Wacky Rig Break-Offs

[RHuff]

 

 I've lost two big fish in two weeks on the wacky rig. I fish a 7ft med/heavy spinning rod with 10lb Berkley Fireline and 8lb Co-Poly with a size 1 Berkley Fusion Finesse Wide Gap hook (the john cox setup) tied with a palomar knot. and I have lost two fish in the last two weeks. Granted, I have caught a ton of fish on this setup and I have caught fish when I couldn't seem to get bit on any other presentations, but my two biggest bites (I'm guessing at least 3-4lbs or bigger) have broken me off at the hookset. The last one as the worm sank my line darted straight to the right and the line snapped clean didn't even really feel the weight of the fish. Is it me? Am I simply setting the hook too hard? Do I need to change knots? I know Cox says use the co-poly for a little stretch since the main line is braid... Do I need a different rod? I'm happy catching fish but frustrated that I am losing the bigger bites.. 

[Nelson Delaney]

How old is the leader?  Sounds like it needs to be replaced. 
 

if it’s new & in good shape is there a short “pigs tail” where it broke off?  

[J Francho]

21 minutes ago, RHuff said:

The last one as the worm sank my line darted straight to the right and the line snapped clean didn't even really feel the weight of the fish.

Are there pickerel in that lake?  That what this sounds like.

[gim]

24 minutes ago, RHuff said:

The last one as the worm sank my line darted straight to the right and the line snapped clean didn't even really feel the weight of the fish. Is it me?

To me this is a classic sign of a northern pike.

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Are there pickerel in that lake?  That what this sounds like.

What he said.  Classic northern pike.

[Deleted account]

If you are breaking 8 lb copoly on a wacky hookset, It's one or more of the following,

-Too much hookset

-Bad knots

-Too much rod

-Bad line

[RHuff]

No pickerel or pike in this lake that I am aware of....  There are muskee, trout, and catfish...  The line is maybe a month or two old at most? The knot didn't give and there were no pig tails in the line....I suppose the line could have had a frey in it from rubbing against hardwood cover? It was almost as if you had cut the line clean with a pair of scissors... 

[Bankc]

I wouldn't say I've had this exact problem, but I have had issues with Palomar knots and fluorocarbon breaking before it should.  That not tends to pinch the line off right at the top of the knot.  It's easy to tell with a leader, because you retain almost all of your leader length, and there's a clean break where the knot started.  For wacky rigs, I usually snell the hook.  For other situations with fluoro, I've migrated to the Berkley Braid Knot.  Oddly enough, I don't use that knot for braid.  I use the Fish N Fool.  

 

As others have said, check the line to make sure it's not getting nicked or deteriorating, and make sure you're not getting bit from a toothy fish.  Fluorocarbon stretches, but unlike mono, it doesn't return to its original shape after the pressure is released.  So it tends to get worn out quicker than other lines, in my experience.  

[Bird]

That's a little more rod then I like for wacky rigs. I'm using a VMC #2/0 Neko hook with a Med action rod but do use braid to leader though.

Perhaps test that spool of line for flaws, possible.

 

Something else to inspect and has happened to me in the past.

Check your top guide for line wear, it creates a small groove that eventually can create havoc by randomly cutting the line.

[Deleted account]

20 minutes ago, RHuff said:

It was almost as if you had cut the line clean with a pair of scissors... 

That sure sounds like a pike or pickerel. If it happens again, cut off a foot or two of the line where it broke, and take a good closeup picture of it and blow it up, Iphones are great for that, the teeth marks are unmistakable, most times the break will look like a diagonal clean cut and there will be scrapes above it. yeah, I'm OCD..

22 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I wouldn't say I've had this exact problem, but I have had issues with Palomar knots and fluorocarbon breaking before it should

FIFY...  

[J Francho]

49 minutes ago, RHuff said:

muskee

This.

[RHuff]

49 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I wouldn't say I've had this exact problem, but I have had issues with Palomar knots and fluorocarbon breaking before it should.  That not tends to pinch the line off right at the top of the knot.  It's easy to tell with a leader, because you retain almost all of your leader length, and there's a clean break where the knot started.  For wacky rigs, I usually snell the hook.  For other situations with fluoro, I've migrated to the Berkley Braid Knot.  Oddly enough, I don't use that knot for braid.  I use the Fish N Fool.  

 

As others have said, check the line to make sure it's not getting nicked or deteriorating, and make sure you're not getting bit from a toothy fish.  Fluorocarbon stretches, but unlike mono, it doesn't return to its original shape after the pressure is released.  So it tends to get worn out quicker than other lines, in my experience.  

 

  It has never occurred to me to Snell a wacky hook but that definitely makes sense to me.....

  I've heard that the San Diego Jam knot is one of the strongest rated knots you can tie with fishing line...I think I'll look into changing my knots.... 

[cyclops2]

 

   You are describing  clean cut line during the first seconds of hooking up.  sharp TEETH. 

[Bankc]

1 hour ago, RHuff said:

 

  It has never occurred to me to Snell a wacky hook but that definitely makes sense to me.....

  I've heard that the San Diego Jam knot is one of the strongest rated knots you can tie with fishing line...I think I'll look into changing my knots.... 

I almost always snell my hooks if I can.  Not so much for the knot strength, as for the leverage.  Run it through the back of the eye and it kick up the hook under tension.  

 

But if it's muskie, then there's not much you can do.  Anything to prevent the muskie from biting you off (like a steel leader) will probably scare away the bass.  

[hokiehunter373]

3 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I almost always snell my hooks if I can.  Not so much for the knot strength, as for the leverage.  Run it through the back of the eye and it kick up the hook under tension.  

 

But if it's muskie, then there's not much you can do.  Anything to prevent the muskie from biting you off (like a steel leader) will probably scare away the bass.  

Buttt if you test out a steel leader to see if you can catch a muskie... might have your answer

[WRB]

Set your drag at 2-2 1/2 lbs and trust it. 

Palomar knot is reliable if you don’t twist the loop when going over the hook. Snug both the main and tag end line over hand knot then cinch tight with the tag end only.

It doesn’t sound like knot failure, more like sharp toothy fish bite off.

MHF spinning rod is a little more power then needed but setting the drag resolve any rod issue.

Tom

 

[RHuff]

Thank you all for the advice.. I think it’s honestly knot failure on my part. What Tom said about twisting in the knot makes sense. It’s probably my own dumb fault…. AT LEAST i’m throwing the right bait under the right conditions to get bit!

[padon]

sounds to me like knot failure. or the the line was nicked. ( if were ruling out toothy fish) I personaly use the san diego jam with flouro whenever possible just because i feel like i tie it better.

[RHuff]

Just wanted to update you guys.....   I switched from the palamar to the double uni knot and have seen a great improvement. I even bent out a hook after getting hung up without breaking it off.... 

[ChrisD46]

Good quality #8 lb. ~ #10 lb. FC leader , Owner Mosquito Lite #2 ~ #1 size hooks , Robo Worm , a proper set drag and a "reel set" hook set are your friends !

[Munkin]

Where are you fishing? If its the Upper Potomac I would say its Musky or Walleye.

 

Allen

[flyfisher]

On 5/9/2022 at 11:49 AM, J Francho said:

Are there pickerel in that lake?  That what this sounds like.

First thing I thought too.

[RHuff]

double uni no breaky-breaky.. So far I couldn’t be happier.. It’s a booger to learn to tie, though…