10-6-2012

[leeb]

Whent to indian and lost about 6 shad to bait stealers, rod would get hit but nothing there. Rode to beaver and the whole armada was in the opening; I didn't even try. Went a little further up and trolled the main channel, picked up a 28" blue cat on 20' deep down line and 1 largemouth by my son casting topwater to the bank.

wind started picking up later in the day and the traffic settled down. Saw some fish busting, charged a little to hard but got one, large white bass.

Out of shad started looking for more. Son beating the bank again while I slowly look for bait, goofing off. He picks up a Largemouth pushing 5 lbs. It was nice to have a lady at her condo cheering him on and praising his success.

Made bait mixed tanked this time gizzards and aels. morning was all gizzard.

Still windy getting harder to control boat.

BOOOOOM! Planner board 45 ft from boat gets nailed but he missed. I killed the trolling motor to give him a second chance, wait 10 seconds and nothing. I turn the motor back on and as soon as the board started to move Booooooom! The board is instantly under the water. Fish on nice long fight with three solid runs. Son gets the net ready, We see the fish...nice striper...but he sees us and says no way makes the turn and breaks my 20lb floro leader. I was only holding the rod.

Continue to troll and planner board starts to see-saw. Son pics up the rod and starts to real. Fish on. Nice boy calls his mom over and asks her to take the rod. She lands 6lb blue cat.

We turn the boat to troll back where we broke off the other striper. get within 50 yards and Booooom! Down goes another planner board. Landed this one 30" striper, Wasn't near the fight of the first. No sooner do we get it back in the water and trying to get the board back out. Booooom! down goes another planner board. Son takes the rod and is having a good fight. Fish makes several runs. We get the net ready. Again we see a beautiful striper and he makes a the turn and snap.

I think it is time for larger leader. Or figure out how not to overtighten the drag.

We still had a lot of stollen bait and rod hits with no action.

Son connected with another and she just let go after about 30 seconds of fighting.

Wanted to keep fishing but gave up at 5pm to go to a birthday party.

The planner boards with free lines where the winner of the day.
Fish hitting both gizzard and Ales.

Water temp between 70 and 71

[mwardncsu]

Sounds like a great day with the son even if the big fish didn't get in the boat! Great report.

[Brian]

If the leaders are breaking at the knot, you might want to make double sure that you are lubing the knot when you tie the knot. If a knot in flouro is not wet when you pull it tight, the friction will burn it and severely weaken it.

[leeb]

the leaders both broke at the top not. I did lube them. I am certain I did not have my drag set properly. I was loosening my drag while trolling after that first cat almost broke my rod holder off. I was leaving the drag loose and trying to add a little during the fight. Big mistake.

[Brian]

The thing is, the typical reels most of us use for striper fishing can't generate more than 15lbs or so of drag (unless the drag is jerky/sticky and needs to be repaired).

Not trying to beat you down, just saying that from my vantage point on this side of the monitor, I think you need to sit in your living room with some line and a fish scale and evaluate your knot's strength and experiment with different knots

[leeb]

I have okuma magda pro 45 dx reels they will do 18.5 lbs on the drag. If I have 20 lb line and 90% knot strength. I can break it if my drag is at max.

[Deleted]

nice report leeb.!!!! thanks for posting it up.

[Brian]

Sorry for doubting you... Just trying to help. I have been there with breakoffs and changed up my knots eliminating the problem.

[seajay]

Great report Leeb. Thanks for posting.

[catsnstripers]

What type of knot are you tying with the flouro? My experience and others ive seen. a Palamor knot is proven to me, to be the best knot to use with flourocarbon. A clinch/trilene/fishermens knot (it has many names) Is not as strong with flouro as it is with mono.

I leave my drags looser then most. I will never tighten the drag with a fish on the line. IF need be, i'll use my tumb to put more pressure on the spool. Usually if your drag is to tight, and when you realize you need to loosen the pressure, its when you line goes slack. A fish close to boat, is usually when your line will break. The mono has less room to stetch, so it breaks.

[striperjohn]

Hey leeb are you using a swivel between your main line and your leader? I tried it once (when I had really small bait, until the first decent fish hit) and the braid tightened up and cut the leader. It was pretty obvious as the knot in the braid was still there. Just saying.

[mytoyzfishing]

Nice report Glad yall were able to get on some fish

[leeb]

I have a swivel snap on the main line. I tie a trilene in the leader to the snap and a polymer at the hook.

I am going to try 30 lb flouro next trip and I will pre tie my leaders with an additional swivel to clip onto the main line snap and tie polymer nots on both ends.

I am not going to use circle hooks for the tournament next weekend and may add a treble stinger so I can pick up the missed fish.

I don't mind loosing some fish with circle hooks when I only plan to release. But when $ is on the line. I don't plan on missing any fish.

[BentRod]

Not enough money in that tournament to pay for the gas people will use. I wouldn't dare kill a good fish for $150, but the Striper club will promote it. I don't understand their philosophy. Hopefully some Striper tubes will be used successfully.

[BentRod]

By the way, I up my leaders to 25lb in spring and fall..may go to 30lb in some situations, especially with big baits..I don't notice any difference in the bite. You can lock the drag down on a 10lber and play tug of war. I use 25lb mono as the mainline.