After a big bite and your line breaks, ever wonder if it was the fish pulling the line that caused it to break or the fish "teeth" that caused the break. Hate when that happens, who really knows? Can't just be the line ALL the time.

I'm a believer in having my drag set low, just under half the pound test, unless fishing weeds or near stumps. Tiring the fish out then pulling them in.

+1

I've been using a 6ft ultra-lite with 4lb Trilene lately, haven't broke anything off yet. Not a lot of cover where I'm fishing to cause nicks in the line. Most of my experience with line breakage were due to a nick in the line. I set my drag low as well, a 12" bass feels like 4lber on normal tackle. I also retie often to prevent breakage on the hookset.

Not for bass.... u have to reel them in quick before they start jumping

Get some braid, problem solved

[quote=tshirtfan]Get some braid, problem solved [/quote

Right on! Since I changed all my poles to braided line. Mo more breakage. It cost more but worth it.

A true reel guy would set his drag loose and just put his thumb on the spool when he sets the hook. The drag would then earn that extra $50 you spent on that reel to have a smooth drag.

Enjoy fishing by playing the fish and letting it run and jump.

Unless, you are fishing for money, you should then wench it in the boat.

But to answer the topic question, when I break off it's mostly at the knot. I messed up tying it and it failed.

BINGO! When a line snaps on the hook set or soon after, it's almost always because the knot was tied improperly or not lubed enough before cinching down. Braid will knot help if you're tieng bad knots! I set my drag like stated above, about half the line test I have spooled up. I've brought in too many 5lb+ bass, cats, hybrids and even carp on 4lb test to blame a break on anything but me not tying a proper knot or checking the line every few casts or making sure the hook eye is all the way closed and clean or etc...

Thanks for the input guys. I can say sometimes my knot is the problem. Usually tie palomar or clinch. Drag is usually set loose, most of the time. What knot(s) do you guys think are the best to tie on a regular basis?

circle/octopus hooks - Snell Knot
other types of hooks - Trilene Knot

Blood Knot, for tying mono-mono (or mono-fluoro) lines with similar diameters ...

Uni-Uni Knot, for tying lines with different diameters or mono-braided lines.

Retie your knots often, you have eliminated the knot problems... few fish can chew off a fishing line of any lb test, but their abrasive teeth will cause nicks or frazzles around the hook area and weaken the knot or line over time, but rarely a fish teeth just cut the line free,... retie your hooks/leaders solve this problem.

The other problem is line lb test strength, the smaller the lb test line, the more often you need to replace it. Nicks/frazzles caused by fish pulling line and rubbing against its body (gill covers or fins, etc) or fish go deep and pulling you line against rocks, logs or boat sides, etc. weaken your line over times eventually eventually will snap your line.

I fish with surf rods and use 20+ lb test line, and stretch out my long line under the sun,... I also have to worry about the UV lights that weaken my mono line, for that reason I use braided main line and 10' of mono line leader, I replace my leader line every week. Problems solved.

Found out yesterday after missing 3 fish that my knots were the issue....

I use to do palomar. Now I do improved clench knot. Once to get use to it. Easy to tie on braid or mono.

I use palomar most of the time.