Hey guys, quick question:

What brand/LB test line do you use for fishing really gnarley stuff?

I have had major problems the past couple of years breaking fish off on the hookset. I know my hookset is too violent, but there is nothing I can do about it, it's an instinctive reaction.

I have had the best luck with P-Line CXX 25lb test, but even then I break off about every third hookset. I have tried everything from PowerPro braid (65lb test) to Big Game (50 lb test). The braid breaks everytime I set the hook, the big game is maybe 50%.

I've changed to a lighter action rod and backed my drag down to 4 pounds thinking that would save the line, it helped some, but not enough.

The main problem is when I flip into, over, or behind rocks or wood my line breaks on the hookset.

I got some 20lb Invisx last night, thinking it might be a little more abrasion resistant, and I'm gonna try that. Would have got a heavier line, but thats the biggest I could find.

What do yall suggest? Who makes a good abrasion resistant, shock resistant line?

A little info on my hookset:
A good hookset involves a 7 pounder coming into the boat with me in one fluid motion. It's pretty bad, but thats how I learned to set the hook 20 years ago, and its just automatic now.

Thanks
Chuck

relax

Oh, I forgot to mention, since I'm sure this will come up.

I use a palomar knot. It seems the knot holds up ok, its just the line thats the problem.

Any knot suggestions for the braid or the flouro?

Thanks again!

I am relaxed.

Its just an automatic thing.

I feel that thump, and them I hit em, I'm not even aware that I've had a hit until the fish is in the boat with me...

switch to mono or a more forgiving rod then.

65 power pro i pulled a good 8lb on forks pads.that fish straghtend the hook landed her but my line didnt break!

Ya need to cool down on the hookset and with braid and a bigger fish make sure when you set the hook you dont have slack or that sudden pop could break your line.

...huh... make sure your knots are good and wet but then still that shouldn't make THAT much difference... Power pro is as good a braid, or better than any other... deffinately relax, mabey change hands your flippn with, your weaker hand will be well... weaker... might help...

last resort... go to walmart buy the softest ugly stick you can find... it wont break (they are indistructible in my experience) and it will be MUCH softer lol

I quit using braid after I lost several fish over 5. But you might be right on this. This may be why I break mono too. I'm not sure if I drop my rod tip to set the hook. I do know that there is an awful lot of shock being put on the line. I'll try to set on a tighter line. Thanks for the suggestion.

powerpro sucks.

65# spiderwire is what i use. fresh and saltwater.

Thanks! But I think I'll stick with my Loomis! I did change from the 7'11" rod, which was a really stiff rod, to a 7'2" medium rod, which was still too stiff. Now I use a medium action spinnerbait rod, which has a very soft tip, but still has some power in the butt.

Thanks for the suggestions, I really think its gonna be a combination of things. Keep 'em comming!

I've been using mono and a lighter rod for the past year.

I've only tried the braid a few times and wasn't impressed at all for flipping purposes. I'll leave it on my frod rod, but thats all I use it for.

Thanks!

No offense man,but you can't generate 25 pounds of pressure at the end of your line on a hookset.

Had same problem. Went with triple fish line and it solved it for me. 20lb is good but have been able to go to 15 in light cover and not break the line. That perlon line has a nice stretch and it doesn't seem to weaken it to much after being stretched.

obviously he did somehow... or damaged the line to the point it didn't take that much pressure(also rather hard to do with 65 pound braid)... help him out don't tell him he isn't breaking fish...

One thing is you are not breaking your line on the fish. The line is damaged or you have a knot tying problem.

Verify that by tying your line up to a broomstick and a pole with about 20 feet of line in between. If you can break the lines you have mentioned without it being at the knots you are by far the strongest hook setter I've ever seen.

Most people cannot break 10 lb line.

No,he didn't generate 25 pounds of pressure at the end of his line on the hookset. I'm just keepin' things lively. He has a cracked rod guide or tip, he needs to use Flourocarbon line,tie a better knot,retie more often, etc. The one thang he doesn't have is too big of a hookset.

I wouldnt say you need to cool down at all on your hookset...thats a good thing to have a very powerful hookset, especially if your fishing the very heavy stuff your gonna need it to horse em out!

I would say try a different knot...65 lb braid shouldnt brake that easily on the hookset.

But keep rippin those lips, theres no reason to calm down on the hookset!

NOOOOOOOO! definatly not a more forgiving rod...you will never get that fish out haha

LOL! Thanks for keeping things lively!

I respool my reels every fishing day, wax all my rods including eyelets once a month, and retie after every 14" and over fish. I bought some InvisX flourcarbon line to try, but I'm doubtful that will help.

And as for generating 25lbs of pressure on a hookset, I really don't want to do that! I have my drag set at 4 pounds steady pull.

I think it is the shock or speed of the hookset that breaks the line, not the power.

Usually, my line is behind somthing when I set the hook, like a pole on a dock or a rock or brush. I think that is what damages my line and causes it to break.

Maybe it is my knot, but I tie a palomar. Thats a good knot, right?

Thanks for the defense Catslayer!

Thank you, this is what I was getting at. What line will take the initial shock of the hookset. I'll give triple fish a try. Do the make it in a 30 pound test?

If you have a good abrasion resistent line then it shouldn't break just because its behind something. I really think its a good chance your pop hook setting the fish. Doing this even on a 14inch fish can break 17pound test easily.

I think you're right Dale. I probably need sombody to video me breaking off fish to tell excatly what I am doing wrong, but I feel like you are probably correct.

For reference he means dropping the rod tip slightly and setting the hook on a slack line. Right Dale?

Yes.

All in fun. It's not the hookset. You answered your own question if the drag is set at 4 pounds. Try P line flourocarbon. Not the Halo. Try to determine where on the line the break occurs. Then you can figure it out from there.