Keep Losing Lures/line Snapping

[fuzzman]

Yesterday i went out on the Erie canal and got a hit, so i start reeling in and my line snaps but then i thought about it and it was only 8 lb pound test line so i went out to the store and bought 14 pound test line. Went out today and hooked another fish with the 14 pound line started reeling in and i think my line snapped but im not sure. Why does this keep happening to me? i lost the 2 best spinnerbaits i had and now i have none. Please help would be greatly apperciated.

[fuzzman]

Idk what is it called im new to bass fishing but i put it through the hole and wrap it seven times and then put it through the loop. Thats what i was brought up doing but idk whats going on im sick of losing big fish and my lures.

[fuzzman]

Could it also be the drag on my baitcaster which is causing my line to break?

[jkarol24]

You've been catching Northern Pike, theres a ton of them in the Canal and they love spinnerbaits. They have lots of very sharp teeth and can easily bite through 14 lb line. Use braided line or tie on a wire leader and you will catch ém.

[GoTakeANap]

yea it could be. it should be set to let line out. you should be able to pull on your line and hear your drag click and give line.

[fuzzman]

you sure they are northern pike? but thanks for helping!

[WRB]

Set the reel drag at 1/3 the line strength. Run the line through all the rod guides, tie an over hand loop and have someone hold the scale while you put tension on the rod; 14 mobs use between 4 to 5 lbs.

Always wet the knot before you cinch it down tight. Wit a clinch knot, use 5 turns. Improved clinch knot you run the line through the top loop and back down through the bottom loop.

You shouldn't get bit off by pike using spinnerbaits. If that is a problem buy 6 to 8" commercial wire leader.

What type of line are you using?

Tom

[Nick86794]

Check you knots, because each knot has its specific job. also, check your line and see if it is banged up. Look for cuts into the line, over tenson and memory in your line that make little squiggles almost that cause that part of the line to become weak. and just as everyone else is saying, definitely check your drag

[retiredbosn]

What kind of line are you using?

[roadwarrior]

Check your guides and change you line.

Remember this:

If a knot isn't PERFECT, it's not good enough.

[fuzzman]

im using trilene monofilament 14 lb line. but i dont have a scale is there an easier way i can set my drag i was working with it today and its a little better but im not sure if its right. I think it had to deal with my drag and maybe my knots

[fishking247]

Check your guides and tip. one of you guides on your rod could be cracked which is causing the line to fray which eventually caused the line to break

[WRB]

im using trilene monofilament 14 lb line. but i dont have a scale is there an easier way i can set my drag i was working with it today and its a little better but im not sure if its right. I think it had to deal with my drag and maybe my knots

1 quart of water weighs 2 lb, 1/2 gallon weighs 4 lbs.. Your rod my not have enough power to handle 4 lbs of dead weight, so be careful trying to lift 4 lbs. You set it with 2 lbs dead weigh, lift the weight with the reel mounted on the rod, the line through the guides, lift the quart of water ans set the drag so it hold the weight and you can pull line off the reel withi light pressure.

Check the rod guides with a cotton Q-tip, the cotton fibers will stick to any cracks.

Tom

[hooah212002]

Idk what is it called im new to bass fishing but i put it through the hole and wrap it seven times and then put it through the loop. Thats what i was brought up doing but idk whats going on im sick of losing big fish and my lures.

That's the clinch knot. For the longest time, I thought that was THE fishing knot. Then, I joined this site amd learned a thing or two. I used to break off at my knot all the time.

Two things:

1: if you continue to use this knot, make absolutely certain you wet it down with saliva before tightening it down. This is critical. You should wet down EVERY knot, though.

2: switch to a Palomar knot. It's very easy, but af first you will waste a bit of line with the tag end. I have yet to lose anything with this knot.

There are a lot of good knots and the clinch isn't a bad one, per se, I've just personally had BAD experiences with it. It pays to learn more knots so you can tie the right one for a particular situation.

[SirSnookalot]

If the knot is tied correctly, it isn't the knot no matter what type of fishing knot you are using. Drag isn't the issue unless it's way too tight, even then it takes a pretty good fish to break 14# mono and that probably won't happen until you are battling the fish. If the line is in good shape and the rod guides are not cracked just could be a toothy critter. Easiest remedy is to buy pre rigged steel leaders, swivel on one end and snap swivel on the other. You can also use " piano wire ", I use 30# it's pretty cheap too, haywire twist is recommended but I just wrap it about 10 -12 times, it's what I use for my barracuda down here.

[jkarol24]

you sure they are northern pike? but thanks for helping!

I'm fairly positive they are pike. They laugh at 14 lb mono and are very prevalent in the canal, plus they LOVE spinnerbaits

[smbrule]

Make sure your knot has not migrated to the kink of the hooks eye loop.

[nwoods]

Make sure your drag is set properly and if you are catching Northerns make sure you have a steel leeder. For me personally when I went to Canada and fished Northerns, I adjusted my drag throughout the day. So, after a couple of fish I had my drag adjusted so that anything under a pound would not strip my line out even when it was fighting, and then anything over 1 pound would. Also helps you gauge how big a fish you are reeling in if you understand you drag and its settings.

[Run&Gun]

I would say make sure wet the line and leave enough tag end just in case it does slip.

[cheezylotus]

^{when is the line snapping? is it when you set the hook, when your about to land the fish, when the fish starts to fight, or what?}

[Bankbeater]

Could be a lot of things causing the line to break. Are you pulling your baits through anything rough that could be damaging your line?

[fuzzman]

^{when is the line snapping? is it when you set the hook, when your about to land the fish, when the fish starts to fight, or what?}

It breaks as soon as he fish starts to fight.

[cheezylotus]

then i would refer to the earlier posts about frayed lines, ect... this will most likely solve your problem. usually in my cases, if my drag is too tight i break off while setting the hook. just make sure you retie often, and keep a check on your line. and if your not sure if you should retie or not, then retie. i retie after 3 fish, and if im fishing tight to cover, especially rocks and docks, then im constantly feeling my line. good luck!