Just lost maybe the biggest striper of my life ...
Aug 27, 2019 14:21:36 #
Gear: 6 1/2” 3oz popper Okuma cedros 9’ medium Shimano stradic fk 5000 20lb power pro 30lb mono shock leader
The hit was so big it almost pulled me into the dam. Line got cut where did I go wrong?
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by Buffyasuoplz
The hit was so big it almost pulled me into the dam. Line got cut where did I go wrong?
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by Buffyasuoplz
Aug 27, 2019 14:21:40 #
Was your drag set correctly? If not then that is likely the answer. Did you break off right when it hit or during the fight? If it was right when it hit (considering your drag was set up correctly), it was probably bad knots or your line had a weak point somewhere. If it was a while later during the fight, it probably wrapped you around something under water that cut your line.
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by setthehook
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by setthehook
Aug 27, 2019 14:21:44 #
Drag set tight. Fought for about 2 minute in the current then popped. I usually pull in 10-15 lbers with that drag easily. Spool of line pretty new. Was only second trip with that spool of line
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by Buffyasuoplz
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by Buffyasuoplz
Aug 27, 2019 14:21:48 #
If it is too tight, that won't allow any give/allow the fish to pull out some line. This puts extra stress on your fishing line which can cause knots to break. Sounds like that might be the case here...
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by gliz5714
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by gliz5714
Aug 27, 2019 14:21:53 #
To add you will likely see that your line was stretched at the break point. Obviously if the line broke at the hook it could be the knot.
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by RulerOfGoodAndEvil
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by RulerOfGoodAndEvil
Aug 27, 2019 14:21:57 #
Not familiar with stripers or where you catch them but some general possibilities. Line damaged? The line may have been damaged from a previous fish and thus weakened. This is more of an issue if your fishing from a rock ledge amongst structure. Cut by structure? Fish may have tangled your line in structure causing it to break. Sometimes you can feel this in the line and back off the drag and try and turn the fish. Knot failure? Maybe the knot wasn't quite right and it failed? Many different possibilities, you can eliminate each to reduce the risk of this happening again.
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by Nathan_Panda_
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by Nathan_Panda_
Aug 27, 2019 14:24:12 #
If you are fishing around structure that can cut you off you need to back off the drag until it is clear from these areas. Cutting limp braid is difficult. Put tension on it, super easy, same concept applies underwater. Have lost a couple 40" plus fish this season due to that. It takes some serious control to remember to do this but once you do it will become second nature.
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by MakeASnowflakeCry
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by MakeASnowflakeCry
Aug 27, 2019 14:24:21 #
So keep enough drag for a good hookset then when its clear from all rocks and current tighten?
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by Buffyasuoplz
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by Buffyasuoplz
Aug 27, 2019 14:24:26 #
I also target striper, with similar rigging, in a river with a lot of rocky structure. Just curious where your line cut, did you lose all your leader? What knot did you use for your braid to mono leader?
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by mattad0rk
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by mattad0rk
Aug 27, 2019 14:24:30 #
Not sure where I got cut. Lost a bit of line. I had like 10 ft of leader to a swivel. I don’t like knots going in and out of my guides. I use polymer knots
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by Buffyasuoplz
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by Buffyasuoplz
Aug 27, 2019 14:24:38 #
Aug 27, 2019 14:24:42 #
Aug 27, 2019 14:36:09 #
FS Digest wrote:
So keep enough drag for a good hookset then when its clear from all rocks and current tighten?
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by Buffyasuoplz
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by Buffyasuoplz
And or hold on to the reel so the drag won't slip when you set the hook.
Aug 28, 2019 07:24:49 #
Joecat
Loc: Florida / Rhode Island
You should eliminate the drag issue set your drag with a scale to no more than 1/3 of the weaker line used make Sure you have a good bend in the rod when setting it. Now more than likely it can only be structure or knot failure that caused it
Aug 28, 2019 08:16:54 #
FS Digest wrote:
Drag set tight. Fought for about 2 minute in the current then popped. I usually pull in 10-15 lbers with that drag easily. Spool of line pretty new. Was only second trip with that spool of line
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by Buffyasuoplz
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by Buffyasuoplz
That first sentence is your answer. There's a reason that reels have adjustable drags. Setting them tight is inviting problems like you experienced. Research how to set the drag on your reel; it will depend on the line test weight, not the weight of the fish. Once you have the drag set correctly, learn how to fight and land LARGE fish. It doesn't involve horsing them in. Unless you're using a cable and winch.
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