Ever know anybody like this ???

[Hamby]

I used to use 4 lb test mono, for Stripers, and even a few Sturgeon.

You'd use 4lb with the intent to catch stripers and sturgeon? Seems kinda odd. Using really light line to catch large fish is going to lower the probability of a healthy release by a lot.

[edit]Edited to remove inflammatory language.[/edit]

[Hamby]

I used to use 4 lb test mono, for Stripers, and even a few Sturgeon.

You'd use 4lb with the intent to catch stripers and sturgeon? Seems kinda odd. Using really light line to catch large fish is going to lower the probability of a healthy release by a lot.

[edit]Edited to remove inflammatory language.[/edit]

[Hamby]

I used to use 4 lb test mono, for Stripers, and even a few Sturgeon.

You'd use 4lb with the intent to catch stripers and sturgeon? Seems kinda odd. Using really light line to catch large fish is going to lower the probability of a healthy release by a lot.

[edit]Edited to remove inflammatory language.[/edit]

[bilgerat]

Great reply Rolo !

Whether you weigh 100 lbs soaking wet or 300 lbs in the buff,

if the reel drag is properly preset, you'll have a real tough time

busting the line during the hook-set (unless nicked or frayed).

I couldn't agree more. Yet many of my fishing friends and acquaintances, most especially, the ones who use stretchy arse mono, act like any line slip at all is a bad thing. A lot of these guys will be like, "Drag ? What's that" ?

But you see, for myself, here's the thing;

WAAAAY back in the day, even many years before I ever used braid, I used to use 4 lb test mono, for Stripers, and even a few Sturgeon. So I've known for a long, long time, how important a drag setting is, in all types of fishing, with all types of gear.

Even with mono, a proper drag setting is important. With braid, it's way more important yet.

Peace,

Fish

Agreed 100%. Which is just one reason you should at least consider a Pflueger Supreme the next time you are looking into a reel. One of the smoothest and reliable drags out there. A well built magnesium (lightweight !) reel for $100. Can't beat it.

[bilgerat]

Great reply Rolo !

Whether you weigh 100 lbs soaking wet or 300 lbs in the buff,

if the reel drag is properly preset, you'll have a real tough time

busting the line during the hook-set (unless nicked or frayed).

I couldn't agree more. Yet many of my fishing friends and acquaintances, most especially, the ones who use stretchy arse mono, act like any line slip at all is a bad thing. A lot of these guys will be like, "Drag ? What's that" ?

But you see, for myself, here's the thing;

WAAAAY back in the day, even many years before I ever used braid, I used to use 4 lb test mono, for Stripers, and even a few Sturgeon. So I've known for a long, long time, how important a drag setting is, in all types of fishing, with all types of gear.

Even with mono, a proper drag setting is important. With braid, it's way more important yet.

Peace,

Fish

Agreed 100%. Which is just one reason you should at least consider a Pflueger Supreme the next time you are looking into a reel. One of the smoothest and reliable drags out there. A well built magnesium (lightweight !) reel for $100. Can't beat it.

[bilgerat]

Great reply Rolo !

Whether you weigh 100 lbs soaking wet or 300 lbs in the buff,

if the reel drag is properly preset, you'll have a real tough time

busting the line during the hook-set (unless nicked or frayed).

I couldn't agree more. Yet many of my fishing friends and acquaintances, most especially, the ones who use stretchy arse mono, act like any line slip at all is a bad thing. A lot of these guys will be like, "Drag ? What's that" ?

But you see, for myself, here's the thing;

WAAAAY back in the day, even many years before I ever used braid, I used to use 4 lb test mono, for Stripers, and even a few Sturgeon. So I've known for a long, long time, how important a drag setting is, in all types of fishing, with all types of gear.

Even with mono, a proper drag setting is important. With braid, it's way more important yet.

