is in the air, its back-and-forth thrashing waggles the lure and causes the hook to fall free. Here’s a solution: When you sense that a hooked fish is about to jump—usually because the line is heading toward the surface—lower your rod to the side and keep a tight line. As the fish breaks the surface, pull sideways and down with your rod to tip the fish back into the water. Now the bass can’t throw the hook.