Fish keep breaking my line. Advice needed 2024

A.Do? reply :

I've been having a lot of trouble keeping my line from snapping this season. Not sure what's going on. I'm using 6# yozuri ultra soft and tying a polymer knot to almost everything I throw, from soft plastics to crank baits. Today was just the las straw for me, as I lost a very nice fish only a few feet from me.

Where is my problem?

Drag:I feel like my drag is set just right, but maybe it's not. I have it so that if i do a super hook set you'll hear the drag for a quick sec. On normal hook sets you hear no drag. Should i be using weights to find the right drag?

Knot: from what i've heard, the polamer is one of the strongest and most reliable. I moisten before I tighten the knot and check the line a few inches to make sure there are no frays in the line.

Line: Yozuri Hybrid ultrasoft in 6# test with KVD line treatment, spooled up only a few weeks ago.

Reeling in the fish, i keep the rod tip low, with constant tension and i do a semi-fast retrieve, i let the fish tell me how fast i need to retrieve and try not to rip the fish through the water.

Should i be pointing the rod tip toward the fish when it's closer to the bank so there's less strain on the line?

Should i try and fight the fish longer to wear them out?

I lost 3 fish today, all of which were well over 3lbs, to snap lines. I'd really like to figure out what i can do to prevent this from happening.

Thanks for any info/tips!

Andrew

frogtog reply :

Double check your drag, don't point the rod at the fish, you need to let him fight the rod not the line. I'm assuming you are using a medium to medium light rod for the small line. Also check the eyes on your rod to make sure none are damaged. You can do this by pulling

a small amount of cotton through them and see if any hangs on the eyes. How old is your line?

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Set your drag

If still happening, change line.

CFFF 1.5 reply :

Use higher lb. test line. Maybe it is just a florida thing but the lowest lb test I have on any of my reels is 14lb.

iamjoe2 reply :

try changing line....

i took a reel to a store to have it spooled, and they put some really bad line on, snapped easy and tangled easy,

tokk it back put 8# trilene on, problem solved

A.Do? reply :

This is only my second season fishing, whats the best technique for setting the drag?

Sorry forgot to mention that I'm using a medium action rod with a spinning reel.

The line was spooled up recently and purchased this year. I bought a large spool from cabelas, could the whole spool be bad?! :'(

Around my area we rarely see bass over 6 or 8 pounds, Citation size is 8lbs. I caught my PB using 14lb test and didn't enjoy the fight at all! So this year i told my self i'd use a lighter line.

Thank you for all your quick responses, i'll look into each of these carefully.

Bass XL reply :

I would up-grade your line size...maybe to 10 pound.

Daiwa reply :

If your using a ultralight rod, it should be fine. With ultralights, the fish puts stress on the rod, and not the line. If your on a medium+ rod, go up to like what Bass XL said, 10lb.

Redsyn reply :

Okay just let me say I am not the most experience or the most knowledgable angler.

Are you fishing off the shore, if so do you think the fish cut you off from rocks/branches right by the shore? Does the end of the line have a clean break or line freys or swirles which might be due to bad knot.

I am asking because I have had all those thing happen to me before.

If anything try to set the drag a little lighter then what you had today and see if you get cut off.

burleytog reply :

Buy better line.

flippin4it. reply :

When does the line break? Is it on the hook set? I use light line and have landed some good sized bass. I'm using old school hybrid.

grimlin reply :

This worries me now....I'm using a MH rod with 6# test yozuri ultra soft as well for my spinning set up. That 6# test played a critical role in feeling those soft bites in 25 MPH winds i had to face today.

A.Do? reply :

I'm fishing from shore and at a pond on a friends property. There's no rocks or any other things to abrade my line.

The breaks usually occur when the fish is only a few feet from me, close enough for me to see them in the water.

roadwarrior reply :

Hmm...

#6 is equivalent to just under 12 lb test, that isn't the problem.

Recheck your equipment and carefully examine the last 10 yards of line to see is there is damage.

The drag should be set @ 3-4 lbs (23-30% 0f breaking strength), but in this case that is an issue that can be ruled out. A 3-4 fish can't break Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft.

