Ever know anybody like this ???

[A-Jay]

I have a good buddy who wants to be a pro bass fisherman so bad, he can taste it ! He has a good job.... So that has allowed him a $50K bass boat, and all the best tackle a person could ever want, or need.

He has also spent a LOT of time on the water, and knows where the fish stack up.

And he seems to be able to make them bite pretty darn well too.

His only problem ? He breaks off more fish in an active trip, than I have probably broke off in my life !

But he just keeps breaking them off. A few more, just last week

Your thoughts ?

Fish

Off the top of my head I have 2 thoughts ~

1. Sounds like that's not his Only Problem.

and

2. I wish that was the only thing keeping me from going Pro.

A-Jay

~ as an after thought - perhaps you could take a video of him in action as he snaps off fish after fish; maybe then he'd figure it out.

[A-Jay]

I have a good buddy who wants to be a pro bass fisherman so bad, he can taste it ! He has a good job.... So that has allowed him a $50K bass boat, and all the best tackle a person could ever want, or need.

He has also spent a LOT of time on the water, and knows where the fish stack up.

And he seems to be able to make them bite pretty darn well too.

His only problem ? He breaks off more fish in an active trip, than I have probably broke off in my life !

But he just keeps breaking them off. A few more, just last week

Your thoughts ?

Fish

Off the top of my head I have 2 thoughts ~

1. Sounds like that's not his Only Problem.

and

2. I wish that was the only thing keeping me from going Pro.

A-Jay

~ as an after thought - perhaps you could take a video of him in action as he snaps off fish after fish; maybe then he'd figure it out.

[WRB]

Chris, good to read a post from you, it's been awhile!

Teach your friend how to reel set;crank the hook point into the fish and rod sweep, instead of "crossing their eyes" rod snap set.

Tom

[WRB]

Chris, good to read a post from you, it's been awhile!

Teach your friend how to reel set;crank the hook point into the fish and rod sweep, instead of "crossing their eyes" rod snap set.

Tom

[WRB]

Chris, good to read a post from you, it's been awhile!

Teach your friend how to reel set;crank the hook point into the fish and rod sweep, instead of "crossing their eyes" rod snap set.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Maybe he's not wetting his knots down before cinching them? I set the hook hard enough that I've hit myself with small fish when I'm flipping but I don't break off hardly ever. I use mostly floro and it makes a huge difference if you don't wet the line before you cinch it down. It makes a difference with mono too just not as big of a difference. It might be something as simple as that for him.

[Bluebasser86]

Maybe he's not wetting his knots down before cinching them? I set the hook hard enough that I've hit myself with small fish when I'm flipping but I don't break off hardly ever. I use mostly floro and it makes a huge difference if you don't wet the line before you cinch it down. It makes a difference with mono too just not as big of a difference. It might be something as simple as that for him.

[Bluebasser86]

Maybe he's not wetting his knots down before cinching them? I set the hook hard enough that I've hit myself with small fish when I'm flipping but I don't break off hardly ever. I use mostly floro and it makes a huge difference if you don't wet the line before you cinch it down. It makes a difference with mono too just not as big of a difference. It might be something as simple as that for him.

[fishn hard]

When the money is on the line me and my partner that is 6ft4 280lb and he is left handed . He sets the hook so hard that the boat moves and i hardly ever see him snap the line with 20pnd mono and he is always boat flippen 5pnders  i would say your buddy aint wetting his line before he ties his not

[fishn hard]

When the money is on the line me and my partner that is 6ft4 280lb and he is left handed . He sets the hook so hard that the boat moves and i hardly ever see him snap the line with 20pnd mono and he is always boat flippen 5pnders  i would say your buddy aint wetting his line before he ties his not

[fishn hard]

When the money is on the line me and my partner that is 6ft4 280lb and he is left handed . He sets the hook so hard that the boat moves and i hardly ever see him snap the line with 20pnd mono and he is always boat flippen 5pnders  i would say your buddy aint wetting his line before he ties his not

[Fish Chris]

I agree with all of you guys.

I actually had another old acquaintance, who was also a wiry, twitchy, 150 MPH hook setter. He used to do fine with 25 and 30 lb mono. But when he tried to switch to 50, 65, heck even 80 lb braid, he was snapping it off on the hook-sets also. He blamed it on that "lousy braided line", so he switched back to rubber-band (oh sorry... I meant mono-filament ) and has been fine ever since.

I'm not sure why some guys get that super hard hook setting swing, so ingrained in their brains, but its often just not required, even with mono, and it's never required with braid.

Anyway, personally speaking, if I were "ever" to break off a fish, directly because of setting the hook too hard (my own personal failure) I'd feel totally stupid about it ! So much so, that I doubt I'd ever admit it to anyone ! Instead, I'd just make good and darn sure that didn't happen again !

Peace,

Fish

[Fish Chris]

I agree with all of you guys.

I actually had another old acquaintance, who was also a wiry, twitchy, 150 MPH hook setter. He used to do fine with 25 and 30 lb mono. But when he tried to switch to 50, 65, heck even 80 lb braid, he was snapping it off on the hook-sets also. He blamed it on that "lousy braided line", so he switched back to rubber-band (oh sorry... I meant mono-filament ) and has been fine ever since.

