What's Cutting My Line?

[garroyo130]

Fishing a spot I fish regularly, with a rig I fish regularly. Im using 20lb braid to 10lb YZH with a split shot pinched on about 7 inches above the hook which is tied on with a palomar. I have fished this rig a ton of times in this area and haven't lost a single one but I've lost 3 in the past 2 days. The line doesn't appear to be snapping from too tight a drag, there are also no curlies on the line which make me believe its not the result of pressure breaking the line. The first 2 times, it broke with minimal pressure, this last time it broke immediately after a hookset. Each time, the line has broken above the split shot and its bean a clean break with no abrasion whatsoever to the line above it. One thing I did notice yesterday on a rig I didn't lose was abrasion on it like I hadn't seen before, for lack of a better description, the line looked fuzzy as if someone had gone over it with a razor blade if that makes sense. I've tested the line by hand and it appears fine. Anyhow, I have no idea as to what's going on so any assistance is appreciated. 

[TnRiver46]

Zebra mussels ? 

[the reel ess]

Check your rod guides. Sounds like one, probably the tip, had either something abrasive stuck on it or the eye itself is damaged.

[Boomstick]

A little abrasion marks as you describe on thin line and your line is done. 10# Yo Zuri Hybrid isn't super thin and has enough line where it could have signs of abrasion and survive if it's only on the surface, but it will damage the line even so. Often the line may break above the abrasion, not leaving any signs behind.

 

Generally this can be caused by dragging along rocks, wood and even getting snagged in certain weeds can do a number on your line too. Do you have freshwater clams or mussels? Those can really tear up your line.

[Dwight Hottle]

1 minute ago, the reel ess said:

Check your rod guides. Sounds like one, probably the tip, had either something abrasive stuck on it or the eye itself is damaged.

 

X2 Check the rod tip guide.

[Boomstick]

Definitely check your rod guide. Did the insert fall out? Do your guides even have inserts?

[Mike L]

Since you mentioned that the break is happening above the split shot, are you sliding it on the line before or after it’s crimped?

 

That would do it

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[flyfisher]

1 minute ago, Mike L said:

Since you mentioned that the break is happening above the split shot, are you sliding it on the line before or after it’s crimped?

 

That would do it

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

That was exactly my thought as well.  It doesn't have to move much as you are crimping to create a weak spot.

[garroyo130]

Im pinching on the split shot, sliding it up/down several times and then sliding it into its final position and cutting off the section it was originally pinched on. I've had a bad guide before and from experience the braid would be toast long before the YZH. Also, the break isn't happening at the eye but much further down the line in the leader section. No clams or mussels that I know of. 

[Deleted account]

10 lb YZH isn't dainty. It's either the split shot, or something abrasive in the water. Use a swivel or small dipsey the same size as the split shot, and then you'll know. I doubt it's a bad guide as it sounds like the break is occurring too close to the end to be reeled in, but maybe. 

[scaleface]

I still suspect a bad  guide with a  crack at the bottom of the tip . Ive had it happen . During the retrieve the crack doesnt effect it much  but the last foot or so with the weight of the lure hanging straight down , thats when the crack was causing damage . Over dozens of cast , it was shaving off miniscule amounts of line , then snap . 

[garroyo130]

Checked guides and all looks good. I will be replacing the leader and will keep testing. I hope it isnt mussels ... from what I've heard, they really wreck things

[Zcoker]

Can also be the actual line---only a possibility because I don't know where you buy your line from but there's a lot of knock-offs out there, complete garbage that appears legit but turns out to be like sewing thread. I've fallen into that trap as well, going for the cheap only to loose nice fish on the "pop".

[A-Jay]

Lots of great advice so far here ~

A Q-Tip can be a great way to 'check' any guides integrity.

Simply spin one inside (the front/back of mircos) your guides.

When the Q-Tip doesn't hang up or 'fray', you're probably good to go.

If it does, there's most likely trouble in paradise. 

A-Jay

[PaulVE64]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I still suspect a bad  guide with a  crack at the bottom of the tip . Ive had it happen . During the retrieve the crack doesnt effect it much  but the last foot or so with the weight of the lure hanging straight down , thats when the crack was causing damage . Over dozens of cast , it was shaving off miniscule amounts of line , then snap . 

This man knows the frustration, I've had the same thing

[GaryH]

Process of elimination. Do what @A-Jay stated with the q-tips and  if the guides are good remove the split shot and put a weight on the end of the line and just cast it out and and mimic the way you’d fish and then reel it back in and see if it breaks. If not the problem was with the split shot.

[bulldog1935]

when I'm fishing split shot, I always start a square knot, standing ends in the open split shot, close the knot loop on the outside of the split shot, then pinch the split shot so nothing can slide. 

Pinched split shot sliding around is a no-no, it has teeth and even though it's soft metal, it's harder than nylon or fluoro. 

 

E.g., on a fly tippet dropper, I can clip the complex dropper rig complete with split shot, tie a perfection loop to each side of the cut, put the complex rig in a leader wallet, loop it on and fish it again next time. 

My largest rainbow, 27" and 8 lbs was caught on a reused 5X (4-lb test) tippet dropper just that way. 

Here's that buck on size 22 dropper. 

 

It's ok to let the rubber Otter's Milking egg (soft) and bare hook (no teeth) slide on the leader, but not the split shot.  Here's the same rig, same day, smaller rainbow took the Otter's Milking egg (orange), which slid up the leader to the fixed split shot.  The small fish is on the sliding bare hook.  I put the milking egg on the leader with a quilting needle, slide up the bare hook, tie on tippet, and the tippet knot bump-stops the hook and egg - the split shot is a foot above the rest. 

Bottom center just above, you can make out the black and blue size 22 dropper that took the big buck above (such tiny flies make up 70% of the biomass in any tailwater). 

[WRB]

2 types of split shot; round smooth split shot with smooth split opening and reusable split shot with ears and a ridge in the split opening.

You want the round smooth split shot size #4 for bass fishing worms.

Crimp the split shot on the line snug then Slide the shot up your line about 1’ once, don’t slide back and forth.  Cut off leaving about 4” inches of tag end. Slide the split shot up the line about 18” and crimp. Tie on the hook so shot about 14” above the hook.

Look at your line for any shinny or flat spots indicating line damage.

Tom