If your equipment is fine, return the line for exchange or buy another brand. I'm stumped, but you don't need a heavier line, that's for sure. With #6 your spinning reel will perform better and you will get more bites. This line should not be breaking.

8-)

JayW reply :

It really sounds like to me that your drag is still a little bit too tight. I use 12# Yozuri Hybrid down here in Florida and I've NEVER had a fish break me off since using it. I keep my drag set a little loose. When I set the hook, I can sometimes feel it pull a little bit of drag, but just barely. I like to enjoy the fight, so I keep the drag a little loose and use light line compared to many here in Florida. I also use Calcutta 100's and even a little 50. Small reels as compared to what a lot of guys use down here.

A.Do? reply :

Quote

The drag should be set @ 3-4 lbs (23-30% 0f breaking strength), but in this case that is an issue that can be ruled out. A 3-4 fish can't break Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft.

I'm going to try and check my drag today with a few techniques. As for the fish being 3-4lbs, these are really conservative estimates. The last fish that broke off had a huge head as it jumped out of the water. Fish might have been close to 6lbs but this should still be small enough for my 6# test to handle.

Thanks for all the tips!

christopherjake reply :

Well, test to see just how strong the line is yourself. If the line breaks on you without you putting a lot of resistance, then it's probably is the line. If it breaks at the knot, then it may be the way you tie your knot.

NBR reply :

Your line size should have more to do with the type of lake and how you fish. I fish very clear lakes with little cover other than rocks and use anything from 4# to 19# but usually 6 t0 12# depending on the fish and how I'm fishing. If I fished lakes with lots of wood or weeds I'd fish much heavier line.

My buddy took a 16# northern last year on 8# mono with no leader; it took a while and as long to get the fish revived for release but it is done often.

Make sure the line is within the line size rating for the rod. Set your drag with bend in the rod. Guide friction adds a lot of load to the line and if you are using a straight pull from the reel you are most likely set way too heavy.

While a bad batch of line is possible I doubt that it is the reason you are breaking off.

lubina reply :

Make sure your drag is working right and then set it like RW said.

Dan: reply :

I had this issue with my Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft recently as well. I started to check the line for nicks and cut off the line above any that I found. That seems to have stopped the problem for now.

dman reply :

Your line should be fine and even with the drag too tight i wouldnt think a 3-4 pound bass would break that...I agree with the other poster to check your rods eyelets with a q-tip....I think your line is getting sliced not snapped.

A.Do? reply :

So, as a ghetto way of testing my drag I fastened my digi scale to a heavy object and then hooked it up to my line. i pulled the rod back slowly and waited for the drag to start ticking and found that this was at 2.5-3lbs for 2 different rods.

Should i use this technique to see at what weight the line breaks?

I checked the eyelets for the guides and they're all smooth.

I think I'm going to have to just put some new line on the reel. :-/ I really hope this 1lb spool isn't a bad batch.

Daiwa reply :

How about the last eyelet? I have a sharp cut in one of mine and it made the line cut.

ABC123 reply :

I just had to pull off a full spool of Hybrid, becouse the line snapped while removing a nest I made playing with the cast control. First time I have ever had line snap like that.

Hillvis reply :

agreed, better line. or if it's close to your boat, just get close to it and grab it w/a net.

fishfordollars reply :

Sounds to me that you have an equipment problem. Check the bail for imperfections as well as your rod guides. I think you will find the problem in that area.

roadwarrior reply :

Well, "better line" isn't the answer. I suppose it's possible that you have a defective spool, but that is highly unlikely. I too suspect the problem is with the equipment. However, buying 300 yards of another brand of line will address the issue. Try something else.

8-)

Davis reply :

Same thing happened to me man when I was fishing for smallies a week ago. Not a big fan of the 6lb Yozuri Ultrasoft. Before people start questioning my knot tying, it's not. Been tying Palomar for the past year this is the first time I have had trouble. My drag is set correctly but have lost two nice smallies in the past two weeks.

