7 minutes ago, Hogs_n_Logs said:

 

I dont think a looser drag wouldve saved you, especially now that you say you were on a kayak which is another source of "cushion" between you and the fish. 

 

If your kayak has a skeg, foot paddling system, or deep scrapes or burs on the hull from use, the line might've gotten compromised if when the fish dove under the thing the line made contact with one of those.

 

 I'm not trying to go on and on about the drag to try and school you or anyone else, and not to say you shouldn't loosen your drag if you want, with straight braid its easier on the reel and you'll lose less fish from thrown hooks. Its just that if you understand how fishing line(all the types) works you can almost eliminate break offs due to line failure entirely by being aware specifically what to look out for and do before and during the fight you'll not lose those big fish when the moment comes! If you rely on a loose drag and an identical or similar situation arose in the future you'd probably still lose the fish!

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

I'll never know exactly the what and why, all I can do is try to learn from my mistakes.

 

Heck it could have been from my dang cat. Not kidding! LOL

 

Yesterday I was messing with a slight backlash in my living room. I got it fixed and when I reeled in all of the line some of it was wet with nicks in it. The little chit was biting on it.

 

So one more rule for me, don't mess with line unless the cats (we have 2) are locked in a bedroom.  :)

I like 4 carrier for the reasons stated above when fishing around cover. As far as you losing the fish, braid is thin, 20lb is super thin. Even the smallest nick in 20lb will be a significant percentage of the diameter and reduce it's strength. I don't lock down my drag for anything other than frogging and punching. Everything else I leave a little bit of play. I run 40lb for most applications, 65lb for forgs and punching. I would never consider anything under 30lb on a baitcaster unless it's a BFS setup. 20lb is just way too light to be horsing fish around with. The shock absorption of braid is terrible, so on a hookset with locked down drag, a backlash, or a surging fish, that line is seeing significant force with no way to give, that's where you want your rod and drag to take some of that. 

17 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

I like 4 carrier for the reasons stated above when fishing around cover. As far as you losing the fish, braid is thin, 20lb is super thin. Even the smallest nick in 20lb will be a significant percentage of the diameter and reduce it's strength. I don't lock down my drag for anything other than frogging and punching. Everything else I leave a little bit of play. I run 40lb for most applications, 65lb for forgs and punching. I would never consider anything under 30lb on a baitcaster unless it's a BFS setup. 20lb is just way too light to be horsing fish around with. The shock absorption of braid is terrible, so on a hookset with locked down drag, a backlash, or a surging fish, that line is seeing significant force with no way to give, that's where you want your rod and drag to take some of that. 

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

I ended up purchasing 30 lb.

 

832 8 strand.

 

Gets here tomorrow. 

I know I’m not the only one in here, but I normally run straight braid nearly 100% of the time. Suffix 832 is my go to, though I run seaguar tactix and Daiwa samurai j braid grande (8 strand) as well. I run 50lb braid for everything except spinning which is 20lb; about to go to suffix revolve for it though and go lighter on lb test. 

11 minutes ago, Smirak said:

I know I’m not the only one in here, but I normally run straight braid nearly 100% of the time. Suffix 832 is my go to, though I run seaguar tactix and Daiwa samurai j braid grande (8 strand) as well. I run 50lb braid for everything except spinning which is 20lb; about to go to suffix revolve for it though and go lighter on lb test. 

 

Any idea if line weight makes any difference when it comes to tip wrap?

 

For example, 30 lb vs 50 lb?

 

Went out last night for a bit and kept having to mess with the braid wrapping around the rod. Was using 20lb.

53 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Any idea if line weight makes any difference when it comes to tip wrap?

 

For example, 30 lb vs 50 lb?

 

Went out last night for a bit and kept having to mess with the braid wrapping around the rod. Was using 20lb.

 

Heavier is a little better since it is a little stiffer.  Not as good as mono and fluoro, but better.

Just now, casts_by_fly said:

 

Heavier is a little better since it is a little stiffer.  Not as good as mono and fluoro, but better.

 

Well that's good, because it's a pain in the a&&!