Peace,

Fish

Agreed 100%. Which is just one reason you should at least consider a Pflueger Supreme the next time you are looking into a reel. One of the smoothest and reliable drags out there. A well built magnesium (lightweight !) reel for $100. Can't beat it.

[Fish Chris]

Hamby, I hear that argument from time to time. Here's what I have to say about this:

If your sole intent in fishing, is to do everything you possibly can, to prevent any possibly harm or injury to a fish, then I think you should stop fishing altogether.

Fishing is a blood sport. Get over it.

My primary goals when I go fishing are to 1) catch fish, and 2) have fun. Is it possible that a few fish that I release after a prolonged battle, will die, solely because of that prolonged battle ? Sure it is.

But it's also a sure thing that any, and all of the fish I release, will have a 100% better chance for survival, than the same fish which is caught and kept, by another angler.

Also, I believe their must be a few people out their, who would use this as an excuse for why they won't try to land a huge fish, on micro-light gear, but of whom, in reality, just don't have the confidence that they could do it themselves. Quite a challenge you know.

Peace,

Fish

[Fish Chris]

Hamby, I hear that argument from time to time. Here's what I have to say about this:

If your sole intent in fishing, is to do everything you possibly can, to prevent any possibly harm or injury to a fish, then I think you should stop fishing altogether.

Fishing is a blood sport. Get over it.

My primary goals when I go fishing are to 1) catch fish, and 2) have fun. Is it possible that a few fish that I release after a prolonged battle, will die, solely because of that prolonged battle ? Sure it is.

But it's also a sure thing that any, and all of the fish I release, will have a 100% better chance for survival, than the same fish which is caught and kept, by another angler.

Also, I believe their must be a few people out their, who would use this as an excuse for why they won't try to land a huge fish, on micro-light gear, but of whom, in reality, just don't have the confidence that they could do it themselves. Quite a challenge you know.

Peace,

Fish

[Fish Chris]

Hamby, I hear that argument from time to time. Here's what I have to say about this:

If your sole intent in fishing, is to do everything you possibly can, to prevent any possibly harm or injury to a fish, then I think you should stop fishing altogether.

Fishing is a blood sport. Get over it.

My primary goals when I go fishing are to 1) catch fish, and 2) have fun. Is it possible that a few fish that I release after a prolonged battle, will die, solely because of that prolonged battle ? Sure it is.

But it's also a sure thing that any, and all of the fish I release, will have a 100% better chance for survival, than the same fish which is caught and kept, by another angler.

Also, I believe their must be a few people out their, who would use this as an excuse for why they won't try to land a huge fish, on micro-light gear, but of whom, in reality, just don't have the confidence that they could do it themselves. Quite a challenge you know.

Peace,

Fish

[Hamby]

Sorry about that Glenn, i understand the edit.

I guess i'm a little different. I don't feel the competition is in landing the fish, but getting the fish to bite. I wanna figure out the puzzle, then return the fish to fight another day.

Of course i can't save every single fish, but i feel there should be precautions we should take to try to ensure the fish can fight another day.

"Also, I believe their must be a few people out their, who would use this as an excuse for why they won't try to land a huge fish, on micro-light gear, but of whom, in reality, just don't have the confidence that they could do it themselves. Quite a challenge you know."

If i'm crappie fishing and i get a nice pike on, of course i'm gonna try to land the fish. BUT, i'm not going to go pike fishing with my crappie tackle.

[Hamby]

Sorry about that Glenn, i understand the edit.

I guess i'm a little different. I don't feel the competition is in landing the fish, but getting the fish to bite. I wanna figure out the puzzle, then return the fish to fight another day.

Of course i can't save every single fish, but i feel there should be precautions we should take to try to ensure the fish can fight another day.

"Also, I believe their must be a few people out their, who would use this as an excuse for why they won't try to land a huge fish, on micro-light gear, but of whom, in reality, just don't have the confidence that they could do it themselves. Quite a challenge you know."