Now I know RW that you say its rated for a breaking point of almost 12 lbs but when I'm breaking off snags this line snaps pretty easily. Maybe I picked up a bad batch of line. I like it as far as managing on the spool nicely. May just go back to Trilene XL for my smallie fishing. Had zero breakoffs last year with that line in 8 lb.

roadwarrior reply :

I think everyone should experiment with a number of lines to find one or two that they like. Although I always recommend #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft to everyone for it's added strength, I actually fish #4 on my smallmouth rig. I have never been broken off by a fish using any Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft line.

In addition to the smallmouth in my avatar, the line (#4) has held up against multi-species of 20+ lb fish. On the Tennessee River, smallmouth fishing often results in catfish, drum, buffalo and stripers. The heaviest fish I have seen landed was a 43 lb blue cat that my partner caught. He fishes original Hybrid #6.

8-)

Davis reply :

Quote
I think everyone should experiment with a number of lines to find one or two that they like. Although I always recommend #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft to everyone for it's added strength, I actually fish #4 on my smallmouth rig. I have never been broken off by a fish using any Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft line.
In addition to the smallmouth in my avatar, the line (#4) has held up against multi-species of 20+ lb fish. On the Tennessee River, smallmouth fishing often results in catfish, drum, buffalo and stripers. The heaviest fish I have seen landed was a 43 lb blue cat that my partner caught. He fishes original Hybrid #6.

8-)

That's why I'm starting to think that I have a bad batch or something.

It sure does come off the spool nice though and after spraying it with KVD there is almost zero memory. That's a plus!

tyrius. reply :

Quote
Before people start questioning my knot tying, it's not. Been tying Palomar for the past year this is the first time I have had trouble.

I'm going to question the knot anyways. When tightening the knot do you wet it? Since Yo Zuri is a copolymer isn't it more susceptible to being affected by friction when tightening?

tyrius. reply :

I'm thinking that you should do some experimentation with the line to see where the failures are occurring.

You should tie the line to your scale and then to something else and pull until it breaks somewhere. Note the reading when it breaks and then note where it broke (knot or the line). Do this a couple of times to get an average. Then you can see if the line is breaking at the knot or if it is just breaking and you can see when the failure is occurring.

A.Do? reply :

tyrius, i plan on doing something along those lines soon. I just realized that right before the break i got rid of alot of line because my GF made a huge birds nest that couldn't be saved, so the line should have been pretty fresh. I keep leaning more and more towards the line being at fault but i'll do some more test before more next outting.

tyrius. reply :

Quote
tyrius, i plan on doing something along those lines soon. I just realized that right before the break i got rid of alot of line because my GF made a huge birds nest that couldn't be saved, so the line should have been pretty fresh. I keep leaning more and more towards the line being at fault but i'll do some more test before more next outting.

I'd lean more torwards the line being damaged by the bird's nest. Respool it and see if you still have issues.

A.Do? reply :

Quote

I'd lean more torwards the line being damaged by the bird's nest. Respool it and see if you still have issues.

I removed all the line that was in the birds nest when it happened, so it shouldn't have affected the line.

Davis reply :

Quote

Quote
Before people start questioning my knot tying, it's not. Been tying Palomar for the past year this is the first time I have had trouble.

I'm going to question the knot anyways. When tightening the knot do you wet it? Since Yo Zuri is a copolymer isn't it more susceptible to being affected by friction when tightening?

Yes I always lubricate the knot before cinching it down.

Anywhooo....going to fish some BPS 8 lb fluoro on this same setup with my spare spool. Also going to respool the Yozuri to see what happens.

joe_ohlandt reply :

Here is a tip I learned a while back about the Palomar knot. When making the knot make sure you are not twisting the loop before looping it around your tie on. A twist in the loop acts like a knife in the knot, concentrates all the energy on one spot of the loop and reduces the capacity of the knot by about 40%.

NBR reply :

Breaking off close is a normal failure. I am not sure about stretch in Yozuri Ultra Soft but if there is any as you get the fish closer there is less line to stretch so the line is less forgiving. Also you mention taking off some line because of a birds nest. As the line diameter on the spool reduces the drag force increases. Also you are pulling at a greater distance over the spool lip.

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Fish keep breaking my line. Advice needed 2024

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