I'm not sure why some guys get that super hard hook setting swing, so ingrained in their brains, but its often just not required, even with mono, and it's never required with braid.

Anyway, personally speaking, if I were "ever" to break off a fish, directly because of setting the hook too hard (my own personal failure) I'd feel totally stupid about it ! So much so, that I doubt I'd ever admit it to anyone ! Instead, I'd just make good and darn sure that didn't happen again !

Peace,

Fish

[Fish Chris]

I agree with all of you guys.

I actually had another old acquaintance, who was also a wiry, twitchy, 150 MPH hook setter. He used to do fine with 25 and 30 lb mono. But when he tried to switch to 50, 65, heck even 80 lb braid, he was snapping it off on the hook-sets also. He blamed it on that "lousy braided line", so he switched back to rubber-band (oh sorry... I meant mono-filament ) and has been fine ever since.

I'm not sure why some guys get that super hard hook setting swing, so ingrained in their brains, but its often just not required, even with mono, and it's never required with braid.

Anyway, personally speaking, if I were "ever" to break off a fish, directly because of setting the hook too hard (my own personal failure) I'd feel totally stupid about it ! So much so, that I doubt I'd ever admit it to anyone ! Instead, I'd just make good and darn sure that didn't happen again !

Peace,

Fish

[SeanW]

     Well I can add a few things to this. I broke off 2 fish this year, one was on a bad spool of brand new line(maxima). The second was on 65lb braid. My hookset is enough to move the boat and startle the other person on the boat. His hookset is not the problem.

      There are several things can cause this to happen. Bad line guides is the first thing to come to mind. Second is weights, Ive seen bad ones where the hole is not smoothe. The last would be line. I buy all my line in bulk. Ive bought spools that are just flat bad. If it keeps happening with different brands you can rule that out.

       I have found several lines that can handle the hookset very well, not all can. Berkley Big Game is perhaps the best. Yo-Zuri hybrid is also up there, but not quite as shock resistant as Big Game. P Line was always a favorite, but I got a bad spool of it. I later discovered that if I change it often(I fish alot) it is fine.  Of course braid, however I dont believe in using it for alot of techniquues.

     The rod is also important, but not so much as line. I use MH flipping rods, usually closer to 8ft then not. All my rods are a tad longer. Its helps move line, but also absorbs shock. I dont really use many rods beyong a 5 power, its plenty stuff enough.

      A hookset is usually only travelling from 7 oclock to 11 oclock in most cases, and thats the extreme. Its not that much. As the rod loads the power and speed of the hook set should be tailing off. Ive shattered flippin stiks on hook sets, and the line holds up fine.

       

[SeanW]

     Well I can add a few things to this. I broke off 2 fish this year, one was on a bad spool of brand new line(maxima). The second was on 65lb braid. My hookset is enough to move the boat and startle the other person on the boat. His hookset is not the problem.

      There are several things can cause this to happen. Bad line guides is the first thing to come to mind. Second is weights, Ive seen bad ones where the hole is not smoothe. The last would be line. I buy all my line in bulk. Ive bought spools that are just flat bad. If it keeps happening with different brands you can rule that out.

       I have found several lines that can handle the hookset very well, not all can. Berkley Big Game is perhaps the best. Yo-Zuri hybrid is also up there, but not quite as shock resistant as Big Game. P Line was always a favorite, but I got a bad spool of it. I later discovered that if I change it often(I fish alot) it is fine.  Of course braid, however I dont believe in using it for alot of techniquues.

     The rod is also important, but not so much as line. I use MH flipping rods, usually closer to 8ft then not. All my rods are a tad longer. Its helps move line, but also absorbs shock. I dont really use many rods beyong a 5 power, its plenty stuff enough.

      A hookset is usually only travelling from 7 oclock to 11 oclock in most cases, and thats the extreme. Its not that much. As the rod loads the power and speed of the hook set should be tailing off. Ive shattered flippin stiks on hook sets, and the line holds up fine.

       

[SeanW]

     Well I can add a few things to this. I broke off 2 fish this year, one was on a bad spool of brand new line(maxima). The second was on 65lb braid. My hookset is enough to move the boat and startle the other person on the boat. His hookset is not the problem.

      There are several things can cause this to happen. Bad line guides is the first thing to come to mind. Second is weights, Ive seen bad ones where the hole is not smoothe. The last would be line. I buy all my line in bulk. Ive bought spools that are just flat bad. If it keeps happening with different brands you can rule that out.

       I have found several lines that can handle the hookset very well, not all can. Berkley Big Game is perhaps the best. Yo-Zuri hybrid is also up there, but not quite as shock resistant as Big Game. P Line was always a favorite, but I got a bad spool of it. I later discovered that if I change it often(I fish alot) it is fine.  Of course braid, however I dont believe in using it for alot of techniquues.

