Hello.

I fish from shore most of the time, or out in a small john boat.

I use 8lb test. And a cheap Shakespeare reel/Ugly Stick rod, the cheap combo type from Walmart.

I usually will catch bass two pounds or less, and never had to worry. However, lately I've been fishing a larger lake, and have caught a 4lb bass and a 3lb'er in the same outing.

My buddy, also using 8lb test, lost a really big bass which jumped and snapped the line. I am not sure if it was at the knot or not.

My question - Should I bump it up to 10 or 12lb test? This place allegedly has Pike in it as well, usually smaller from shore.

I know people have caught monsters on lighter line (4lb, 6lb test), but I am starting to use some bigger, heavier lures.

Any tips?

Thanks!

I wouldn't be as concerned about the size of the fish you may catch. That's why the drag settings are important.  Instead, consider the cover you fish.  Is it timber or rocks or anything that can ding the line up or get you wrapped up? If the answer is yes, the cover is thick-then you want to bump up in line size.  Or, for your own piece of mind just go ahead and put heavier line on, it won't hurt much.

Also, respool new line throughout the season.

Check the line often while you're fishing and retie if you find a nick in the line.

The most common cause of line breakeage is operator error, 8 lbs test is quite strong and will normally break not at 8lbs ( unless you are fishing with ANDE Tournament which is IGFA certified ) but a much higher rating.

Why operator error ?

Bad knot tightening technique ( pulling the wrong side of the tag end when tightening the knot )

Not checking the line in search of nicks, wear or signs of abrassion oftleny,

Not cutting and retying oftenly

Drag settings too high

If you have a lot of cover then it 's better to increase your test, sometimes is necessary other times is necessary peace of mind.

If you have a spinning reel, size 2500 or smaller, you can't use 10 or 12 lb line, what you can do is use a better line, i.e. yozuri hybrid ultrasoft which more abbrasion resistant, and won't break as easy. If you have a size 4000 then you could go to 10 lb..but as Raul said...make sure your knots are secure, which is why I like the palomar knot, and do check your line often for nicks ect..

JFYI, I've landed 8 lb rainbow trout on 3 lb mono..it's albout the drag, when to ally pressure, and when to let the fish take some line. Most times, poeple try to horse a fish in, before it's tired, better to play it a bit, and tire it out.  just my 3 peso's

I know i'm going to regret asking this but what did Raul mean by

"Bad knot tightening technique ( pulling the wrong side of the tag end when tightening the knot )"

I know i'm going to regret asking this but what did Raul mean by

"Bad knot tightening technique ( pulling the wrong side of the tag end when tightening the knot )"

When cinching a knot, you want to always pull on the tag end to prevent burning the mainline.

I know i'm going to regret asking this but what did Raul mean by

"Bad knot tightening technique ( pulling the wrong side of the tag end when tightening the knot )"

When cinching a knot, you want to always pull on the tag end to prevent burning the mainline.

Thanks for the tip Burley

I would probably make my drag settings looser and always check for knicks in the line. Also, always make sure you have tied a perfect knot before you make your first cast!!!!!

But, with that said going up to 10 or 12 pound test wouldn't hurt.

Experiment with these two solutions, you might notice that no. 1 works better in your situation. It will also save you some coin so you don't have to buy new spools of line.

Yozuri,or Trilene big game and what Raul said.