If i'm crappie fishing and i get a nice pike on, of course i'm gonna try to land the fish. BUT, i'm not going to go pike fishing with my crappie tackle.

[Hamby]

Sorry about that Glenn, i understand the edit.

I guess i'm a little different. I don't feel the competition is in landing the fish, but getting the fish to bite. I wanna figure out the puzzle, then return the fish to fight another day.

Of course i can't save every single fish, but i feel there should be precautions we should take to try to ensure the fish can fight another day.

"Also, I believe their must be a few people out their, who would use this as an excuse for why they won't try to land a huge fish, on micro-light gear, but of whom, in reality, just don't have the confidence that they could do it themselves. Quite a challenge you know."

If i'm crappie fishing and i get a nice pike on, of course i'm gonna try to land the fish. BUT, i'm not going to go pike fishing with my crappie tackle.

[Fish Chris]

Hamby, it's all good. Different strokes. Of course I find it a great challenge to make a fish bite in the first place, but I also find it a great challenge to land a big fish on rediculously light gear.

Actually, I'd love to catch a monster Pike on a Crappie pole But then again, I'd be pretty stoked to catch a monster Pike on ANY gear !

Oh and BTW, with some of the species I fish for {such as Stripers and Sturgeon} the vast majority of the anglers in my area keep every single legal sized one they catch, and most of those people think I'm an absolute nut case to release them at all ! Some even get down right angry that I release them !

Or to put it another way, the big fish I catch on micro-light gear, have a far greater chance for survival, than the vast majority of the fish caught by others, on "any" gear, around these parts.

But again, like I say, different strokes.

Peace,

Fish

[Fish Chris]

Hamby, it's all good. Different strokes. Of course I find it a great challenge to make a fish bite in the first place, but I also find it a great challenge to land a big fish on rediculously light gear.

Actually, I'd love to catch a monster Pike on a Crappie pole But then again, I'd be pretty stoked to catch a monster Pike on ANY gear !

Oh and BTW, with some of the species I fish for {such as Stripers and Sturgeon} the vast majority of the anglers in my area keep every single legal sized one they catch, and most of those people think I'm an absolute nut case to release them at all ! Some even get down right angry that I release them !

Or to put it another way, the big fish I catch on micro-light gear, have a far greater chance for survival, than the vast majority of the fish caught by others, on "any" gear, around these parts.

But again, like I say, different strokes.

Peace,

Fish

[Fish Chris]

Hamby, it's all good. Different strokes. Of course I find it a great challenge to make a fish bite in the first place, but I also find it a great challenge to land a big fish on rediculously light gear.

Actually, I'd love to catch a monster Pike on a Crappie pole But then again, I'd be pretty stoked to catch a monster Pike on ANY gear !

Oh and BTW, with some of the species I fish for {such as Stripers and Sturgeon} the vast majority of the anglers in my area keep every single legal sized one they catch, and most of those people think I'm an absolute nut case to release them at all ! Some even get down right angry that I release them !

Or to put it another way, the big fish I catch on micro-light gear, have a far greater chance for survival, than the vast majority of the fish caught by others, on "any" gear, around these parts.

But again, like I say, different strokes.

Peace,

Fish

[Hamby]

I understand. Sorry for jacking your thread 

[Hamby]

I understand. Sorry for jacking your thread 

[Hamby]

I understand. Sorry for jacking your thread 

[SirSnookalot]

I'm in complete agreement with Fish Chris, with the exception of scales and cameras, just not important to me.  I also use the lightest line and tackle I can get away with.  I'm there for good hard battle with a fish, last thing I'll do is horse a 2# fish on b/c gear with 65# braid on a heavy rated rod with the drag cranked all the way down, not my kind of fishing.  If I'm fishing heavy slop and lose the fish, it's no big deal, I'm tossing it back anyway.

