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What do you do if you have a fish that is bigger than your rod is supposed to handle?
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Jan 12, 2021 13:30:20   #
FishermanLeeSonoma
 
It is actually a nice problem to have if you don't mind that you might lose the fish but you will have one heck of a time. Set drag so it is not too loose or tight, adjust so the fish can run with drag overly stress line. Try to maximize the use of your rod to work the fish. I caught a 24 1/2 pound Salmon and landed it in 55 odd minutes. While I would love to say it was all skill, there was a lot of luck involved as I caught it in the Sacramento River. I was able to run up and down the river bank (boulders) passing the rod to my friend till I could get to it. If the fish just went down stream, would have been over fast. I was trout fishing with 4 lb Trilene...

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Jan 12, 2021 13:36:05   #
agatemaggot Loc: iowa
 
Don't be screwing with the drag (AFTER) you hook the fish , have it set (BEFORE ) . Leave the damn anti reverse OFF and back reel if you have to. If you get low on line because you just hooked old jumbo start the engine and chase the big bugger !

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Jan 12, 2021 13:45:48   #
Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS
 
I've seen quite a few comments on not holding the rod back past center upright, years back I caught a 50 lb tuna on a 12lb ugly stik, it almost spooled me and the only way I stopped it was holding the rod back with a big arc in it, after another 10 minutes had it back to the boat. If it had of kept running my reel would have been empty and it would have broken off. Play every fish as how you see it pan out.

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Jan 12, 2021 14:04:11   #
Elefantdude Loc: Livermore, CA
 
FS Digest wrote:
I have a small rod, it's about 6 ft 6 with 8 pound test. That's good for freshwater, but sometimes there's going to be those fish that are huge. What do I do if I get one of those? Do I put the drag at it's lowest?

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by SoaringCourage1


Hey Soaring Courage, do NOT put your drag to it's lowest setting. You will either lose your line or lose your spool! You definitely do not want to do that ;-)
I like using light line on my setups, both fresh and salt water. My Dad taught me that I will catch more fish that way. In my 50 + years of fishing, that holds true for me.
I suggest learning to use the drag on your reels to your advantage. Learn to adjust it tight enough so that when the fish pulls, it takes some line, but it doesn't take it too fast. I have caught some double digit weighing fish on 4 lb test and it is a blast!!!

If the fish on your line is pulling line too fast with your drag on a very low setting, then all you can do is pray and have fun!!! :-)
It will suck if a fish pulls all your line out, gets away and is swimming around with all that fishing line attached to it.

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Jan 12, 2021 15:12:45   #
Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)
 
FS Digest wrote:
I have a small rod, it's about 6 ft 6 with 8 pound test. That's good for freshwater, but sometimes there's going to be those fish that are huge. What do I do if I get one of those? Do I put the drag at it's lowest?

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by SoaringCourage1


The way I see it; you've got 2 options: personally, I always have my drag set, before I get my hook wet, so; fiddling with the drag, is a non-issue... Option #1: Squeal like a little girl and throw your whole rig overboard... Option #2: "Play" the fish.

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Jan 12, 2021 15:13:41   #
DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.
 
FS Digest wrote:
I have a small rod, it's about 6 ft 6 with 8 pound test. That's good for freshwater, but sometimes there's going to be those fish that are huge. What do I do if I get one of those? Do I put the drag at it's lowest?

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by SoaringCourage1

Do like the Egghead does... “pee a little” 😜😂🤣🐟on

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Jan 12, 2021 18:16:21   #
Jwid Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO
 
Hooking fish bigger than you expect is when the fun starts.

Enjoy!!!

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Jan 12, 2021 18:45:02   #
badbobby Loc: Humble Texas
 
FS Digest wrote:
I have a small rod, it's about 6 ft 6 with 8 pound test. That's good for freshwater, but sometimes there's going to be those fish that are huge. What do I do if I get one of those? Do I put the drag at it's lowest?

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by SoaringCourage1


Pray
pray hard

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Jan 12, 2021 19:40:29   #
OregonBob Loc: Oregon
 
yep...it's all about the correct drag and being patient to wear the fish down

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Jan 12, 2021 19:49:32   #
Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS
 
When you fish offshore for marlin and tuna, knowing these are hundreds of pounds, you set your drag at 1 third of the line breaking strain, eg, 50 lb would be about 16lb drag setting. Thats fighting setting, have caught 1 of 310lb on 30lb line and never looked like breaking off

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Jan 12, 2021 19:59:54   #
FishermanLeeSonoma
 
I am assuming your bank fishing.

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Jan 12, 2021 22:41:23   #
DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia
 
I use 4 to 10# line depending, on water color at night for walleye. My PB was 13 1/2 # let your rod fight the fish, set the drag right the line and rod can handle the pressure unless the fish gets into something in the water, anything it can wrap around. Keep fishing. DEEJAY

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Jan 17, 2021 07:30:52   #
William williamson Loc: Texas 78343
 
PRAY!

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