Here is my story. Last year I started making attempts at jigging the ditch without any success. In fact, I have given the Canal Gods enough lead that I fear the toxicity level of that water has risen signifigantly. I quickly realized that the canal is a body of water you must specifically rig for. You cannot go there with a medium rod and 20lb test and expect to jig anything in that current. This year I picked up some power pro (50lbs) and attached it to my Okuma (ok, not the best- but acceptable) Avenger 80 and Fenwick Salt Stick (Heavy , 9 ft.). This seems like a decent setup. I don't go to the canal that often, so using a backup reel seems like a good idea. Plus the Okuma reels much quicker than my go-to reel, a 704z. Anyhow, I was jigging a 4 oz bucktail the other night when BANG. Fish F#$%g On! This thing hit hard and strong. FINALLY, I had something on the end of my line I could be proud of, the moment had finally come. Here was the redemption for all of my fruitless time and lost gear! Cripes, this thing was strong. Naturally, it was swimming with the already strong current, not making things easy for me. Line was ripping off my reel, as I tightened the drag. I had to keep palming the reel, trying desparately to keep the fish from swimming into the muscle beds and jagged rocks that sit on the bottom. For 20 full minutes I fought this beast, but I couldn't turn him. I could only get a few cranks out of my reel- mostly I was just holding him in place. Then it happened... SNAP. Fish F$#@%g gone. Needless to say, this felt tragic.
My question to you canal guys is this. How do I prevent this tragedy from occuring again? I did not use a leader, I tied directly. Should I be using steel leaders? Is 50 lb power pro sufficient? Does my reel just suck? Could I have turned the fish with a better reel? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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