     The rod is also important, but not so much as line. I use MH flipping rods, usually closer to 8ft then not. All my rods are a tad longer. Its helps move line, but also absorbs shock. I dont really use many rods beyong a 5 power, its plenty stuff enough.

      A hookset is usually only travelling from 7 oclock to 11 oclock in most cases, and thats the extreme. Its not that much. As the rod loads the power and speed of the hook set should be tailing off. Ive shattered flippin stiks on hook sets, and the line holds up fine.

       

[Fish Chris]

Ya' know Sean, I have to respectfully disagree. I believe my buddies problem is a combination of too hard a hook set, and too tight a drag setting.

He has used multiple different poles, all top quality with great guides. And several lines, both braid, and mono. And he can't find a line, on a pole, that he doesn't break off regularly.

I, on the other hand, use all different weights of gear, for all kinds of fish, in all kinds of conditions, fresh, and salt, and again, I pretty much never break a fish off. Granted, I use nothing but braid. Of course braid has a very high breaking strength, but it is also less forgiving with sudden shocks, because of the non-stretch factor.

Sure, fish come unbuttoned from time to time. That's just part of fishing. But breaking them off is, IMPO, almost always operator error.

Hmmmm....

Fish

[Fish Chris]

Ya' know Sean, I have to respectfully disagree. I believe my buddies problem is a combination of too hard a hook set, and too tight a drag setting.

He has used multiple different poles, all top quality with great guides. And several lines, both braid, and mono. And he can't find a line, on a pole, that he doesn't break off regularly.

I, on the other hand, use all different weights of gear, for all kinds of fish, in all kinds of conditions, fresh, and salt, and again, I pretty much never break a fish off. Granted, I use nothing but braid. Of course braid has a very high breaking strength, but it is also less forgiving with sudden shocks, because of the non-stretch factor.

Sure, fish come unbuttoned from time to time. That's just part of fishing. But breaking them off is, IMPO, almost always operator error.

Hmmmm....

Fish

[Fish Chris]

Ya' know Sean, I have to respectfully disagree. I believe my buddies problem is a combination of too hard a hook set, and too tight a drag setting.

He has used multiple different poles, all top quality with great guides. And several lines, both braid, and mono. And he can't find a line, on a pole, that he doesn't break off regularly.

I, on the other hand, use all different weights of gear, for all kinds of fish, in all kinds of conditions, fresh, and salt, and again, I pretty much never break a fish off. Granted, I use nothing but braid. Of course braid has a very high breaking strength, but it is also less forgiving with sudden shocks, because of the non-stretch factor.

Sure, fish come unbuttoned from time to time. That's just part of fishing. But breaking them off is, IMPO, almost always operator error.

Hmmmm....

Fish

[SirSnookalot]

Hard to know anyone's failures without actually seeing them.  Personally speaking I don't find anything too hard about fishing, it's a relaxing activity.  I never use a hard hookset and miss very few, but when I do miss I don't give it all that much thought.  Like Chris I use nothing but braid, for me it's spinning and 15# max, even in heavy slop, the line holds just fine, I may use a rod with more backbone for those conditions but not always.

There 3 basic aspects to fishing, locating them, getting them to strike and then reeling them in........sounds like your friend needs a lesson on the latter.

[SirSnookalot]

Hard to know anyone's failures without actually seeing them.  Personally speaking I don't find anything too hard about fishing, it's a relaxing activity.  I never use a hard hookset and miss very few, but when I do miss I don't give it all that much thought.  Like Chris I use nothing but braid, for me it's spinning and 15# max, even in heavy slop, the line holds just fine, I may use a rod with more backbone for those conditions but not always.

There 3 basic aspects to fishing, locating them, getting them to strike and then reeling them in........sounds like your friend needs a lesson on the latter.

[SirSnookalot]

Hard to know anyone's failures without actually seeing them.  Personally speaking I don't find anything too hard about fishing, it's a relaxing activity.  I never use a hard hookset and miss very few, but when I do miss I don't give it all that much thought.  Like Chris I use nothing but braid, for me it's spinning and 15# max, even in heavy slop, the line holds just fine, I may use a rod with more backbone for those conditions but not always.

There 3 basic aspects to fishing, locating them, getting them to strike and then reeling them in........sounds like your friend needs a lesson on the latter.

[Sam]

Breakoffs are always my fault.

Not checking the knot or line after a number of casts is the main culprit.

I also use the Palomar Knot 100% of the time as I use snaps with spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits and buzzbaits.

This year two guys fishing with me lost monster bass. Both had their drags set way too tight.  I lost my only one when I got lazy and did not check the line after throwing in brush and grass.

Your buddy has to live and learn the hard way but the light bulb should go off in his head soon.

Hope he makes the Classic! 

[Sam]

Breakoffs are always my fault.

Not checking the knot or line after a number of casts is the main culprit.

I also use the Palomar Knot 100% of the time as I use snaps with spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits and buzzbaits.

This year two guys fishing with me lost monster bass. Both had their drags set way too tight.  I lost my only one when I got lazy and did not check the line after throwing in brush and grass.

Your buddy has to live and learn the hard way but the light bulb should go off in his head soon.

Hope he makes the Classic!