Good thing it was an Academy H2O Express sale crankbait, but I still hate losing it.
It was about the 10th cast this morning, first time I’ve had my new crankbait rig. 6’10” Med/Mod St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass rod and a Lew’s LFS Speed Spool 5.6:1 reel spooled with 14lb Sunline Fluorocarbon using a Trilene knot.
Lure was snapped off at the knot, I’m not sure if it let go or if the line broke. This is my first glass rod and I’m relatively new to baitcasting, getting into it more this year. I think I was side arm casting similar to my spinning gear.
What did I do wrong?
Used Fluorocarbon. Kidding aside, you have to make sure the line is good and wet when tying the knot. I've had to break 10# on a snag and it wasn't easy. Don't recall ever hearing of that line. Maybe someone else can comment on how good it is.
I'm with you. I hate losing a lure.
Well...I went to TW to read some reviews on it. Reviews were all over the place...from best fluoro ever to junk. From super strong to unexplained break offs. I think I would try another line based on the little I read about it. Doesn't sound like it is consistent.
I like AN40, Siege, McCoy Mean Green and Isorline XXX. I have fluorocarbon line on 2 or 3 reels, only one reel that I spooled. Others were used reels that already had a fluorocarbon on them. Being somewhat frugal, I have left the line on the reels.
Some fluorocarbon lines are pretty stiff and hard to clinch down properly with trilene knot.
On 7/3/2018 at 6:06 PM, JustJames said:Some fluorocarbon lines are pretty stiff and hard to clinch down properly with trilene knot.
What knot would you suggest?
On 7/3/2018 at 7:03 PM, HeyCoach said:What knot would you suggest?
Pitzen
Except for 2 techniques, all I use is Sunline flouro and tie the San Diego Jam knot.
Its simialr to the pitzen but with 1 extra step.
I also like the "No Name" which is passed through the eye twice like a Palomar. It's advertised as the best knot for flourocarbon lines but there are others.
Flouro gets a bad wrap on this board so don't get deterred. Just try different ones making certain they are tied correctly.
Mike
On 7/3/2018 at 7:03 PM, HeyCoach said:What knot would you suggest?
There are many good knot out there, Palomar, San diagonal jam etc. I only use two knots with all type lines, trilene and uni knot, depend on situation and type/size of line.
Another recommendation, since you stated you are pretty new to bait caster, is to not whip it like you do when casting with spinning gear.
All of these good knots tied correctly will do the trick.
But, with fluorocarbon, imagine tying a simple overhand knot with a length of a relatively light gauge copper wire. As you loop it over to make the knot, all is well, then as you cinch it down, the stiffness of the material makes forming a tight knot difficult.
This is the issue with fluorocarbon, in general, the stiffer ones in particular, that it is a denser material (than, say, nylon monofilament) and harder to cinch down tightly.
The wetting it down? It has absolutely nothing to do with fluoro and line burning. That meme got started years ago and is now oft-repeated but was then and is still now . . . inaccurate. It is simply that what can appear to be a tightened down knot with the wraps all snugged in well, really isn't. The spit is just a lubricant that helps the denser fluorocarbon slide into a secure knot better.
Hey! There likely isn't an experienced angler here or elsewhere who hasn't casted off a lure at one time or another. It does happen!
Brad
I've been using the trilene knot with fluorocarbon for over two years now and it works well for me. Spit on your knots before you tighten it down and pull on your lure to check the knot before fishing.
Silver lining...good excuse to buy more lures, lol.
I use the one shaw grigsby shows on youtube on flouro. Braid and mono get a palomar.
I have done this before when I would really try to get a long cast.
It almost seemed as if I was creating a whipping effect with the line and by the time it gets to the knot it would snap the line and send my lure flying.
Slightly adjusting my casting motion solved this issue.
Every now and then I'll try bombing a crankbait and this will still happen.
a lot of the modern flouro and mono lines are very slick, so a trilene knot can start to slip and once it starts to slip it can break.
I was having a similar problem with Sufix Siege mono line, when I tied a good knot i couldnt break the stuff, but i was getting problems with knots holding.
So I started tying the palomar knot and all the problems went way. strong and no slip.
I would try the palomar knot. its easy to tie and works very well for slick mono/flouro lines.
On 7/3/2018 at 9:56 PM, junyer357 said:I use the one shaw grigsby shows on youtube on flouro. Braid and mono get a palomar.
+1 on the not whipping the caster. New folks I fish with whip the rod so hard/fast that you can audibly hear the rod going thru the air. They also reel the lure to close to the tip before they cast. This puts a lot of the strain on the knot instead of the lure.
just a thought
On 7/3/2018 at 10:36 PM, NHBull said:
Thats the one I meant..Thanks Bull
Very Good flouro knot.
Mike
I've had this happen to me before on fluorocarbon when using a palomar knot. I then found the video posted above of Shaw Grigsby. I've started using the knot he shows in the video for fluorocarbon and mono both. Ive never had a break off since. Once you tie it a few times and becomes second nature. Wet the line, cinch down slow, cut three tag ends off, enjoy.
