8lb in rocks

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey ya’ll, 

 

I had a break off on a hookset today. Not something that usually occurs but I am fishing lighter line than I am used to as well as using braid, so there could be some learning curve going on here. Anyways, would you feel comfortable fishing 8lb test in rocks? I am working a Charlie brewer spider head through rocks in some places and definitely feel the head getting caught up and me having to pop it free. I imagine that this is taking a toll on my line. But, is 8lb still doable in this scenario? I can check line as often as needed and was checking it frequently on the water for nicks, but either I missed something or something in my setup was wrong. I’ve dialed my drag at right around 2.3lbs for next time and triple checked my knots, but is this doable?  I’m just stubborn because I want to make the light line work as I think it will generate me more bites. Thanks y’all. 
 

Edit: clarification: my setup is M spinning, 10lb braid to 8lb mono 

[OkobojiEagle]

Don't fish through rocks, fish over rocks.  I fish 8lb & 10lb original Fireline with 6lb & 10lb nylon leaders around rocks; have for years.

 

oe

[T-Billy]

Absolutely. I fish a TRD bug on a 1/8 football head in rock often, on 6# XT. Check your line often and retie as needed. 

[Dwight Hottle]

If your fishing bottom contact in rocks I would highly suggest you move up to 10 or 12lb leader and like @T-Billy suggested check your line often & retie as needed. I really don't think the thicker line diameter will cost you any bites. 

[newapti5]

Susquehanna is famous for its rocky bottom and shallow water.  I mostly use my spinning setup with 10lb Seaguar Blue label as leader, which has an equal diameter to 8lb mono. When it's really pressured, I sometimes go to 8lb fluoro, but as suggested above, I would check the line constantly. 

[Boomstick]

With 8lb line you can fish around rocks but you want to avoid dragging it over rocks. There is not a lot of heft to the line so it will wear through fast. If dragging over rocks, you will want the heaviest line you can get away with and not braid. I will often use casting gear with 12# fluoro over rocks for what I would usually use 12# braid with a 6-8lb leader if no rocks are present.

[ska4fun]

My favorite BFS setup is loaded with 6lb (0.08mm) braid. Landed several +8lb fishes, in very rocky rivers streams.

 

The only problem over such a tin braided line is the need of replacement after some 4 expeditions.

[JustJames]

8lb Copolymer or 8lb FC? 
Most of my setup are 8lb Copolymer / 10lb FC. I use this mostly everywhere including rip-rap. If I’m gonna drag the lure like weight Texas rig, jig around rock I sometimes up the rig to 10 or 12lb class.
Of course I got some break off occasionally but I’d rather have that than restrictions of the lure movement or cast control from bigger line.

 

[king fisher]

Depends on the type of rock.  Round river rocks, no problem.  Basalt which is common where I grew up shreds braid, on contact.  I fished 8 pound mono growing, up and remember loosing lots of lures and fish in the rocks.  Other places I have fished, the rocks don't seem to shred the line at all. Only one way to find out.

[Revival]

Just make it a habit of checking your line.  I do 8lb-12lb consistently on rocks and have a bad habit of NOT checking my line.  Learned a valuable lesson last week because of it.

[BrianMDTX]

14 hours ago, newapti5 said:

Susquehanna is famous for its rocky bottom and shallow water.

The Susky is more like rocks with some water than water with some rocks. 

[Basser2021]

18 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Hey ya’ll, 

 

I had a break off on a hookset today. Not something that usually occurs but I am fishing lighter line than I am used to as well as using braid, so there could be some learning curve going on here. Anyways, would you feel comfortable fishing 8lb test in rocks? I am working a Charlie brewer spider head through rocks in some places and definitely feel the head getting caught up and me having to pop it free. I imagine that this is taking a toll on my line. But, is 8lb still doable in this scenario? I can check line as often as needed and was checking it frequently on the water for nicks, but either I missed something or something in my setup was wrong. I’ve dialed my drag at right around 2.3lbs for next time and triple checked my knots, but is this doable?  I’m just stubborn because I want to make the light line work as I think it will generate me more bites. Thanks y’all. 
 

Edit: clarification: my setup is M spinning, 10lb braid to 8lb mono 

As long as I'm using mono I would feel comfortable with 8lb in rocks.

[RDB]

21 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Anyways, would you feel comfortable fishing 8lb test in rocks?

It partially depends on the rocks but I don’t use greater than 8lb fluoro on any of my spinning gear.  With a slider head, I would assume you are probably not dragging over super gnarly stuff, so 8lb is fine.  Most of the time when you are dragging a bait, only a small length of line potentially even contacts the rocks unless you are making 50 yard casts.  If you prefer 8lb, just do a quick finger check every so often and you will be fine.