Quote Originally Posted by ledouxmike View Post
If you're talking about trolling crank baits, I used to shove my rod tip in the water to keep the bass from jumping and shaking the bait loose. It's a lot harder for them to shake the bait if they're not on the surface. When they're underwater and try to shake it out, the viscosity of the water prevents the bait from slashing back and force like it does in air. If that doesn't work, get them on plane and reel them in as fast as you can.
That's exactly what I do on crank baits - reel them in as fast as you can. No slack in line.