I've done this twice this year and I won't be whip casting anymore... unless the lures a floater lol.
I lost my favorite DJ swimjig and a brand new duo crankbait - with that said, I'm hitting up Siebert's soon for a jig order. So glad they have PayPal.
I use a triple twist San Diego jam-jam polomar double trilene slip spit knot never fails:)
jk I use polomar pretty much all the time even with floro, tie it rite and there’s no problemlemos.
SDJ knot for fluorocarbon, but there's no reason to waste money on fluoro for cranks imo. Just buy some copolymer or mono and you're good to go for crankbaits.
Copolymer for crank baits, floro for bottom baits.
I switched from Braid/Maxima Flouro leader (6' - 12lb) to Braid/Sufix Siege Mono (25' - 14lb) on my cranking rod and lost all sensitivity with cover and bottom contact.
Will that be the case with any mono/coploy? Or Should I try something like straight YZH?
On 7/5/2018 at 1:03 AM, Dangerfield said:I switched from Braid/Maxima Flouro leader (6' - 12lb) to Braid/Sufix Siege Mono (25' - 14lb) on my cranking rod and lost all sensitivity with cover and bottom contact.
Will that be the case with any mono/coploy? Or Should I try something like straight YZH?
I tried a few monos for cranking, didn’t like mono no sensitivity.
Pline cx premium or yozuri hybrid Works perfect for cranking.
On 7/3/2018 at 7:03 PM, HeyCoach said:What knot would you suggest?
San Diego Jam Knot or Shaw Grigsby knot. Look'em up on youtube.
On 7/3/2018 at 8:41 PM, Brad in Texas said:The wetting it down? It has absolutely nothing to do with fluoro and line burning.
Not a challenge, but I'm curious: if not lubricating a knot tied with fluoro doesn't "burn" it (which to me means heats up the outer layer), why does it still curl up like a pig's tail if not lubed?
On 7/5/2018 at 10:36 AM, Further North said:Not a challenge, but I'm curious: if not lubricating a knot tied with fluoro doesn't "burn" it (which to me means heats up the outer layer), why does it still curl up like a pig's tail if not lubed?
Because it is still breaking at or near the knot.
On 7/5/2018 at 10:36 AM, Further North said:Not a challenge, but I'm curious: if not lubricating a knot tied with fluoro doesn't "burn" it (which to me means heats up the outer layer), why does it still curl up like a pig's tail if not lubed?
Not taken as a challenge, just a good question! The first is the science behind it and it is clear that fluorocarbon has a lower level of heat conductivity than monofilament lines. Lower, not higher.
I think the second part just needs a clarification on my part . . . that I'm not against lubricating fluorocarbon line when tying knots. I always do it. I just don't do thinking I am preventing line burn that is specific to fluoro more so than monofilament. In both cases, I do it to allow the knots to configure properly. Without doing it, say looking at a fluoro knot under a strong magnifying glass, might appear more "open." That's a knot that is going to work loose quickly.
Braid? It doesn't require any lubrication at all but ever so often, I find myself by habit running the line through my lips before I tug it together.
*** One other knot factoid: for most fishing knots, you shouldn't pull its tag end to complete the knot. Doing so weakens it, not strengthens it.
Knots: we should all talk. I even see some of the great pros get it wrong at times. The great angler, Aaron Martens, does something wrong, recommends it, with his Alberto/Albright junction knot, for example. But, he has a scientific mind and he'd readily make the adjustment if presented with the evidence. It'd take me 3 minutes to alter his views with a pencil and piece of paper to illustrate a point.
Brad
On 7/5/2018 at 7:44 PM, Brad in Texas said:Not taken as a challenge, just a good question! The first is the science behind it and it is clear that fluorocarbon has a lower level of heat conductivity than monofilament lines. Lower, not higher.
I think the second part just needs a clarification on my part . . . that I'm not against lubricating fluorocarbon line when tying knots. I always do it. I just don't do thinking I am preventing line burn that is specific to fluoro more so than monofilament. In both cases, I do it to allow the knots to configure properly. Without doing it, say looking at a fluoro knot under a strong magnifying glass, might appear more "open." That's a knot that is going to work loose quickly.
Braid? It doesn't require any lubrication at all but ever so often, I find myself by habit running the line through my lips before I tug it together.
*** One other knot factoid: for most fishing knots, you shouldn't pull its tag end to complete the knot. Doing so weakens it, not strengthens it.
Knots: we should all talk. I even see some of the great pros get it wrong at times. The great angler, Aaron Martens, does something wrong, recommends it, with his Alberto/Albright junction knot, for example. But, he has a scientific mind and he'd readily make the adjustment if presented with the evidence. It'd take me 3 minutes to alter his views with a pencil and piece of paper to illustrate a point.
Brad
Thanks!
I’m going to try that San Diego Jam knot and check out that other video with 3 tag ends.