What is wrong with my fishing setup?

I have a beefy set up, abu garcia 6500, 30or 35 lb test braid, a 6'6 M or MH ugly stick. out of half a dozen bites (on a lure) I landed one fish. I had them up to the boat but they jumped off! Did i not set the hook hard enough? or Did I pull it out of their mouths? I was 14 at the time and the fish were around 20" smallies and pike, both of which I landed on my spinning set up.