Reply With QuoteIt ia amazing that you can swing fish in on 4lb all day but every single time I have grabbed the line to lift one it breaks.
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Crappie.com Legend - 2017 Man Of The Year
I too learned that lesson. Hope I don't have to relearn it. Nice post.
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Crappie.com Legend
Crappie.com Legend and Arkansas Moderator
I too have played the 4lb test game and lost. Great story.
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Crappie Wall Hanger
That is a bummer. The crappie I have been catching you would be fine with 2lb.
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Keeper
I would write that off to just one of those things. It happens sometimes.
I love using 4 lb. test on my light gear. Hit a pond today looking for crappie, but ended up bass fishing instead. The local bait guy was closed, so no minnows for us. We tried some BG stuff, but it just wasn't working. I started casting Rebel Wee Craw and Tiny Craw on 4 lb. test. Caught several large mouths in the 1-2 lb. range. No problems landing them and they fought pretty darn hard. Not sure if it would really make a difference, but I was using 4 lb. test Hi-Viz Green from Slater's Jigs.
Slabmaster
Man I've done that many times! I use 4lb test almost exclusively and still to this day I will try to heave a biigin into the boat by the line. Lost a huge slab in Oklahoma this spring by doing that with my dad in the boat with me. He said "bet you never do that again"... I just looked at him, grinned and said "oh yeah, it'll happen again". We had a pretty good laugh and it was still a great day nevertheless.
Crappie.com Legend
Is it breaking at the knot or above? If the knot, then you should maybe rethink how you are doing the tying. It is imperative with light line that you slowly snug up the knot, and use saliva to lubricate the turns. I always also cinch up my knots by pulling on the tag end, not the main line.Originally Posted by huntinslabs
If you are breaking above the knot, then I can only suggest that you run your fingers (or lips) up the line to check for nicks or irregularities. If nothing can be found there, then check your rod guides for roughness using a Q-tip. The cotton will grab onto any irregularities and reveal a problem if it exists.
Beyond those areas, I can only tell you that I've been using 4# and 2# test mono and fluorocarbon for many decades now. It is sufficiently strong to handle crappie and even some big bass and northern pike.
"A voyage in search of knowledge need never abandon the spirit of adventure."
Slabmaster II
I've been using 4lb line for 20+ years. It's an odd situation for me when I'm not using 4lb.
Set the drag, fairly limber pole, stay connected to the fish.
I've landed some pretty decent fish on 4lb. 17" crappie, 23" lm bass, 18" sm bass, 9lb drum, etc.
It sure doesn't hold up with a nick in it though.
Slabmaster II
I've always used 4lb on my ultralights. Caught an 6lb channel cat on a mealworm once. Several bass as well. Usually if it breaks it's because I'm snagged real good.
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Crappie.com Legend
Let me be a bit more specific on a few things , I use 4 lb rarely , my style of ketchn fish is a bit different than most and especially when it comes to crappie I allow a very few seconds from hookup to out of the water . This of course leads one to need to rethink ones agenda when it comes to lighter set ups . I played the first fish rather well and let her pull drag ( that I set REALLY carefully ) before I ever got near the water and checked before I made the first cast once again just to be sure .
I also did a bunch of (stress) testing in my hands on this line before I ever spooled it up . I knew from its breaking point in my hands it wasn't much but still thought I could manage to ketch what in most cases in that spot are just average size crappie. Now mind ya second loss was because I tried to over think my original set up and tightened the drag just a touch . Now the third fish I am not sure but I think it hit something under the dock when I tried to lip it . in all 3 of the first break offs the line gave up between the float and the jig . the last break was much the same and it was on the hook set . I think that's the order it went in ,but I have to say I wasn't impressed with the light line much and have had these same issues on larger crappie with this light line before .
the up side is it casts well and is super sensitive .....had a similar problem back in the winter but that was because it was older line and I use pinch floats and it was breaking on the pinch .
like posted before it drives me to go back and find her once again , in the hopes I win the next battle ....
and to top it off I am out in a few to see if I can get myself schooled yet again with that there 4 lb test just for grins ....
p.s. lost one more fish because the line diameter was so small it slid thru the eyelet pinch point of the road runner I was using as well
sum kawl me tha outlaw ketchn whales
