IT'S WAR!!!

[tallydude]

So I decided to fish the lake at the new house today and I decided to (gasp!) try fishing soft plastics. I was fishing an unweighted Zoom lizard in Watermelon with a 4/0 Gamakatsu hook and 17lb Vanish florocarbon. I was casting out and letting the lizard flutter to the bottom before bumping it a couple times and letting it flutter back down.

Around 6:45 I felt a fish pick up the bait, but I didn't set the hook immediately. I let the fish start to swim with it for a few seconds before I reeled in the slack and set the hook. She immediately started to head back deep and actually took a few feet of line before snapping my line. From hookset to the loss of the fish must've been maybe 10-15 seconds. She was a big fish- I never saw her, but she had weight to her- more than I've ever felt from a bass. The fact that she snapped my line with such ease scares and excites me.

I spoke with Avid and he's thinking the same thing I am about why I lost the fish- first of all the knot probably needed to be retied (the end of the line was curled up) and that the drag was probably set too tight. There's no reason the fish should've snapped 17lb test with such ease, is there? What do you guys think?

Secondly (and probably most importantly), how do I catch this fish again? I took special note of exactly where she was caught, at what time and the weather conditions so I feel like she'll be back there again. When do you think I should head back after her? When I do, should I change the bait, or should I stay with the lizard?

Thanks for your advice,

WPD

[Guest avid]

Wait till mom sees you hooked the "big one that got away" on soft plastics.

Man, I am sooooooooooooo glad I'm not you.    

[frogtog]

17# doesn't hold up well against 300lb gators.

[R520dvx]

WPD ... the flourocarbon is real sensitive to how the knot is tied. If you were using a palomar knot that could be the problem. The palomar has to be tied just perfect to hold up. I use a lot of the Vanish myself and have found that to be true. Try using an Improved Clinch knot ..... should hold up better..  

[tallydude]

I was actually using an improved clinch knot, though, truthfully I didn't really like the knot that much when I tied it and decided to keep it anyway...

[R520dvx]

I bet the knot was the culprit .... has to be lubed real well with the flouro. Some use KVD's line conditioner while pulling the knot tight ..... not me, just good ole spit !!

[Deb]

Son, hold tight.......Mom will be there soon to show you how to catch fish on plastics.....

I hate(right ;D) to say I told you so but...........I TOLD YOU SO...PLASTICS!

[Guest avid]

The palomar has to be tied just perfect to hold up.

If it's not tied properly than it's NOT a Palomar knot.  It's a wannabe Palomar knot.

Flouro is definitely more suseptable to heat damage if not moistened thoroughly and drawn snug with care.

That being said it the fastest easiest and strongest knot you can use.  It works on flouro, mono, braid, and co-poly.  

It is the knot of choice for most of the Cali monster hunters.  Many of these guys use flouro due to the ultra clear water conditions.

Take your time, learn to PROPERLY tie a variety of knots.  

Personally, I like tying knots.  My current favorite is a modified albright that I use for attaching flouro or mono leader to braid.

Jas, email sent with link to animated knots.  Lotsa good stuff here.

Now that you know where she lives, you have a mission.

git er done dude.  

Next time.  

avid.

[jeremyt]

Son, hold tight.......Mom will be there soon to show you how to catch fish on plastics.....

I hate(right ;D) to say I told you so but...........I TOLD YOU SO...PLASTICS!

BURN

[roadwarrior]

The line didn't break.

"If the knot ain't perfect, it's not good enough."

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

That's it RW??  I was scrolling down, looking for your reply and thought it would have been sterner,lol.

RW has zero toleration for "breaking line" stories, only because there is simply no excuse.  (unless the fish wrapped you on something)

Knot and drag attention should always be in check.  Easy to SAY but I've lost fish for the same reasons.  More than once,lol.

Live and (try to) learn

[RWHusker.]

I just sent a bulk roll of Vanish 12# back to Pure Fishing (Berkley) for there examination and hopefully a replacement. Same issues, line breakage for no apparant reasons. I use the polamar knot and I know it shouldn't break unless the tag gets screwed up on the tie and I should know that when I test it before I bait it.

I will post thier answer to me.

GO BIG RED

[Catt]

Dude here's the clue the end of the line was curled up; that's a slipped knot

What I've noticed over the years is that when tying a Palomar knot one part of the line will get stuck between the end of the hook eye where it meets the hook shaft. When you chinch the knot down this part will not pull up on top of the eye like it should; result a knot that will slip.

[R520dvx]

Ya'll there have been a few articles written on the polamar knot and flouro. the line has to lay just right to keep it from cutting itself .... i'll try to search up one of the articles and post a link.

[tallydude]

Guys, I was using a clinch knot.

[R520dvx]

I know .... just seemed to be a palomar discussion brewing here !!!  sorry to highjack your thread

[Guest avid]

Yo J.

It's all good dude,

Trust me.  This will NOT be the last BIIIIIIIIIIIG fish you loose.

All we can do is try to learn from past mistakes, and when we repeat them,

don't post it on the forums  

[Catt]

Regardless of what knot you are using the clue is still the end of the line was curled up; that's a slipped knot, a knot cutting in on itself, or what ever you want to call but is wasn't line failure. The curled end means this was where the line was cinched up round the eye and retained the contour of the eye. When the line breaks the ends will always be straight because it was straight to start with, unless you have one heck of a kink.

[5bass]

Losing big fish, no matter what the excuse or reason is, is what fuels the fire inside, makes you a better fisherman and keeps you going back. And like avid said, that wont be the last big one you'll ever lose. Big fish are big for a reason.

To your original question.....I wouldnt hesitate too long on going back....fish HAVE TO eat and chances are, she has already thrown your hook.

[Lightninrod]

Well, your description sounds like a slipped knot but I will never use Vanish fluro again after a couple of broken line problems. Seaguar is the leader in fluro.

I never use a palamar knot.  I use the Crawford Knot and have for 10 years or so;  easy and quick to tie, won't slip, and doesn't use up so much line as the palamar does.

Dan

[Guest avid]

Even though it's a near certainty that your problem in this instance was knot slippage,

I would just like to point out that vanish floro is not generally considered a quality f/C

Surprisingly one of the better fluorocarbon lines out there is the BPS brand.

This is validated by independent testing, and has Avids personal endorsement.

[tallydude]

Now you tell me. I just bought some more Vanish. Oy.

[the captain]

Well, your description sounds like a slipped knot but I will never use Vanish fluro again after a couple of broken line problems. Seaguar is the leader in fluro.

I never use a palamar knot. I use the Crawford Knot and have for 10 years or so; easy and quick to tie, won't slip, and doesn't use up so much line as the palamar does.

Dan

I don't know about you but that knot looks more complicated and more time consuming than a palomar which I have been using for a while now and have had no trouble with slipping or any other things of the sort I use stren 12# high impact but have been thinking about trying fireline. Any thoughts?

[Lightninrod]

TC:  I use to use Fireline but gave it up after discovering 100% fluro.  Braid is not my 'cup of tea'.  If I had to use a braid(and I still do once in a great while), it'd be Power Pro.

[Guest avid]

Now you tell me. I just bought some more Vanish. Oy.

OY ???????????

Man you have definitely moved from W kentucky to S. Florida  ;D ;D ;D

Mazel Tov y'all