Thread: The Big Fish gets Away

Looking for answers on an age old question. Now I am 64 years young and I have been wetting a hook I know since I can remember but been told since about age 3. So basically that should give me about 61 years of learning experience. Had rather fish than eat. Been picked on about that by fishing partners too. Not eating while fishing!
My question to all is this, why is it I can go fishing with 4-6 pound test line and I can catch a 2-10 pound catfish on that line. I have caught gar 6 foot long on that same line. I have caught drum fish and even grinnel or some call them bowfish that want fit in a net. None of which rarely ever breaks the line.
But why is it that a 2.5-3 pound crappie or bigger gets on it will snap that same line like it’s rotten?
Now before you go to answering, it’s the same knots I tie for crappie that catches these other big fish, the line is new as I get picked on about how often I change my line out. About the maximum time I will go on old line is 90 days depending on how much I use it in that 90 days.
If I catch a big fish I will even take off about two foot or more once I land it.
So what’s the deal with big crappie breaking the line?
Of course this past month hasn’t been a problem. I have been struggling just to get a 1 to 1.5 pounder.


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Originally Posted by ultraslab

IMHO the rod's you are listing are not designed to be fished with 4 lb. test. Looked up the 12' ACC it's a mediumn power with " fast tip " . With a rod that stiff I would not fish less than something like Gamma or K-9 in no less than 6 lb. and prefably braid of 8# or better. Spend a little bit more on a high end Japanese braid like Varvias and if needed use a flourocarbon leader, but in my expierance crappie or not line shy if they were the high vis line most of us use would not work. The AREA Super Trout INFINITY PE x8 – VARIVAS in .3 gou has a break strenth of 7.5 lbs and though a little bit pricey will not behave like American braids in all of the wind knots and wrapping crazy that your probaly used to. That or get some true ultralights again preferably something out of Japan that designed to use light line. Scott

Ultraslab, this is really good information to have. I mainly fish K9 6lb test line. But I may check into the more expensive braid. That way my wife will continue to wonder have I lost my mind. As she recalls when my fishing gear was much easier on our pocket book. The days of the B&M telescoping poles, 1000 yard rolls of 12lb Stren line, when cork bobbers were 10 cents each, and my trolling motor was a wood paddle. I continue to tell her I was also younger, I had muscles to paddle with no shoulder surgeries, I could see a new born flea on a dragon flys back when it flew by and where I fished no one was around for miles.
For years all I used to fish with was 12lb test. But as more and more crappie anglers have joined this awesome fishing sport due to pressure I like everyone has had to go to smaller line.
But again this is awesome information. And by the way, the wife doesn’t complain much especially when I have her and all our friends and family over to eat those blackened fish toco’s.



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