| eelman |
10-05-2006 07:11 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by cow tamer
Bill,
Need some more help and your expertise.
How do you prepare to successfully catch without losing these kinds of fish? Do you discard some line / leader often ? How much drag do you set and do you alter the drag during the engagement ? How often do you recheck your gear? etc., etc. I lost a nice fish last night and I need some pointers on preparedness. 20 # back country line snapped ahead of the shock leader when I tightened up on the drag in an attempt to try to turn a fish that would have most likely spooled me..
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I check my line everyday and after a day like yesterday I change it, I change my line at times everyday! I just do not take chances...I use a shock leader of 12 feet and of at least 60lb test...I have said this before and will say it again, Striped bass will not "spool" you...that just doesnt happen, at best it breaks....either your drag is to loose or your using gear thats to light...Conventional blows spin gear away in the power and fish fighting department...its worth the time to learn to use that gear...I do not set my drag with a scale or anything like that...Its all by feel...I do change it during a fight with a fish, tweaking it as I fight the fish..If the fish wants to run, I let it run, if you dont and the fish is green and you try to muscle it, your going to break off....after a couple decent runs the fish tires fast ....you have to be patient while fighting big fish its simple as that, if you try horesing a large bass your going to bust off....Let the rod do the work, the way you turn a fish is to put the rod at an angle opiste as the fish is going...you want the fish to move left and its going right tilt the rod to the left side and apply pressure. Most people panic with a big fish on...and everyone loses fish now and then, its part of the game. Relax, let the rod do the work and dont skimp on line and leaders...Like I said I change my line almost after every single trip where I have caught multiple large fish...I only use Ande Backcountry and find it to be fantastic!
Let me add to this by saying there is one other time most fish are lost and, thats at the very end of the fight when the fish is within grasp...this is the time to losen that drag...one sudden lunge and you can lose that bass.dont luge at the fish, let the wave action bring it up, most large bass are on there side and ready to be rolled right up....nice and easy...RELAX! |
