Could It Have Been A 10 Lber?

[FishChaser1]

The other day i tried to pull a fish up by the line and it snapped (I know, really dumb, I just saw the fish and wanted to get it). I estimated it to be around 6-7 lbs but my buddy tried to pull it up and asked for my help because he was having trouble lifting it up. Also the line that snapped was 12 lb test. Can someone explain to me some possible reasons for the line snapping if it wasn't this heavy because i don't think it looked 10 lbs. 

[OroBass]

Worn line with any small nicks or abrasions will break. Your rod works as a shock absorber, so when you grab the line you lose that quality.

[Sam]

Ora is right.  You need a net to compete the capture of large bass.

 

Keeping the rod tip high will give you the leverage to land the bass.

 

Watch the pros. Rod tip is up even if they have to lay down and lift the fish out of the water by hand.

 

And knicks, cuts, abrasions,  burned line and the like can reduce the line's advertised test tremendously.

 

Also check your knot and retie after every two or three fish. I know it is a pain to do this but you have to train yourself to do this so you know the knot is in good conditions.

[FishChaser1]

There was a patch of land I should have jumped to to get the bass from the water. I do that now lol

[Master Bait'r]

Just buy a net. No need to dive in dude haha

[slonezp]

It's not only about weight, it's about force. A 5lb bass shaking its head out of water is going to exert force greater than 5lbs on the line

[Smokinal]

Grabbing the line is something I learned not to do on "Schooled by Denny Brauer" years ago. He'd always scold the dudes for this. Funny though, I see it at least 20 times every Saturday morning done by the pros so....

[FishChaser1]

It's not only about weight, it's about force. A 5lb bass shaking its head out of water is going to exert force greater than 5lbs on the line

He wasn't shaking when we pulled him but the line had some abrasions 

[FishChaser1]

Just buy a net. No need to dive in dude haha

I like diving in

[Sam]

By the way, guys and gals, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER POINT THE ROD TIP AT THE FISH YOU ARE  BATTELING.

 

If you do, it is bye-bye fishy.

[WRB]

The B.A.S.S. elite pro no longer use nets and must develop alternate methods to land bass, you don't don't need to handicap yourself.

I rarely use a net for big bass unless using treble hook lures, then always use a net. The majority of my big bass are hooked on jigs and easily landed by hand, grabbed by the side of the mouth with 3 to 4 fingers inside the side of the jaw and the thumb out side, these bass have big mouths.

The key to success is staying in control of the fish, keep calm, plenty of time to get excited after the bass is in the boat.

Tom

[Fisher-O-men]

Grabbing the line is something I learned not to do on "Schooled by Denny Brauer" years ago. He'd always scold the dudes for this. Funny though, I see it at least 20 times every Saturday morning done by the pros so....

Likely they are grabbing braid or heavy line on a worn out fish.  I will lift a fish by the line rather that get a hand full of treble hooks, or risk fouling the hooks in the net.  If it is a big fish, always use a net.  I love the victory cry of "GET THE NET!!!"