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Bass and fish in general will often try to go below your kayak and to the opposite side that you're fishing them from. Alot of us will use 7 foot rods so we can reach around the bow when this happens and keep the pressure on the fish at all times.
If the bass are good sized, a net may help at the critical moment when the bass are beside the boat and your setting them up to take control of them. What might be happening is you're letting the pressure off the hook when you get the bass alongside and they're able to spit the hook. When I bring in a bass or fish in general, I'll keep a few feet of line out and raise the rod in my left hand and bring the bass up that way and try to lip it or net it right away with my right hand. I try not to let a bass swim on the surface next to the kayak, they are pretty tricky and fast. If I get one I don't want, when I see what it is I'll lower the rod tip and give it some slack line and often it will release itself. Hope this helps,
PerryC.