The Big Fish gets Away

[silverroach]

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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[Jamesdean]

There are some factors to weight here. First, known fact American mono live strength is marketed lighter than actually is, and second is the rod in question. The more limber the rod strength the heavier the fish can be caught as the rod bends more the more it can give...Least ways, that's my understanding of it....

[Ketchn]

it's likely just the drop of the dice , sometimes things just happen and sometimes they don't ....
but to be very sure the average 4 lb mono will not stand tall against a 2.5 to 3 lb crappie if its a fresh fish in most cases

[GreenLine]

Maybe you get too excited and pull back harder once you see it’s a big crappie without realizing it ?
I use 10lb mono 99 % of the time for main line and leader when I use braid., so I don’t have anything to worry about.


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[BobC]

The rod is an important part of the equation as well. It can absorb a lot and make lighter line a viable option. Take a look at what some other posters use, and sometimes I’m amazed. No sling and fling!
Bob

[silverroach]

All very valid points, but I have come to the conclusion with Katchn. It’s simply the roll of the dice. But as my brother in law states, I always seem to lose a really good one more times we are out than not. Most of the time because of line breakage.

As for the rod selection, well I fish with ACC 12’ Crappie Stix’s and I fish with the B&M Sam H. Super Sensitive 12’ rods.

This was based solely on line breakage. As we all know with most large crappies you can’t give them slack they will come off most every time.

I am also hard headed as I have never found a braid that I like. It runs me nuts how it will tangle at the tip of your rod.


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[NIMROD]

One question ? How often you respool or atleast retie your hooks ?

[silverroach]

I put new line on rather it’s been used or not every 90 days. But it gets used almost weekly or more.
On retie, if I catch a big fish, or I hang up and stretch line. Generally taking a minimum of two to three feet off.


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[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

[silverroach]

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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