Dave Smith
06-18-2007, 08:56 AM
Just got this question from a very good bass fisherman- this is by far the most common question I get (besides WHERE to go- he he) so I hope it's OK to post it on here with my response and hopefully, some of you great fisherman can offer some advice, too.
http://www.ifish.net/board/images/icons/icon1.gif Hi Dave
Dave How ya been? Looks like the bassin is good as always. Ive got a couple questions for ya.
I started out this year fishing the willy with a buddy in his boat and off of ******* for small mouth. I had been using 8 lbs. test and having no problems. Now ive been fishing the ********* with a buddy that works there. Actually its ********** the kid you brought on the goose hunt. Weve been catching some really good size fish anywhere from 2-6 lbs. large mouth. Im thinking my 8lbs. test is a little light for this? Ive been snapping off some larger fish and then the other day I caught a 5-6 lbs fish and snapped him off right on the grass, and the same thing today. What size test and line would you reccomend for me to use when fishing these larger fish?
Hope all is well, sorry its kinda lengthy. Take care, *************
To be honest, breaking off a fish is the LAST thing you ever want to do. It is terrible for the resource, There is a good chance the bass will die a slow, lingering death- there is also a good chance that a bird or some other critter will eventually tangle in the littered line and do the same! When you break a fish off you educate it without ever being able to snap a picture of it and this is especially not good when you're a guest on someone's honey hole. The good news is there is absolutely no need to break off a bass and no excuse, either. Here's my theory on the subject: The most common myth among bass fisherman is that the line has to be invisible to the bass or they will know it's a set-up. If bass were able to know what a set-up is by looking for line, none of us would ever catch anything. Don't you think it would be easier for a bass to tell your lure is artificial by simply looking at the giant hook(s) hanging off of it- or stuck in the side of it? The reason to use light line, whether you're bass fishing or flyfishing for trout on a crystal clear spring creek, is to let the lure or fly swing or fall naturally. In other words, the line needs to be LIMP enough to make a natural presentation, or the fish won't eat the bait. On the spring creek scenario, oftentimes the exposed hook is literally 50% of the total fly (look at chironomids!)- if a fish could look at a hook or line and tell it's fake because of that- we would all be SOL. What they are experts at, though, is determining whether or not the bait is acting like it should. I have caught largemouths close to nine pounds that have followed my swimbait for over 30 feet, swimming on both sides of it in crystal clear water before finally inhaling it, on 30 pound mono. Some of my best jig days, ever were while using 25lb Triliene SOLAR, a solid flourescent lime green line that can be seen from the space. On the other side of things, but proves the point about line limpness being the factor, not visibility, Pacific Salmon will eat a bait better on lighter line even though there is no way any Salmon could ever become "line-shy". Every salmon that has ever made it to fresh water has died shortly after- and if they happen to get caught, they are kept so they don't know what fishing line is. The key, though, is the natural presentation the limper line offers. If you're breaking fish off, use heavier and NEWER line. How old is that 8 lb line? With light line is even more important to change it often. I change mine about every other trip- every trip if I'm pitching alot. If you need to go with small lures, go for more limp line, not smaller or weaker. The time to use lighter line is when there are no weeds and you are using really lightweight lures. If there are weeds or wood, simply switch to bigger lures and therefore heavier line. The heavier, stiffer line will not have much of an effect on the action of a heavier lure and the presentation will look natural. Be careful where you buy your line- make sure it is a place with alot of turnover. I even test it in the stores before buying. The way to test it is to tie and overhand knot in it and then break it. No matter what pound test, it should not snap easily! Keep it out of the sunlight and keep it fairly cool- not in the fridge, though! Good luck!! Dave
http://www.ifish.net/board/images/icons/icon1.gif Hi Dave
Dave How ya been? Looks like the bassin is good as always. Ive got a couple questions for ya.
I started out this year fishing the willy with a buddy in his boat and off of ******* for small mouth. I had been using 8 lbs. test and having no problems. Now ive been fishing the ********* with a buddy that works there. Actually its ********** the kid you brought on the goose hunt. Weve been catching some really good size fish anywhere from 2-6 lbs. large mouth. Im thinking my 8lbs. test is a little light for this? Ive been snapping off some larger fish and then the other day I caught a 5-6 lbs fish and snapped him off right on the grass, and the same thing today. What size test and line would you reccomend for me to use when fishing these larger fish?
Hope all is well, sorry its kinda lengthy. Take care, *************
To be honest, breaking off a fish is the LAST thing you ever want to do. It is terrible for the resource, There is a good chance the bass will die a slow, lingering death- there is also a good chance that a bird or some other critter will eventually tangle in the littered line and do the same! When you break a fish off you educate it without ever being able to snap a picture of it and this is especially not good when you're a guest on someone's honey hole. The good news is there is absolutely no need to break off a bass and no excuse, either. Here's my theory on the subject: The most common myth among bass fisherman is that the line has to be invisible to the bass or they will know it's a set-up. If bass were able to know what a set-up is by looking for line, none of us would ever catch anything. Don't you think it would be easier for a bass to tell your lure is artificial by simply looking at the giant hook(s) hanging off of it- or stuck in the side of it? The reason to use light line, whether you're bass fishing or flyfishing for trout on a crystal clear spring creek, is to let the lure or fly swing or fall naturally. In other words, the line needs to be LIMP enough to make a natural presentation, or the fish won't eat the bait. On the spring creek scenario, oftentimes the exposed hook is literally 50% of the total fly (look at chironomids!)- if a fish could look at a hook or line and tell it's fake because of that- we would all be SOL. What they are experts at, though, is determining whether or not the bait is acting like it should. I have caught largemouths close to nine pounds that have followed my swimbait for over 30 feet, swimming on both sides of it in crystal clear water before finally inhaling it, on 30 pound mono. Some of my best jig days, ever were while using 25lb Triliene SOLAR, a solid flourescent lime green line that can be seen from the space. On the other side of things, but proves the point about line limpness being the factor, not visibility, Pacific Salmon will eat a bait better on lighter line even though there is no way any Salmon could ever become "line-shy". Every salmon that has ever made it to fresh water has died shortly after- and if they happen to get caught, they are kept so they don't know what fishing line is. The key, though, is the natural presentation the limper line offers. If you're breaking fish off, use heavier and NEWER line. How old is that 8 lb line? With light line is even more important to change it often. I change mine about every other trip- every trip if I'm pitching alot. If you need to go with small lures, go for more limp line, not smaller or weaker. The time to use lighter line is when there are no weeds and you are using really lightweight lures. If there are weeds or wood, simply switch to bigger lures and therefore heavier line. The heavier, stiffer line will not have much of an effect on the action of a heavier lure and the presentation will look natural. Be careful where you buy your line- make sure it is a place with alot of turnover. I even test it in the stores before buying. The way to test it is to tie and overhand knot in it and then break it. No matter what pound test, it should not snap easily! Keep it out of the sunlight and keep it fairly cool- not in the fridge, though! Good luck!! Dave