Whether I'm fishing fresh or salt ( bulk of my fishing is salt ) the very few times I've had fish go belly up on me, they seem to get revived just fine and swim away.  That doesn't mean a predator doesn't get them, but so many times predators attack the fish on the line before you even get it in.  Blood sport, you bet, it's only a fish.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm in complete agreement with Fish Chris, with the exception of scales and cameras, just not important to me.  I also use the lightest line and tackle I can get away with.  I'm there for good hard battle with a fish, last thing I'll do is horse a 2# fish on b/c gear with 65# braid on a heavy rated rod with the drag cranked all the way down, not my kind of fishing.  If I'm fishing heavy slop and lose the fish, it's no big deal, I'm tossing it back anyway.

Whether I'm fishing fresh or salt ( bulk of my fishing is salt ) the very few times I've had fish go belly up on me, they seem to get revived just fine and swim away.  That doesn't mean a predator doesn't get them, but so many times predators attack the fish on the line before you even get it in.  Blood sport, you bet, it's only a fish.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm in complete agreement with Fish Chris, with the exception of scales and cameras, just not important to me.  I also use the lightest line and tackle I can get away with.  I'm there for good hard battle with a fish, last thing I'll do is horse a 2# fish on b/c gear with 65# braid on a heavy rated rod with the drag cranked all the way down, not my kind of fishing.  If I'm fishing heavy slop and lose the fish, it's no big deal, I'm tossing it back anyway.

Whether I'm fishing fresh or salt ( bulk of my fishing is salt ) the very few times I've had fish go belly up on me, they seem to get revived just fine and swim away.  That doesn't mean a predator doesn't get them, but so many times predators attack the fish on the line before you even get it in.  Blood sport, you bet, it's only a fish.

[Nibbles]

Sounds like the opposite of my problem. Because I tend to keep constant tension in my line and am a lazy guy, I've developed a habit of setting the hook by flicking my wrist to my outside. It's almost like a twitch, so the plus side is that I set the hook almost immediately after the initial nibble - I rarely ever gut hook bass as a result. However, the problem with this is that fish tend to occasionally unbutton themselves due to a slightly dull hook not hooking them solidly.

Then again, I'd rather have a fish unbutton themselves to fight me another day than swim around with a 1/2 ounce jig or crankbait stuck in their mouth.

[Nibbles]

Sounds like the opposite of my problem. Because I tend to keep constant tension in my line and am a lazy guy, I've developed a habit of setting the hook by flicking my wrist to my outside. It's almost like a twitch, so the plus side is that I set the hook almost immediately after the initial nibble - I rarely ever gut hook bass as a result. However, the problem with this is that fish tend to occasionally unbutton themselves due to a slightly dull hook not hooking them solidly.

Then again, I'd rather have a fish unbutton themselves to fight me another day than swim around with a 1/2 ounce jig or crankbait stuck in their mouth.

[Nibbles]

Sounds like the opposite of my problem. Because I tend to keep constant tension in my line and am a lazy guy, I've developed a habit of setting the hook by flicking my wrist to my outside. It's almost like a twitch, so the plus side is that I set the hook almost immediately after the initial nibble - I rarely ever gut hook bass as a result. However, the problem with this is that fish tend to occasionally unbutton themselves due to a slightly dull hook not hooking them solidly.

Then again, I'd rather have a fish unbutton themselves to fight me another day than swim around with a 1/2 ounce jig or crankbait stuck in their mouth.

[redboat]

Interesting topic.

I was breaking off regularly, on the knot every time (standard Palomar) using 12 lb flouro (won't say the brand). Someone suggested I switch to PLine flouro. I did and that seemed to solve the problem - no more knot breakoffs in three years.

The largest bass I've ever had in the boat was two years ago when my wife landed a 10-4 largemouth using 6 lb PLine flouro on a 5'6" spinning rig. This was in heavy hydrilla, and as some in the thread have noted, the drag being set properly prevented the line from breaking when I was trying to net her (the fish not my wife) and she kept running under the boat.