We have two threads going now that relate to hooks,line, and leaders. When you put all of this stuff together you get a system, or a bunch of parts combined that act as one. How do you use the system that you've put in place with regard to how hard you fight a fish? Do you lock the drag and horse, or do you patiently wait for a submission?

:read:

I use a pair of pump pliers to tighten my drag as much as possible then, I tos the rod over my shoulder and just walk away from the water, if my truck is close at hand I may just tie off to the bumper and drive the fish out:shocked:

Depends how much lobster gear I've got in front of me.

This is a big lesson I learned last season while fishing several places.
For a long time I always kept a very tight drag and tried to bring fish in as quickly as possible. My reasoning was the more time fish were in the water, more time for them to break off or come unbuttoned.
I have alot of faith in my connections, that they will hold up to strong pull and pressure.
But we were fishing a bunch of different spots that are real bony, and even though fish were coming in quickly, they were green. Good sized bass had the power to dig down into the rocks and either pop out the hooks or rub the line into rocks enough to break off.
It wasnt about the power to stop them, or connections. We could have used 100lb test, I think it still would have happened.
So after a strong hookset, I now loosen the drag some to let fish make a run or two. They move away instead of digging down. After those few short runs, its amazing how easily fish come after they are tired out.
Of course, this doesnt work for eveywhere. Someplaces you need to stop them in their tracks, others you can let them run all night. But for most of the terrain I fish, letting the bass make a run helps in my landing ratio.

The rod your using is an important consideration as well as whether you're fishing plugs or eels. I use a much tighter drag when I'm eeling with a single hook. I lighten up with plugs because vmc's bend so easily.

A big fish will pop your line or pull/straighten the hook. Thats why reels come with drags.:wiggle:

I set my drags at 1/4 the breaking strength of the line (or leader if it's lighter than the main line) I do this with a spring scale, after a nights fishing I back them off.. if danger is unavoidable (lobster pots, rocks or nit wit watching the fight) a light finger applied to the spool will suffice... 1/4 the line rating is a pretty tight drag, most people dont realize just how tight that is....

I use a pair of pump pliers to tighten my drag as much as possible then, I tos the rod over my shoulder and just walk away from the water, if my truck is close at hand I may just tie off to the bumper and drive the fish out:shocked:


Nah Nah Nah ....you already have your truck up on the jack
with the tire taken off....then ya just wrap your line a few times
around the Van Stal polished rim .....then ya shift into low !

Also how do you change your style in hook set, fight, drag loosing and tightening when using mono vs. braid?

I use a pair of pump pliers to tighten my drag as much as possible then, I tos the rod over my shoulder and just walk away from the water, if my truck is close at hand I may just tie off to the bumper and drive the fish out:shocked:

thats why hes my hero:musc:

I use a pair of pump pliers to tighten my drag as much as possible then, I tos the rod over my shoulder and just walk away from the water, if my truck is close at hand I may just tie off to the bumper and drive the fish out:shocked:

Pump Pliars are for hacks. I Arc weld my spool to the reel shaft. It has yet to loosen up.

I keep a firm drag most of the time but not always, it depends where I'm fishin. Depending on water dept and structure is wether or not I let off drag... IMO your odds go down when you increase max pressure. I like to use the heaviest tackle I can get away with,one I can get the fish in quicker increaseing the odds of fish surviving and two the obviouse. Crazy Al preaches ..Use the right tool for the job, fresh line and line capacity and stout stick a must.

Yah, but, have you ever landed two different fish that weigh the same but fight completely different battles? The basic system should alwasy be the same great knots, tightly tied, reliable terminal tackle, and a willingness to loosen the grad if necessary.

I use 50 #Cortland Braid and a five foot shock leader 40# mono with a Alberto knot the drag no to tight I love it when it sings !!and with all the years of experience every fish is different I use fineness the fish wiil get tired first don't horse it in ..:hs:

As lite a drag as possible, especially since I only use braid. The drag is there for a reason..........use it. And I always loosen it when a fish is close to being landed. Cranked drags = lost fish and bent hooks

There are times that you have to incrementally increase the drag to try turn a fish. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

It really depends on where I'm fishing.

Most of the time, I'll use a stout parabolic rod--something like an Arra 126 or 1205--and a moderate drag. Even in some places in the Canal where I know it's fairly clean downcurrent. If I'm using braid, and plugs with treble hooks, I rarely try to horse a fish.

In some places, you have to put the boots to a fish. There's just too many things in the way that will cost you if the fish can use them. That's where the All Star 1209, the Saltiga with 12 lbs of drag and 65# braid get used. With jigs. If the jig hook is buried, you can't pull hard enough to damage the hook. If it isn't, they fish will throw it eventually--even when it's running. It's only with plugs and trebles that the hook is your weakest link. Unless you're foolish enough to be fishing with a cheap-assed snap like a Duolock or old fashioned safety pin snap.

I still like to use mono for plugging and for eels. It really depends on the lure style. I have problems with darters, especially, when it comes to pulling trebles loose with braid. And you don't need the sensitivity of braid when fishing eels. It might even be a disadvantage--the fish might feel you as well as you can feel it ;) And the repeated casts with no-stretch line seem to result in the hook tearing loose on the cast faster.

It all depends if I think I have a good chance of catching seal.