Started Using 20Lb Braid With An 8Lb Leader Line

[ipeeinmywetsuit]

So I spooled my 2500 reel with 20 lb power pro and 8lb fluorocarbon leader. The first bite I got when i set the hook I straightened out my owner wacky hook. On the second bite I snapped the hook off entirely upon setting the hook. I found that when I just reel and sweep back on my rod with a taunt line instead it sets the hook on them. I land just about every fish doing this but my biggest so far with the finesse setup is just over 2lb's.

I'm worried that this method of setting the hook won't generate enough power to get a the hook through the mouth of a bigger bass and I'll lose the fish. Also if I want to fly line a senko or something and I bury the hook (texas rig) I have to set it a little harder and that could snap the line. I'm wondering if this is normal for a braid and light leader line combo? Does it typically snap so easily on a hard hook set? Right now I'm using berkeley vanish in 8lb because its all I have but I ordered some yozuri hybrid in 8lb to use instead. Any thoughts? Suggestions?

[OkobojiEagle]

Vanish doesn't have a lot of shock strength.

oe

[Stingray23]

Vanish is the worst. Throw it out.

[Loop_Dad]

Vanish is the worst. Throw it out.

Really? It's okay for me.

[ClackerBuzz]

are you used to using mono?

[SirSnookalot]

I don't understand it, my hooks never bend and my leaders don't fail on hooksets with a similar set up. As far as I'm concerned these really hard hooksets are for the TV cameras, I barely set the hook and have no problem. For my bass fishing I use nothing but Eagle Claws, inexpensive and does the job. I wouldn't be looking for a magic bullet in lines and hooks, I'd be looking at the technique.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I don't understand it, my hooks never bend and my leaders don't fail on hooksets with a similar set up. As far as I'm concerned these really hard hooksets are for the TV cameras, I barely set the hook and have no problem. For my bass fishing I use nothing but Eagle Claws, inexpensive and does the job. I wouldn't be looking for a magic bullet in lines and hooks, I'd be looking at the technique.

X2

[Loop_Dad]

I don't understand it, my hooks never bend and my leaders don't fail on hooksets with a similar set up. As far as I'm concerned these really hard hooksets are for the TV cameras, I barely set the hook and have no problem. For my bass fishing I use nothing but Eagle Claws, inexpensive and does the job. I wouldn't be looking for a magic bullet in lines and hooks, I'd be looking at the technique.

X3.

When you were using stretchy line, the good chunk of the pull you give to the rod tip was absorbed by the entire line and only a part of it was reaching the hook. Now you don't have that stretch, so you need to adjust accordingly to deliver the same pull at the hook. The best way is to go out and experiment to find out what technique works for you. Good luck.

[new2BC4bass]

Years ago with glass rods and mono line a violent hook set was the norm for many people. You better not have been within his rod's length when my Dad set a hook! I don't think with today's graphite rods that such hook sets are needed for most techniques. With braid a quick lift of the rod with a wrist action is probably enough in most cases. Especially if using a Fast or Extra Fast action rod. I've read you shouldn't set the hook when using a Circle hook. Just reel up. I tried it this spring and caught my PB LMB.

[Curved]

Yup, I use 8 lb flouro most of the time for my bass fishing and it works great. Also, the thin wire hooks I've been using lately set with light tension. Sometimes when the fish swim away they set themselves. The Lazer Crappie Rotating #2 has been my favorite bass hook for a couple months, but I've been going even crazier lately trying a size 12 baitholder hook (tiny) for bass fishing and it's been working pretty well. People laugh when I show them the hooks I'm catching fish on, but yesterday I caught a few LMB in the 2-3 lb range on a #12 hook rigged a unique way on a 2" tail grub and 6 lb flouro line.

A little physics for you: the smaller the gap of the hook, the lighter the wire for the same strength.

[ipeeinmywetsuit]

I don't understand it, my hooks never bend and my leaders don't fail on hooksets with a similar set up. As far as I'm concerned these really hard hooksets are for the TV cameras, I barely set the hook and have no problem. For my bass fishing I use nothing but Eagle Claws, inexpensive and does the job. I wouldn't be looking for a magic bullet in lines and hooks, I'd be looking at the technique.

I don't understand ridiculously violent/hard hook sets either snook. I literally straightened a hook and snapped my line with the braid/fluoro on a normal jerking upward motion. However, all the 1/16oz wacky hooks I have used tend the bend a little after a few big fish. That very day I readjusted to a flick of the wrist/side pull while reeling and landed over 15 fish. I believe I stated something like that in my first post. Yozuri is not a magic line in any case its cheaper than the Berkley vanish. I was just looking for affirmation that this is normal because I've never used braid let alone finessed with it. Since I only caught a few bass in the 2-3lb range I was worried a bigger hook set would be necessary for a larger fish but the video and some of you guys negated that possibility.

Thanks to the rest of you for the confirmation that what I am doing is correct and that sort of mishap I was having at the beginning is normal for a normal hook set with a braid/fluorocarbon finesse setup. I've been fishing my local pond the past three nights and have landed a total of over 40 fish on the flick shake with the braid. Tonight was the slowest night with only 10 fish.