Retying lure

[MitchIsFishin]

Sorry guys, probably a dumb question, but I have to ask. The last two times I was out, throwing some small cranks & rattletraps, I lost two of them. Like anyone else, hate losing them, but was checking my line and didn't feel any nicks, was tying a palomar knot, but I wasn't retying every 4th/5th cast. Was fishing around a little structure, but I don't have a feel for what happened. How often do you guys retie a crank, or any lure for that matter.

Thanks,

Mitch

[Muddy]

My single biggest weakness, good post. My main goal this year! I have lost more than a few good fish not checking and retying enough!

[garry77]

It really depends on what line I'm throwing.Down here I throw braid alot so I don't retie very often.

With my mono lined pole I check it about every other cast by running it between my fingers  for about 2 or 3 feet.If I feel any roughness or flat spots I'll retie.

  Now that being said,sometimes I get lazy and don't retie when I should.

[bassnleo]

What type and size of line were you throwing then on?

[Pitchinkid]

The only time i retie is when i can feel my line has a nick or is ruffed up. Sometimes after i hook a toothy critter like a walleye or sauger. I almost exclusively use trilene 100% flouro on all applications except topwater. IMO its the most abrasion resistant line I've used. But i don't think nobody reties as much as they probably should.

[Gatorbassman]

What type and size of line were you throwing then on?

and how old is it?

[Steven Ladner]

I retie my line after every couple of bass. But if your fishing a crankbait in a woody area, you'll want to do some retieing every now and then. It's easier just to not retie it, but you will wish you did when you have a lunker break off because of it.

[mrbassky]

UV weakens mono so you never know. I retie after I get hung up or after any decent fish. But I also check my line often.

Also check you rod. If you get a rough spot in one of you guides it will nick up your line.   Check it by going around each guide with a Qtip any nick will catch cotton.

[bedman]

Remember that line is basically a plastic.  If it gets a very small crack, cut, or nick, then any pressure or force applied to it will cause the cut/nick to propogate, resulting in breakage.  When fishing wood or rocks, check your line often.  Also, don't forget about checking your not too.  A cut in part of the knot can cause a break at the knot.

[flatbass]

I fish crankbaits on 12lb. Big Game. Very seldom have to retie. If I catch a big fish or several smaller fish I will, but most of the time just check it once in a while.

[farmpond1]

Dumb question but do you test your knots? I'd have lost a ton of lures over the years if I hadn't tested my knots first. Sometimes it's my inept boyscout skills and sometimes its old line (or both) but it always pays to test each knot.  Did I mention you should test each knot? Also, it's a good idea to wet the knot before you cinch it up.

[zbass]

Good questions posted here. Old line breaks more often. I store mine out of direct light in a locker. I write the dates when I bought it. That is usually not an issue as I change line often.

When you tie your Palomar note do you wet the line before you cinch it down? Any friction when tying knots is bad in my eyes.

I usually throw traps on braid, even in open water. Cranks get thrown on flouro. 10-12# test.

When in doubt retie.

[anglerEd]

Sorry guys, probably a dumb question, but I have to ask. The last two times I was out, throwing some small cranks & rattletraps, I lost two of them. Like anyone else, hate losing them, but was checking my line and didn't feel any nicks, was tying a palomar knot, but I wasn't retying every 4th/5th cast. Was fishing around a little structure, but I don't have a feel for what happened. How often do you guys retie a crank, or any lure for that matter.

Thanks,

Mitch

What troubles me about your question is that you don't know what happened when you broke off. All the appropriate advice has been given here, but exactly why did you break off. Were you useing 2# line? Are there toothy critters in the water (gar) that could have bit and cut you off immediately? These might be the only exceptions, but generaly one would know if they broke off in a snag, a fish, or whatever.

[FD.]

I fish crankbaits on 12lb. Big Game. Very seldom have to retie. If I catch a big fish or several smaller fish I will, but most of the time just check it once in a while.

X2  

I respool often but I retie very seldom unless I'm in a tournament.  With the big game I will go days without retying.  I'm guessing you had either old line or bad knots.  If you are fishing with mono I would suggest and improved cinch knot and lubricate (spit) before you pull it tight.  If you are pulling your knot tight with the mono dry then it is being damaged by the heat generated by the friction of the knot as you are pulling it.

[jack1]

Depends on types of line.  Braid I don't retie often.  Mono I check when I know that my line was banged up on structures or when I land a fish.  I check a good portion of the line.  Don't get lazy when you have to check your line, because the next bite might be the fish of a life time.

[SirSnookalot]

I agree with fishdaddy. i use braid both in salt and freshwater and many times my leader lasts all day without retieing.  i only use 10# or 15# braid and my leaders are 20# and 30# mono leaders, i saw no increase in fish production buying expensive fluro leaders.  this serves me well from peacocks to bass all the way up to tarpon.  i check my knot after a substantial fish is caught or if the line is scraping over rocks, timber, etc.  the knot is vital and most of the time if you lose a lure it is because of knot failure, we all tie bad knots sometimes.  i use my own version of a loopknot and i will singe it after i've cut it down, helps to prevent the knot from pulling thru.

[MitchIsFishin]

Thanks guys, some good points raised here. The line was 10lb, was either CXX or Yozuri Hybrid ultrasoft. I've kept it away from constant UV exposure, but it might be old. Have a bad habit of not making a note when I respool. Never thought about a cut in the knot or a nick on the guides, I'll check for that. Had I snagged a few fish, I probably would have a better understanding, but when I lost the 2 cranks, I hadn't caught anything to that point.

[jesse lopez]

IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT WORKS FOR ME TOO, NEVER LOST A FISH BECAUSE OF A KNOT.... NEVER GO WRONG WITH THAT KNOT, OF COURSE I DOUBLE CHECK KNOT BEFORE CASTING TO FEEL SAFE. NEVER RE-TIE ONLY WHEN CHANGING LURES...14LB STREN AND TRILENE,,, NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS

[NBR]

I don't retie very often and I don't even respool annually. I do check for nicks any time I bump cover, some times when I don't bump cover and I am very, very, very careful with my knots. I can't remember the last time I broke off on a fish except at the knot when I must have been only very careful with the knot