It could have been bass that you hooked, but usually after they get hooked they will swim up toward the surface to jump and try and shake the hook loose. But not always. They could also have been large Redear Sunfish that love nightcrawlers. When they are hooked, not only do they pull hard, but they will make strong runs that will pull line off of your reel's drag. But who knows what they were. That's part of fishing. Not knowing what you'll hook into.