Leader Breaking On Hook Set

[McAlpine]

So i've been having a major problem that is driving me crazy....

Just this year I started to use braid with a flouro leader. I'm using different` brands of braid based upon the reel/rod set up but in general using 8 or 10lb XPS flourocarbon leader. This is happening on baitasting and spinning setups. I'm using a double uni to join the two. All year I have been having trouble with my leader breaking when I set the hook on a decent fish. I"m not a haul off and rip their heads off kind of guy on the hookset. Just a solid reel down and pull up with my hand going from 3 o'clock to 12 o'clock. I've never had these line breaking problems until this year. Many times I find the leader broken right at the leader side of the knot joining it to the braid.

So, is XPS known to break? I know that berkley line is horrible for this, not sure about the XPS.

Is it just me? Do I need to be gentle due to the low strech of braid and flouro?

It's happened 3 or 4 times in tournaments on good fish, I'm really sick over it.

[BassinLou]

If you say the hooksets are not that hard, I would venture to say two things. Either the fluro is bad or something with your knot. Double uni is a good knot. I used to use it until I learned the albright. With the uni how many wraps are you doing? Are you lubing the line with saliva before you cinch down tight? Those are the only things I can think of on the leader side. Hope that helps.

[BenBassmaster]

Xps Fluro has to be VERY wet, and yes it has been known to break easily I would get some different Fluro.

[McAlpine]

I dont usually wet this knot, maybe I am pinching the line. I do 6-8 wraps on both sides depending upon the line.

Still seems odd that it keep popping though. It really feels like the hookset is causing a whip and the line takes too much stress but .....it's supposed to. It's been annoying.

[BassinLou]

Sounds like your culprit is lack of wetting the line. Your wraps sound about right.

[mod479]

If you dont wet the knot, thats why its breaking.

Dry braid and chinese fluoro dont mix. Wet the line, 3-4 wraps is plenty, wet again, and cinch/tighten. Shouldn't break.

[McAlpine]

Anyone have a suggestion on a better quality flouro as well?

Not sure I am willing to go to Tatsu...any other suggestions? Or should I just bite the bullet?

Last year I used Vicous and honestly, it's strong line but not at the knot. I moved away from that because my knot's kept slipping (Homer Circle Knot).

[BassinLou]

I have never had a problem with P-lines fluro.

[NBR]

Always goober up the line before you pull the knot tight.

[thehooligan]

I use the double uni knot with pline flouro, havnt had a break yet.

[mod479]

Tatsu is awesome stuff (you certainly get what you pay for), but it's pretty expensive. For half the price you could go with invis-x or sunline sniper, which are also easy handling and tough fluros. I've had good experiences with all 3.

[MarkH024]

Fish straight braid or straight fluoro and you won't have to worry about it. I catch lots of fish without using a leader. 1 less obstacle to avoid when trying to land a fish. Your leader breaking could be the new personal best, state record, world record swimming away. I'm not saying that if tied properly, it works just fine because I know it does.....but there is always that chance.

My .02 , there are only a few very SLOW methodical presentations where I would consider a leader for bass fishing and even at that, I still prefer fishing straight line. Strictly my opinion, here comes the firing squad.

[fishking247]

use the alberto knot. or fish straight braid

[McAlpine]

Fish straight braid or straight fluoro and you won't have to worry about it. I catch lots of fish without using a leader. 1 less obstacle to avoid when trying to land a fish. Your leader breaking could be the new personal best, state record, world record swimming away. I'm not saying that if tied properly, it works just fine because I know it does.....but there is always that chance.

My .02 , there are only a few very SLOW methodical presentations where I would consider a leader for bass fishing and even at that, I still prefer fishing straight line. Strictly my opinion, here comes the firing squad.

Actually, I pretty well agree with you. it was just this year that I decided to attempt this aproach. Honestly, I have never been a fan of braid anyway. However; the benefits of a braid or more specifically a superline on a spinning reel had me hooked this year (bad pun intended). Of course I am generally utilzing my spinning reels for drop shotting, flukes, weightless worms, etc, other small baits in higher visibilty situations. I also started to migrate my jig rods to braid with a flouro leader but I think I am begining to realize this is just silly and will probably just go back to straight flouro in a heavier weight. I have had just about as many line messes with the braid flipping as with straight flouro and they are honestly harder to pick out with braid after it digs in. I am a fan of superline on the spinning reel though, that has been very nice for applications where you dont have a taught line on the retreive.

[McAlpine]

Tatsu is awesome stuff (you certainly get what you pay for), but it's pretty expensive. For half the price you could go with invis-x or sunline sniper, which are also easy handling and tough fluros. I've had good experiences with all 3.

I have heard good things about the sniper, might have to try that next year.