Gear for Landing Big Ones

[wees]

Hello everyone. I'm a novice fisherman with very little boat experience and was hoping to get some tips. A friend and I rented a boat yesterday and fished all day. The morning was very quiet and we got nothing. But in the early afternoon I finally got one on my line. I was having a hell of a time reeling and when he got up close my pole was bending so much I thought it was going to break. I got a flash of em and he sure looked big. Anyway, as I was getting him closer to the boat he tried to run for it. I noticed my line wasn't going out and I feared that I was going to lose him. So I quickly tried to adjust my drag but in the excitement I INCREASED the drag! He took off under the boat and of course you can probably guess that eventually my line broke.

Okay so that's the story. I know that I blew the drag part of it but even if set properly I think I still would have had a hell of a time. The place we were fishing was really weedy and I think my gear was not appropriate given the conditions. I was using a medium, light action rod, with 10 lb. test (I had a tough time sometimes cutting through weeds). So what gear do you guys recommend when fishing weedy/lily pad areas? How do you guys set your drag? Is it a percentage of the line strength? I tested how much force my line could take after tying a hook and I got about 5 lbs on my 10 lb test so I was thinking maybe setting it to 3 lbs. I guess it probably also depends on my knot and line type. Should I get a net to help bring em into the boat or is that against 'the code'?

[roadwarrior]

You need a Heavy Power/ Fast Action rod,

65 lb braided line and a drag setting of 4 lbs.

8-)

[Ern]

Well that drag thing would be the first and foremost to learn.  

I guess at some point everyone has done that.  

10Lb may not be enough depending on if you fishing the outside edge or into the pads.  Quality of the equipment makes a HUGE Difference.  

Solid reel with a smooth drag.  Correct action Rod. And Quality line, not the omni flex from wally world either. Also sounds like you might need to work on a new knot is you are getting a 5LB knot on 10 lb line.

Either way Keep fishing.  No substitute to experience. You will learn what works.

Ern

[wees]

Also sounds like you might need to work on a new knot is you are getting a 5LB knot on 10 lb line.

What should I be getting? I'm using an improved clinch knot. My scale is really old, maybe it's off. I'll test it out tonight with some weights to see if it's accurate.

[rubba bubba]

Do you know what brand/type of line you have on your reel?

[wees]

Do you know what brand/type of line you have on your reel?

I think it was Stren monofilament....

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Use a palomar knot

[SirSnookalot]

It isn't clear what kind of reel or line you were using I have a feeling spinning outfit and mono. That being the case it was inexperience and not necessarily equipment failure, don't feel bad it happens to everyone . No one lands them all.

You may have had a bad knot 5lb pressure is pretty weak, there may have been a rough spot on the bottom of a rental boat that weakened the line, my guess is too much drag. Was it a bass or maybe a pike that cut you off?

As far as equipment I wouldn't change a thing until you have a game plan as to how often and how involved you want to be. You can have a ball on the equipment you have right now.

I only use 10# (braid) and a net is never a bad idea.