Best knot for snapping baits.

[Junk Fisherman]

Within the last month I have been cracking a 1/2 tube and snapping a Stupid Tube and have had several breakoffs with the knot.  I am using braid with an 8 lb fluoro.  Don't laugh but I have been using the Trilene Knot for years and it has never let me down until now but this is also the first time I have been aggressively snapping my bait up off the bottom for an extended amount of time.  The knot is just not holding up.  So I am looking for suggestions as to the best knot to hold up to this kind of abuse.  Next time I go out I'll use a Palomar but I wonder if there is anything else I should consider.  Any advice is appreciated.  

[Mike L]

I use Flouro on every combo I own except 2..

For years the only knot for me has been the San Diego Jam. There are others and you'll hear about them soon, but to me there is none better. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[MickD]

I don't think it's the knot; it's the 8 pound FC.  FC is fragile and snapping is very hard on knots.  Try a leader grade 12 pound FC.  Or go mono.  But I still think 8 pound is too low for this technique.  I think when you go stronger with leader grade your knot will work just fine.

 

The stiffer leader grade leader material will help keep lures from tangling on the snaps, too.

[A-Jay]

Love Cracking a tube -

I also use braid but I go with 10lb Mono leader - Big Game Green in fact.

The mono knot strength is great, and it helps absorb some of the shock of both the 'snap' and the surprise hook sets that follow (hopefully).

A-Jay

 

[Deleted account]

2 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

but I wonder if there is anything else I should consider...

Mono.

[MickD]

A-Jay, you fish a lot of water similar to what I fish, ever snap tubes or swimbaits and get one hung up on a rock, yank it a few times, and it finally lets go and a smb instantly hits it?  They were there looking at it move around with the yanks, then as soon as it comes free, they nail it.  Cool.

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Love Cracking a tube -

I also use braid but I go with 10lb Mono leader - Big Game Green in fact.

The mono knot strength is great, and it helps absorb some of the shock of both the 'snap' and the surprise hook sets that follow (hopefully).

A-Jay

What size head do you like for like mid 20-mid 30 ft of water and mod current?

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, BassWhole! said:

What size head do you like for like mid 20-mid 30 ft of water and mod current?

1/2, 5/8 or 3/4.

A-Jay 

[papajoe222]

Okay, I'll ask.  Why are you using a leader. The FP lakes around you aren't very clear and snapping a tube, or stroking a jig is more of a reaction presentation where the fish focus on the bait. I use straight 10lb braid in the clear strip pits west of you and I doubt I'm missing fish because of line visibility. 

If it's a confidence thing for you, retie often, go to heavier fluoro, or switch to mono. Any one of the three will reduce knot failure for this presentation.

[A-Jay]

4 hours ago, MickD said:

A-Jay, you fish a lot of water similar to what I fish, ever snap tubes or swimbaits and get one hung up on a rock, yank it a few times, and it finally lets go and a smb instantly hits it?  They were there looking at it move around with the yanks, then as soon as it comes free, they nail it.  Cool.

Yes - and sometimes the bigger brown bass will just crunch down on the tube and it's like a tug of war for a while until they get tired of playing with me and then simply let the tube go as they were never actually hooked in the first place.

  I hate that. 

Over the years I've really plus sized my gear (line & rod) to facilitate more HP on the hookset.

So far so good.

Looking forward to feeding them these new Goby baits next week.

A-Jay

[Junk Fisherman]

15 hours ago, MickD said:

I don't think it's the knot; it's the 8 pound FC.  FC is fragile and snapping is very hard on knots.  Try a leader grade 12 pound FC.  Or go mono.  But I still think 8 pound is too low for this technique.  I think when you go stronger with leader grade your knot will work just fine.

 

The stiffer leader grade leader material will help keep lures from tangling on the snaps, too.

Thanks.  This really helps.  I hadn't really considered upping the leader line.  Our Great Lakes are so clear that sometimes I wonder if 8 lb line is too much.  But I can't keep losing fish and baits.  I recently took a trip and while I caught a lot of fish cracking a jig, I broke off way too much also.  Switching from P-Line Tactical to Gamma Touch made a big difference.   

9 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Okay, I'll ask.  Why are you using a leader. The FP lakes around you aren't very clear and snapping a tube, or stroking a jig is more of a reaction presentation where the fish focus on the bait. I use straight 10lb braid in the clear strip pits west of you and I doubt I'm missing fish because of line visibility. 

If it's a confidence thing for you, retie often, go to heavier fluoro, or switch to mono. Any one of the three will reduce knot failure for this presentation.

I was fishing Grand Traverse Bay where you have 20' of visibility.  But I will take that advice and go to a heavier leader.  Thanks.  

[MickD]

Speaking of water clarity and leader specs, A-Jay uses 10 pound mono, Big Game Green, and he fishes pretty clear water in his neck of the woods.  And from his photos, he does quite well (understatement).

 

As Papajoe says, leader visibility with this presentation is probably not nearly as important as it is with something like drop shot.  I often use a premium FC fly tippet in 12 pound test and I'm not having knot problems.  Or visibility problems, I think.  Hard to tell if something was down there and saw it and didn't bite.  I can only evaluate the ones that bite.

[papajoe222]

Sorry JF, I assumed you were speaking of the Forest Preserve lakes. You know the saying about what the word assume begins with?  That’s me on more than one occasion.