How Often Should I Re-Tie?

[Tuckahoe Joe]

So I went out earlier today and was fishing for about an hour with the same hook tied on the whole time. After a while I caught a small bass (might have weighed a pound of so). 2 or 3 casts later, my hook/worm flew off into the blue. The fish was small and didn't put up much of a fight but I had been fishing without incident up to that point. Can one little fish really weaken the knot that much? Should I be re-tieing after every fish? Or for that matter, every snag as well?

[papajoe222]

Are you sure it broke at the knot? It's very uncommon for this to happen unless the knot was tied incorrectly and if that were the case, it likely would have failed with the fish on not after. I check my line after every catch for fraying, or nicks and I retie after every snag whether I see line damage or not.

It sounds more like the line broke somewhere else. Check your guides to make sure you didn't loose an insert or there isn't a nick in one and strip off a few feet of line and check it for kinks.

[rockchalk06]

If you were fishing that short of a time, chances are you have nicked your line on something at some point for it to do that. I don't want to say that it's your knot as any knot tied correctly will not do that.

To answer your question, I re-tie about every hour or so, after 3-4 fish unless they are big then after every fish. Also if I get snagged and pull the lure free I re-tie. Most of the lakes I fish are covered in weeds and timber so re-tieing makes me feel better as I am usually fishing the heavy areas as opposed to open water.

[SirSnookalot]

Unless you are fishing in area that will rough up your line, a well tied knot will hold for a very long time. I have knots tied that have lasted weeks and use them often. I have open water bass combos that have the same knot at my swivel from last year, using the same duolock and leader. But it's always a good idea to check your lines and leaders, but no reason to retie if it isn't needed. Tie it right in the first place and don't worry too much.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Im pretty certain it was tied properly. And if the knot had failed, the line should have been all curled where the it pulled free right? I pulled myself off of a couple snags so now that you mention it, it might have been frayed. Most of the cover is just weeds and lily pads but theres definitly some more solid snaggy stuff down there. The rod is only a couple of weeks old and I've been careful with it so I doubt there are any nicks and i know all my guides are there. I suppose Ill just have to make sure I check my line more often for signs of fraying, especially if I get snagged. Thanks guys.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

Unless you are fishing in area that will rough up your line, a well tied knot will hold for a very long time. I have knots tied that have lasted weeks and use them often. I have open water bass combos that have the same knot at my swivel from last year, using the same duolock and leader. But it's always a good idea to check your lines and leaders, but no reason to retie if it isn't needed. Tie it right in the first place and don't worry too much.

X2

[deep]

A well-tied knot does hold for a long time like Sir Snook says, I have gotten into the habit of retying every couple of hours though, and I check the first few feet of the line (run it through my finger tips) almost every other cast. Simple precautions go a long way to prevent a lost fish or a cast off bait.

I'm also VERY particular about my knots. Sometimes I'll retie several times until the knot looks good.

[Bluebasser86]

I like to give my line the pull test after every couple of fish. If I pull a fish through a rough area I retie even if it doesn't feel like I need to. I check my line above the knot often. I hate losing big fish, especially to preventable things like damaged line.

[fishking247]

the roof of a bass' mouth could fray the line. i have had this happen to me especially if the bait was swallowed deep in its mouth the line will rub on the inside on the lips causing a fray on the line

[retiredbosn]

Im pretty certain it was tied properly. And if the knot had failed, the line should have been all curled where the it pulled free rigIht? I pulled myself off of a couple snags so now that you mention it, it might have been frayed. Most of the cover is just weeds and lily pads but theres definitly some more solid snaggy stuff down there. The rod is only a couple of weeks old and I've been careful with it so I doubt there are any nicks and i know all my guides are there. I suppose Ill just have to make sure I check my line more often for signs of fraying, especially if I get snagged. Thanks guys.

What kind of line? From info given thus far I'm guessing fc or a copolymer or hybrid. Wrap it up in pads or weeds and a kink forms, retie. Those lines have a crystalline construction, a kink is a cut. That's the reason so many ppl have knot problems with that line IMO

[LgMouthGambler]

Run your fingers over the line and feel for abrasion. Retie when you feel its needed. I can go weeks without a retie, sometimes onlly minutes.

[ClackerBuzz]

x2 on what kind of line? i'm so confident with seaguar invizx that i can go out multiple outings w/o re-tying (if i've had a slow day, no nicks, small fish etc). i've snagged a cotton cordell rattletrap on a log while shore fishing and was able to bend out the hooks and recover it with 12lb invizx leader (using braid as mainline and w/ a blood connection knot that held).

[Darren.]

When in doubt, retie. :-)

Like some of the others, I won't retie unless I feel line abrasion above the hook after a few catches.

I always run my fingers thru the line (leader for me) and if I feel something that doesn't come off after a few rubs I'll cut and retie a leader on.

Too many times I've felt abrasion but didn't retie, thinking I'll do it after this next cast, I've regretted it. Don't be that guy.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Im using 10lb mono. Went out earlier today and didn't have any problems. I did get snagged once though and after pulling free I checked and it was all frayed for like 4 or 5 inches above the hook. Im gonna be more diligent about checking my line every so often. I feel this should fix my problem.

[Bankbeater]

If I am fishing in open water and haven't caught anything then no I don't check my line that often. If I am fishing a jig around timber or rip rap then I check it about every 3rd or 4th cast.

[K_Mac]

Run your fingers over the line and feel for abrasion. Retie when you feel its needed. I can go weeks without a retie, sometimes onlly minutes.

This is also how I do it. Another consideration is line size. 15# co-poly may handle a little abrasion, 6# will not. Most of the fish I've caught this past month have been deep on rocky structure. I've lost a couple of shakyhead fish not checking as often as I should. It only takes a second to check your line, and a minute to retie. It is a good habit to develop.

[Traveler2586]

I like to give my line the pull test after every couple of fish. If I pull a fish through a rough area I retie even if it doesn't feel like I need to. I check my line above the knot often. I hate losing big fish, especially to preventable things like damaged line.

X2, I do a hard pull test often, especially on my Spinnerbaits where the line can wrap around the eye twist on the spinner's wire; I'll also feel my line out to about three feet with my fingertips looking for abrasions.

[Diggy]

I rarely ever do purposely for the sake of "Imay lose a fish", unless I see my braid looks raggedy of feel something weird on other lines. I change lures often enough tho or have to repair my frogs so I guess the knots are pretty fresh for the most part.

[tholmes]

The lake I fish the most is plumb full of rip-rap and brush. I check my line often, especially after catching a fish or pulling free of the junk. If I feel any abrasion on the line, I re-tie.

Tom