09-08-2002, 11:04 PM
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I agree 100% with Predator, If you're breaking off, Beef it up. Change to heavier line for starters. Go to fireline and get the strength of 20 lb test at 6 lb mono diameter. Use knots that are designed to hold at 90-95% of line strength. There are a ton of them out there. I use a San Diego knot that the guys fishing big tuna swear by. It's a little bit of a pain in the a$$ to tie but it's been tested at 95% knot strength a lot better than most. Verify all your hardware is top quality. Set your drags according to your line strength capacity.You should set your drags at 1/3 of the line strength. This is the standard rule of thumb. Set it there and LEAVE IT ALONE! Let your drags do what they are designed to to.Bottom line, fish for the biggest fish you intend to land and every other fish is taken care of.
I think the boat should "set" the hook when you troll. If you are trolling with a loose drag and a fish hit's hard, your rod does not have the oportunity to do what it is designed to do and that's flex and put pressure on a fish. If You end up giving line; you are not getting a good firm set. You have to let the rod take the initial shot and springing back; thus the setting action. Downriggers guys actually put a big bow in their lines to help set the hook because when the line releases from the downrigger release there is some slack and the rod is used to take it up helping the hook set.
Sometimes the hook will pull loose but who says you wouldn't have lost that fish at the boat or during the fight if you loosened the drag? You may just be putting off the inevitable. I'd rather have the fish hook himself while the drag are set correctly. This not only will help you set the hook but it is still give line if you are hung up on the bottom. JMHO.......
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I think the boat should "set" the hook when you troll. If you are trolling with a loose drag and a fish hit's hard, your rod does not have the oportunity to do what it is designed to do and that's flex and put pressure on a fish. If You end up giving line; you are not getting a good firm set. You have to let the rod take the initial shot and springing back; thus the setting action. Downriggers guys actually put a big bow in their lines to help set the hook because when the line releases from the downrigger release there is some slack and the rod is used to take it up helping the hook set.
Sometimes the hook will pull loose but who says you wouldn't have lost that fish at the boat or during the fight if you loosened the drag? You may just be putting off the inevitable. I'd rather have the fish hook himself while the drag are set correctly. This not only will help you set the hook but it is still give line if you are hung up on the bottom. JMHO.......
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