Got on the water about a hour b4 dark. Started marking a lot of fish in 50fow over 110fow. Put the lines out and had 8 in the boat b4 dark. Had a couple to snap my 17lb test like it was not nothing… All were over 21". Wil try to post some pics tomorrow.
Nice, it’s always fun hitting a school of nice fish. Hell of a fish to snap 17# line like it’s nothing. I use mostly 10 and 12 pound test. Caught a 30# fish on 8# line, but I just got lucky. He turned and came back to me when I was almost out of line
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Forgot to add, it’s customary on this forum to PM all coordinates of good catches to me:smiley:
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Sounds like good exciting action. Hope the bite continues tomorrow. I’m assuming you were fishing DR at lower end of lake. Maybe we haven’t hooked anything big enough or just been lucky but we typically fish with 12 test or 14 with 12 lb leaders and I’m trying to recall any snapped lines where I felt the fish actually did it as opposed to slight line damage. Just asking in case we need to make a change.
I use 20# with 14# flouro leader and still keep a “loose” drag. I personally think 95% of line breakage is due to improper drag use or nick in the line u never noticed. Two or three times a year i strip off about 60’ of line and throw it away…those little tangles at night cause all kinds of stress on the line. The 20# gives a little more room for those tangles not to come back and haunt you.
I go with a 14# main line and 20# mono leader. I also snell my hooks and I don’t think I’ve lost a fish due to a line break at the hook.
quote:
Originally posted by SteverinoI don’t think I’ve lost a fish due to a line break at the hook.
1 lb fish don’t break the line very often. Sorry, it was just too easy.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
True. Now refresh my memory, how many rigs did you loose last week?
I use 15 lb mono with flouro leaders now, but I have used 10/12 lb for years and have caught some 20+ lb fish with it. IMO, with Lake Murray being so open, I don’t think it’s really that important what size line you use as long as you have your drag set right and plenty of line on the reel if you are using light line.
To check the drag, I know alot of people will pull some line straight off the reel like you are seting a downrod down, but that really doesn’t mean anything. I like to check it at the rod tip while bending the rod as a fish would. There is a lot of drag added depending on the rod you are using…lenth of rod, type/number of guides etc…
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Also drag is directly proportional to the amount of line you have out. Meaning when you let out 60’ of line and the fish hits you have a lot of flex in the line and even if your drag is set tight, you shouldn’t pop the line or pull the hook. The closer the fish gets to the boat, the less “built in drag” you have from the line length. That is why you want a light drag, usually about 1/3 of the pound test of the line. It’s for when you only have about 12’ of line out and they make a run when they see the boat or light. Technically when offshore fishing you have a lever drag and you change the drag depending on the amount of line out. This could be used with big fish fishing 60’-120’ for us as well, but isn’t really needed. The main thing is to just use a light drag.
INDIGO BAY 170- 90 JOHNSON
I usually use 12lb suffix. The line on this trip was trilene 17lb. Both times it broke at the knot. I was talking to a friend today and he said he had had trouble with trilene knot strength. The hook was tied with a polomar knot.Never had any trouble with this knot b4.
