Catfishing line issues

[Austin Hardman]

I keep having this issue, I hook into a decent sized catfish and I've been using 15lb braid in one of my reels and 20lb braid on a baitcaster and when I hook up I fight the fish my drag is set up and everything for it but when I get the fish a few feet from shore the line snaps a few inches below my wieghts and I dont know what the deel is I've tried holding my rod lower so I dont have as much tension on it but it keeps breaking and i recently set my baitcaster up with 30lb braid and i havent caught a fish on it yet with that line and I'm wanting to see how that does, any tips or advice i should try while I'm hooked up to see if it doesnt snap?

[freelancer27]

Maybe check your guides?

[Glaucus]

Holy Mother of run-on sentence.

 

I agree with checking your guides. There could be a crack somewhere causing line damage.

 

Check out those periods.

[WRB]

Catfish can't see the line or care if it's there so why use small diameter braid?

Explain your rig; weight and how it's tied etc.

Tom

PS, doesn't sound like a frayed line from cracked guide. Use a cotton Q-tip and run in the guide if cracked the cotton tends to snag.

[mrpao]

Do you use a leader?

The catfish teeth maybe fraying the braid and making weak while you are fighting it.

I usually use a thick mono or fluro leader. Even then I have to check the leader often for cuts and scrapes.

[jbrew73]

If it is breaking below your weight then it isn’t your guides.  Abrasion? Bad knot? What “rig” are you using? Tell us how you are rigging and we can offer better advice.

[bassh8er]

If they’re consistently breaking off near the bank, they’re probably spinning the line, weakening it and breaking off.

 

Get a net bruh!

[Bluebasser86]

No reason to use that thin of diameter braid for catfish if you're bottom fishing. A good mono is better for the abrasion resistance really. 

[Fried Lemons]

Braid has no stretch and poor abrasion resistance. It is prone to snapping from sudden shocks which tend to happen as the fish gets closer and there is less line out to absorb any sudden movements. I would either step up to a thicker braid such as 50-80lb or switch to something like 20lb mono. I personally like the forgiveness of mono in this application.