I share your sympathy because it's a blessing and a curse at the same time. It's kinda like my stunning good looks. I mean sure it's nice to look this good, but sometimes you get tired of the ladies looking at ya like a chunk of meat.......

My father-in-law had the same problem with breaking 65 LB braided line (not at the knot). He has a huge hookset and seems to drop his rod tip slightly and let slack in the line. I have seen him launch 2 LB fish all the way over the boat, so I know exactly what you're talking about. He finally gave up and switched back to the line he had been using for years. 30 LB Clear Blue Stren. Good luck with whatever you decide to try!

If you are breaking off every third hookset, you definitely have problems. I don't think it is the power of your hookset either. What changed in the past couple years that made you break off more fish? What line did you use before? I used to be a huge CXX fan. Now, I only use the 10 and 12. I have actually had break off problems with the CXX in 20 and 25. Plus, at that size it is too kinky. Try 20 to 30 pound Maxima and don't keep it in your garage.

Its just been getting progressivly worse really. The first line I remember flipping with was 20lb flouresent stren (bright green), then green big game 20-30lb, then clear big game 30lb, then 20-25lb CXX P-Line. I have been with P-line since '03.

I got tendonitis really bad about 2000, and started doing wrist workouts with a weighted rod and reel. (8lbs of weight). Maybe I just built up freak muscles, although I'm not big at all. (6'0" 145lb)

I do have a fishing "Shop" that is air conditioned and clean where I store all my gear, and if you haven't got the idea yet, I'm very paranoid about keeping all my gear in top shape. I even change my line out on all my rods before every fishing day, even if the line has not seen the water. You know how that p-line likes to coil, thats mainly why I change it, to keep it kind of straight.


Thanks a bunch for all the help guys, it really means a lot to me that yall are willing to help a guy out!

**UPDATE**

I think I have my hookset under control now guys! It took a while, but I have re-trained myself, and got rid of that line breaking "Snap Set".

Went out to the lake several weeks ago, and told myself that I wasn't going to set the hook at all, knowing that I would have to quit setting the hook automaticlly to get rid of my slack-line hookset. First bite I had guess what...yep, set the hook and broke the line, without even knowing I had had a bite. The 4lb fish that jumped trying to throw my jig made me try harder.

As the day went on, I really started to see the problem with my hookset. Everytime I had a bite, I would catch myself droping my rod tip about a foot or a foot and a half "Winding up" to set the hook. This is where my slack came from, and ultimatly, what was causing my line to break. The first day, I just concentrated on not automatically setting the hook, but being mentally aware that I had got a bite.

The second day I began to correct my hookset. I was consious that I had a fish bite and needed to set the hook. I ended up doing pretty much the same thing as before, except for one thing. I droped my rod tip like before, but, being consious of what I was doing, turned the reel until I felt the fish, then hit em.

Everytime I have gone fishing since then, my main concern was correcting my hookset. With a lot of practice, this new techique has became automatic for me. It has slowed down my hookset a little bit, but its still just a fraction of a second. But the best part of it is I HAVE NOT BROKE MY LINE in over a month, which is a huge deal for me! My hookset is still a monster, with anything under 5 pounds coming in the boat on a short line hookset. This has got me VERY excited about the 2010 season, knowing that I will more than likely put 30% more fish in the boat.


Thanks to everybody that helped me figure out and work through my hooksetting problems. You guys are the best!




Tight lines, and wet worms!

Chuck Elliott

Glad to hear that you figured it out and have adjusted your hook set to work without breaking the line. That is quite a hook set if you were breaking 20 pound P-Line CXX.

I've never been able to break 50 lb. Spiderwire Stealth.

80# Suffix Braid. Palamar not with a half Hitch on top, Dabb a little Super Glue on the knot to make sure its not going to slip! You Will not break this. Go out side take your line and tie it to your truck hitch ball just like I said....Snatch all you want to. I GUARANTEE, you willnot break the line...you will be looking for a rod tube to send that loomis back in about 5 seconds after you snatch it the first time.

Is your name Billy and you live in the last house on the left? Do your friends call you B.A. for short? Or Mr. B.A.? You could could be a Pro Gar Fisherman if you wanted whith that kind of a hook set. POWER TO YOU

Funny...

Yeah,I'm Billy and I live on the last house on the left.........,So??