Bass Fishing Noob Question

[shsabres]

Hey all, bass fishing noob. Spend tons of time here and youtube learning this fun and amazing hobby. However, I have a question with what has been happening to me lately. I fish a local pond by me, and the bass get around 2-4 lbs. Lately, fishing I have snapped my line setting the hook. And I mean sometimes barely setting the hook. I am using a medium heavy rod with 10 lb fluorocarbon line. I use a 2/0 EWG hook and have been fishing a creature bait (havoc pit boss 4") with a bullet wait. Also I am using a improved clinch knot. Any words of advice is appreciated. The area is heavy cover, but I don't feel I am really getting into much, if any snags. But it seems that lately, I am losing 2-3 fish by snapping the line when I go to set the hook. I just bought some 14lb line to try, but figured I would check here with the experts! Thanks guys!

[wisconsin heat]

Check your line often for any nicks and imperfections. (talking mostly about near your knot and about 4 feet above it, thats where most of the abrasion can be)

 

Also, check your rod's line guides, if one is damaged, it could become sharp and cut your line on hooksets.

[ItsTig]

I have never fished with a weight before, but this B.A.S.S. article by Aaron Martens might give you some information on this particular problem. http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/how-add-insert-tungsten-weights

[WPCfishing]

I think the 10# line is your problem. Is it breaking at the knot or somewhere in the middle of the line between the rod tip and the hook?

 

Also 10# Flouro is very fragile line. It nicks easy and breaks. The 14# was a good move. Try some P-Line CX if you're using a bait caster or the Floroclear if it's a spinning reel. It's a lot tougher than Flouro and a third the price.

[Bluebasser86]

I'm guessing you're breaking at the knot because the line is burning itself when you tighten it down. I'll try to hold the knot in my mouth and tighten it slowly and smoothly with fluorocarbon and give it a good strong pull test before I fish with it. If it's breaking further up your line, check your guides like was suggested. 

[Senko lover]

When I first started bass fishing, I tried to teach myself the improved clinch knot, but I didn't like the increased complexity of the double loop, so I just tied the Clinch Knot, and have been using it ever since. I use 10 pound mono on my spinning rod, and 12 pound mono on my baitcaster. I set the hook as hard as I can. That knot and line has stood up to some giant logs, a near 8-pound bass, catfish, you name it. 

 

I don't think you're doing anything wrong. Maybe Wisconsin Heat is correct and you have a chipped guide or something, because that shouldn't be happening.  

[lecisnith]

Is you line breaking or is your knot coming undone? Early in my career (last year) when I was learning the improved clinch and other knots I had a couple of times where I had the knots come undone. My main problem was not leaving enough of a tag end on the clinch so it slipped a tad and had nothing to hold the knot. Then I gave up on the trilene, but that's a story for another day.

[Bassfink86]

try the palomar knot or the san diego jam knot, and don't forget to wet your line and knots when tying since fluoro has a bad habit of burning itself

[WRB]

If you like the improved clinch knot try the Trilene knot, double line at the hook eye or use a San Deigo jam knot.....online for instructions. Avoid getting the line near the hook eye where the end of the wire is next to the hook shaft, it will nick the line when snugging the knot tight. I use a cloths pin snapped on the hook to add a little weight when knot tying hooks.

What size and type of bullet weight? Tungsten weights can be a problem with sharp edges.

You want the hook eye and knot about 1/16" inside the soft plastic to help protect the knot from weight damage. I also add a tempered glass faceted bead between the weight and hook, creates a little clicking sound, plus helps to protect the knot....if the bead has smooth hole openings.

I also refer painted brass 31/6 oz bullet weights, see Don Iovino products for brass & glass weight and beads.

You might want to use a 3/0 hook.

Tom

[SirSnookalot]

I can only say what I do and I'm pretty happy.  Don't care for F/C, I use P-line floroclear for my leaders tied with an ordinary clinch or loopknot for lures.  I use 10 or 15# braid, when fishing for species or bait types where I need to set the hook I make 1 extra click on the drag, I get a surer hook set.  I really only wet my knots when I'm using 30#  leaders and higher.  Check the rod guides, I've had many corrode from saltwater but have only had 1 insert chip, which was a tip on a freshwater rod.